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Argentina

Inaugurated in 1952 and located only 40 kilometres from Buenos Aires, Argentino is one of the most traditional and recognised golf clubs in the country.

With colourful woodland, which surrounds most holes, numerous tee boxes and large, fast greens that provide varying pin positions, Argentino can be a relatively easy proposition or a stern, complicated layout. The closing three holes are very tough and anyone who secures par at these three holes can retire happily to the clubhouse.

Argentino Country Club provides a relaxing round of golf in tranquil surroundings and the club have hosted the Argentine Open on several occasions, as well as the Argentine Amateur Championship, the National Stroke Play Championship, the Argentine Interclubes Championship and the National Junior Tournament.

Inaugurada en agosto de 1952 en las afueras de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, esta cancha es una de las más tradicionales y reconocidas del país. Posee una gran y colorida arboleda que rodea todos los hoyos de su recorrido. Según el set de tees a utilizar y la posición de las banderas en los veloces greens, se puede transformar en un trazado relativamente sencillo o muy complicado. Al presentar un diseño tradicional, el campo posibilita un buen recovery para el jugador, es decir que el margen de error puede ser salvado sin ser muy castigado. Sus 3 hoyos finales son muy complicados y quiénes la conocen aseguran que 3 pares son un muy buen score. Situada dentro de un “country” cuenta con seguridad privada y una tranquilidad para la práctica del deporte sorprendente.

Fue sede del Campeonato Abierto de la República en varias ocasiones. También se disputó el Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados, El Campeonato Nacional por Golpes, el Campeonato Argentino de Interclubes y El Torneo Nacional Júnior.

Argentino

Central & South America

With colourful woodland, numerous tee boxes and large, fast greens that provide varying pin positions, Golf Club Argentino can be a relatively easy proposition or a stern, complicated layout.

The 27 holes at Buenos Aires Golf Club opened for play in 1994 and the renowned architect Robert von Hagge designed each loop. Buenos Aires is always considered one of the best courses in South America.

Buenos Aires Golf Club has hosted all the important local and South American events, such as the Los Andes Cup 1994, Argentine Open 1994, 2004 and 2007, Argentine Amateur Championship and National Stroke Play Championship, Argentine Championship of Interclubes and it permanently hosts the Argentine Mid Amateur Championship.It is a course of American design with nine lakes spread across 45 hectares. Each hole at Buenos Aires Golf Club has four sets of tees, suitable for players of all levels (from professionals to the highest handicaps). Besides quality of the design, Buenos Aires is a well-maintained course.

The club was honoured to host the EMC World Cup in 2000, where Tiger Woods and David Duval won the championship. The club also hosted the World Amateur Championship – Eisenhower and Espiritu Santo Trophies – in 2010 together with Olivos Golf Club.

 by Tom Doak, Ran Morrissett, Masa Nishijima and Darius Oliver, the authors have this to say about the course:

“Buenos Aires is a very exclusive club with an incongruously modern course set uncomfortably beside a busy highway, with huge power lines cutting through. The course has been consistently rated as one of the very best in Argentina due to its difficulty and fast greens… Large water hazards abound, and the excavations were used to create mounds and moguls at the fringes of the holes.”


Esta cancha de 27 hoyos inaugurada en el año 1994, fue diseñada por el famoso y reconocido diseñador de canchas Robert von Hagge, y es considerada una de las mejores de Sudamérica. Es un campo de diseño netamente americano con 9 lagos que ocupan una superficie de 45 hectáreas. Cada uno de los hoyos de esta increíble cancha cuenta con 4 tees de salida para permitir el juego por parte de personas de todos los niveles (desde profesionales hasta los más altos handicaps). Además del diseño americano de este campo hay que destacar la excelente calidad de la pastura, tanto de los greens como de los fairways que están en el primer nivel mundial.

El BAGC ha sido sede de los más importantes eventos a nivel local y sudamericano, como la Copa Los Andes 1994, Abierto de la República 1994, 2004 y 2007, Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados y Nacional por Golpes, Campeonato Argentino de Interclubes de Primera División y es sede permanente del Campeonato Argentino Mid Amateur.

Tuvo el inmenso honor de albergar la Copa del Mundo en el 2000, donde Tigre Woods y David Duval ganaron el Campeonato.

