URUGUAY
Carmelo,
best resort in South America?
-
Where
to play (2)
- in Montevideo and Rio Negro
The two first golf courses in Uruguay took place near plants.
One which was part of the slaughter and cold-storage plant
build by Swift (USA) at Punta de Lobos in Montevideo. The
plant closed down and the course, redesigned, became the Golf
del Cerro and is still there with its
views of the sea and the Cerro fortress.
But the eldest course was on the former Anglo meat-packing
plant at Frey Bentos (Rio
Negro) and has been declared National Historical Monument.
Both courses have been redesigned in the 1930 by Allister
Mc Kenzie who designed also the Club
de Golf del Uruguay at Punta Carretas
in the residencial neighbourghood of Montevideo in a park
of 36 ha at a panoramic place along the Rio de la Plata.
-
at Punta del Este
The building of first holes of Cantegril
Country Golf Club began in 1929 on a
property of 62 ha of pines and eucalyptus at one mile from
the seashore but the 18 holes have opened only in 1947 at
the emergency of Punta del Este as the new great holiday destination
for Portenos who where disdaining Mar del Plata because it
became too cheap crowded.
The field is undulating between maritime trees which sometimes
could become a nightmare for a second shot to the green. The
club house is very convivial and surrounded by colored flowerbeds.
As the most ancient course located at a few minutes from the
main sites, it is very difficult for visitors to get tee times
during the high season (December to March).
The Club de Golf del Lago
is easy to find: it is located along the road between the
airport and the entry of Punta del Este. This 18 holes championship
designed on the undulating wooden hills of the ecosystem of
the Laguna del Sauce is the first course in South America
which meets the criteria of the standard ISO 14001 for the
preservation of the environment .
Away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets and
beaches, it is a great pleasure to play this wonderful course
undulating between eucalyptus and pine trees where hundreds
of birds sing and nestle. And if you are not too noisy players,
you can see blue herons fishing in the lake between holes
12 to 15 while red squirrels jump from a tree to another.
This is really an enjoyable course even if the elevated greens
are not easy to reach in regulation. The club-house is under
the shade of the trees and serves good local food and the
windows of the ****hotel overlook the Saulce Laguna in a green
and quiet nest natural quiet.
Out of Punta del Este, La Barra
Golf Club is also out of La Barra village,
lost in the pampa. Large fairways and some water hazards.
Colonial style club-house.
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|
Memory
at Frey Bentos
Cantegril club-house
and first tee.
Golf
del Lago under the trees
with
flowers
and blue heron
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