ARGENTINA
Not yet ready for great golf tourism
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Where
to play (2)
Domestic flights arrive in Buenos Aires at the "Jorge Newbery" metropolitan airport located along the Rio de la Plata in the Palermo, great city park where to find the race-course, the velodrome and the public golf course "Campo de golf de la ciudad de Buenos Aires". It is a par-72 rather short with only 6585 yards but, due to well placed bunkers, water hazards and high trees, it not so easy to reach the undulated greens. No buggies available but walking on this flat course is very easy. It is the sole course which stays intra muros of the capital city at a few minutes drive from the main hotels and the air traffic is not too noisy to disturb players. Reservation is absolutely required to get a tee time.
The prestigious Jockey Club in San Isidro is one of the British golf&train building. The famous Alister Mackenzie (Augusta National, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne.) designed between a race-course, a polo course and some other sports fields two 18-holes par 72 : the Red and the Blue. Both of them have that very special English touch which disconcert the average player with some unexpected bump or bunker, pool or slope, bush or tree. The hole 5 & 6 of the Azul (Blue) course around water hazard are very spectacular. President Eisenhower, Bing Grosby, Prince of Windsor and many other famous gentlemen have played here and taken the 19 th hole drink in the elegant British style club-house.
As well as at the Olivos Golf Club which has been created at the same times in the 1920s. It features three nine-holes : Blanca (white) Colorada (red) and Azul (blue). Narrow fairways slaloming between lines of high trees, doglegs, lot of bunkers, two lakes make it a good challenge for any kind of golfers. The pro is frank: avoid to try to play on Saturday or Sunday and make reservation. No buggies, only manual carts. Very friendly club-house with outside terrace. At 25 minutes drive from Buenos Aires .
In 1994, the Buenos Aires Golf Club opened at the same time than the resurgence of the Argentinean Republic and the Andes Cup. And in 2000, it hosted the Golf World Cup with the presence of the best golfers in the world including the Tiger Woods himself. The course designed by famous architect Robert Van Hagge deserves to be considered as the best course in Argentina and probably also in South America with its Hagge's trademark bumps, bunkers and water hazards, engaging players of every level. They are three nine-holes on pampa land with lot of pampa flowers around pools and lakes which total surface is equal to the courses surface. It is difficult to find a "dry" hole! The most spectacular is the 8th Blue with its island green where the ball has to pitch before the pin to stay on. The club-house in Normandy style sits enthroned on a top in front of a large lake with a terrace. Electrical carts are available and reservations are required.
Carmelo Golf Resort (Uruguay): for visitors coming from far away, this Four Seasons Resort deserves to be discovered on the other side of the Rio de la Plata . At one hour by aquabus.
For more information  -Carmelo, best resort
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Buenos Aires city public course
Blue course of Jockey Club
BB hole at Jockey club
Los Olivos in the trees
Buenos Aires Golf bumps
Hole 8 Blue at Buenos Aires Golf
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