Y se prepara para el gran desafío de albergar el Campeonato Mundial de Aficionados Copas Einsenhower y Espíritu Santo en 2010 junto con el Olivos Golf Club.

Buenos Aires (Green & Yellow)

The 27 holes at Buenos Aires Golf Club opened for play in 1994 and the renowned architect Robert von Hagge designed each loop.

Situated a mere 15-minute drive from Córdoba airport, the 18-hole layout at El Terrón Golf Club is a Tom Weiskopf design that first opened for play at the end of 2019. The architect has worked all over the world on many golf developments but this is his first project in South America.

In addition to the main course, the members have the use of a driving range and 3-hole practice facility, with the golf complex anchored by an imposing clubhouse designed (rather loosely) in the style of a “Scottish castle” by the architect Adolfo Martínez Carranza.

On opening the facility, Manuel Tagle, El Terrón president, said: “Our purpose is to achieve a synergy between La Paz (Ascochinga), Córdoba Golf Club (Villa Allende) and Potrerillo de Larreta (Alta Gracia) for the development of tourist golf, which will create jobs and encourage economic development.”

Routed around a 370-acre housing development which is described as an “urbanized ranch subdivided for residential purposes,” the fairways at El Terrón are arranged in two distinct returning loops of nine across a rolling landscape.

Highlight holes include short par fours at the 8th (featuring the rather unconventional double hazard of a centennial carob tree positioned in front of an Oakmont-esque “Church Pews” bunker) and the downhill, slightly right doglegging 14th, where cross bunkers defend par and out of bounds lurks close to the right side of the green.

El Terrón

Situated a mere 15-minute drive from Córdoba airport, the 18-hole layout at El Terrón Golf Club is a Tom Weiskopf design that first opened for play at the end of 2019.

Located seventy kilometres northwest of Buenos Aires city centre, the 18-hole layout at Estancias Golf Club is routed around a 350-acre residential development, with a handful of holes (#5 to #7 then #15 and #16) on the northern periphery of the property bordered by the Rio Luján.

Stretching to just over 7,000 yards from the tips and playing to a par of 72 (35 then 37 in), the course features water hazards at more than half the holes on the scorecard. Indeed, the final two holes on each nine are separated by a long, narrow lake that runs the full length of the fairways between #8 - #9 and #17 - #18.

Highlights at Estancias include the only par five on the front nine at the right bending 6th (played to a well-bunkered green next to the river); the par four 13th (where a pond to the right of the fairway wraps round the back of the green); and the par five 16th which veers right at a sharp 45-degree angle to the green.

Estancias

Located seventy kilometres northwest of Buenos Aires city centre, the 18-hole layout at Estancias Golf Club is routed around a 350-acre residential development, with a handful of holes on the northern periphery of the property bordered by the Rio Luján.

Founded in 1948, Highland Park Country Club is one of the oldest courses in the northern part of Great Buenos Aires.

This layout presents many alternatives for players of all levels. One of the main characteristics of Highland Park is that 17 of the 18 holes feature out of bounds, although the wide fairways give the golfers many chances of avoiding big penalties by adopting the correct strategy.

Since the year 1999, following modifications performed by the designer Emilio Serra, all the greens were reconstructed under USGA specifications and planted with bent grass. The result is very fast and generous greens, allowing several new pin positions.

In 1983 at Highland Park, Eduardo Romero secured his first professional victory in Buenos Aires. The club also hosted the Argentine Amateur Championship.

Fundada en 1948 esta cancha es una de las más antiguas de la zona norte del Gran Buenos Aires. Este campo presenta muchas alternativas para los jugadores de todos los niveles. Una de las características mas destacadas de este campo es que 17 de los 18 hoyos tienen fuera de límite, aunque la generosidad de los fairways hace que la posibilidad de sumar penalizaciones se pueda atenuar con un tipo de juego estratégico.

Desde el año 1999 y gracias a unas modificaciones efectuadas por el diseñador Emilio Serra (h) todos los greens son de pasto bent y fueron reconstruidos bajo las normas de la USGA siendo muy amplios, muy veloces y generosos permitiendo varias posiciones de bandera.

Esta cancha tiene la particularidad de haber sido sede del primer triunfo de Eduardo Romero como Profesional en tierras bonaerenses en el año 1983 y fue sede del Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados y del Nacional por Golpes.

