golf, Argentina, where to play, what to see, where to stay, information

ARGENTINA

Not really ready for golf tourism

In South America, Argentina is the second largest country (2.778 Mkm2) behind Brazil (8557 MKm2) and the first golfing country with more than 400 courses but, mostly private or overbooked. And it does not seem yet that Argentina is fully ready for great golf tourism.

by Ron Brown

Buenos Aires, Februray 2005
"El fin del mundo"! In fact for most of tourists, Argentina is first of all the country of the southern end of the inhabited world with its natural jewel " Tierra del Fuego ". Even if it is not exactly correct! In fact, the cape Horn is the far most southern point and it belongs to Chile (which forbids its over flying from Ushuaia airport!). But the Ushuaia Golf Club is really the most southern golf course in the world.

Is this geographical confusion at the origin of the lie&cheat reputation given to Argentineans by their neighbours as it appears in the "Diarios de la motocicleta", the marvellous students' trip of Che Guavara and his friend through the South American countries ? Not only! When in Europe a football player is accused of a major fault or a referee to have favoured a club during a major competition, they are given the boot and publicly ashamed. In Argentina where futbol is the most popular sport, when the famous Diego Maradona admits publicly that he pushed the ball with his hand to hit the victory goal against Brazil, he bursts out laughing and all supporters with him!!!

In fact, Argentineans, out of a football discussion or out of their cars (they all drive like Fangio, born in Argentina ) are very friendly people, mostly cool and relaxed. But sad. as their tango!

People are sad for many reasons. One is because thousands of small holders have lost 70% of the value of their public bonds in the last economic crisis (ransom of years of military reign and dollar dependence).
Do they also regret and maybe a bit too much the "old good times" of Peron and Evita?
In January 2005, just before the end of the default, a well known Argentinean attorney-at-law wrote in the "Nacion", national daily newspaper, that his country was suffering from "two major vices: machist arrogance in the upper-class and angelic peronism for all others"... No comment!

But why neither the Secretaria de Turismo nor the Asociacion Argentina de Golf, nor golf resort representatives or golf tour operators don't deign answering to mails or letters? Arrogance or inefficiency?
If it is difficult for visitors to get a tee time in Argentina through the channel of the Tourism Office or the Golf Federation, fortunately good hotels (like the SOFITEL) have their own connections.

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! To enlarge click pictures
Click for larger map of Argentina

Map of Tierra del Fuego & Cape Horn

Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires reminds the 25 May 1810, creation of the first independant Government.

Popular tango seen by El Païs-Sp

Sofitel Buenos Aires