Highland Park

Founded in 1948, Highland Park Country Club is one of the oldest golf courses in the northern part of Great Buenos Aires.

The Hurlingham Club was founded in 1888 but golf didn’t arrive here until 1892, when a rudimentary 9-hole course opened for play. George Gadd and Arthur Havers expanded the course to 18 holes in 1922.

The club is very traditional sports society founded by the British where members practice polo, lawn tennis and cricket as much as golf. As at many British golf courses, Hurlingham was built near a railway station.

Today’s par 70 course measures 6,349 yards and, as per many of the golf courses of these years, the layout is characterised by small, fast greens and narrow fairways.

The 373-yard par four 14th is probably the signature hole. This short, strategic two-shotter doglegs left around a water hazard. The drive landing area is narrow (only 22 yards wide) and is protected by a lagoon on the left and three tall mounds on the right, so you really need to be precise with your tee shot. Once you’ve successfully executed that shot, your approach is to a perfectly circular small green of 20 by 20 yards where two pot bunkers protected the entrance.

Hurlingham is always a good place to visit, not only because the course is expertly maintained, but also because of its lovely surroundings. The club played host to many important tournaments, including the Argentine Amateur Championship, the Argentine Interclub Championship and the Argentine Open several times, most recently in 2008. This Club also hosts one of the most important Polo Tournaments in the world: The Hurlingham Open.

Above article adapted with kind permission from 

Hurlingham

The Jockey Club at Buenos Aires is located at San Isidro and it’s an exclusive club that attracts the capital’s best-heeled golfers as well those more interested in horse racing and polo. Founded way back in 1882, the Jockey Club started out in life as an organisation to control horseracing at a national level, as well as an active social centre.

There are two courses at the Jockey Club, the Red (Colorada) and the 

 (Azul), both of which were designed by Alister MacKenzie and both opened for play in 1935, a year after his death. The Red course played host to the World Cup of Golf in 1970 with the Australian team winning the team title after David Graham finished second and Bruce Devlin third. Argentinean folk hero Roberto de Vicenzo delighted the local crowds by winning the individual title and, in doing so, became a legend at the Jockey Club.

The Red course is laid out at sea level over predominately flat ground and to break up the monotony, MacKenzie built mounds and contouring coupled with subtle but strategic bunkering. At 6,700 yards in length, the Jockey Club’s Red course is by no means long but it’s a tricky layout on which to score well.

Perhaps the signature hole is the wonderful one-shot 17th which is a classic example of MacKenzie’s genius. The long, narrow and raised green is beautifully guarded on the left by two angled bunkers making the tee shot a serious challenge, especially when the pin is positioned on the left side.

Angel Cabrera thrilled the country when he won the 2001 Open de Argentina by two shots from Sweden’s Carl Pettersson. This was Cabrera’s first European Tour victory and the birth of another Jockey Club legend.

Muchos la llaman, la “joya de la arquitectura”, diseñada por Alister MacKenzie, también diseñador junto a Bobby Jones del 

. A tan solo 25 minutos del centro de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, El Jockey Club se caracteriza por sus grandes greens en forma de platos invertidos y protegidos por grandes bunkers laterales. Posee una gran variedad de árboles, en su mayoría pinos, lo que no impide que en algunos hoyos su trazado sea abierto. Su similitud en algunos hoyos a canchas como 

 hacen que cada hoyo sea un difícil desafío pero a la vez entretenido. Es imperdible el hoyo 10 de la cancha colorada, un par 5 no muy largo pero que aun a los largos pegadores suele dar problemas. El green tiene una barranca muy pronunciada que rechaza los approachs que no se juegan con alta precisión.

Inaugurada en 1928, fue sede de la Copa del Mundo en 1962 y 1970, y del Abierto de la Republica en 16 ocasiones. También se disputo en ella el 100º Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados y el 100º Campeonato Argentino de Interclubes.

Jockey Club (Red)

The Jockey Club at Buenos Aires is located at San Isidro and it’s an exclusive club that attracts the capital’s best-heeled golfers...

Los Lagartos Country Club – opened in 1969 – was one of the first courses in Argentina to be designed in an American-style with wide fairways, expansive tees and plenty of length. When the rough is up it puts a lot of pressure on those that want to gain distance.

Designed by Alberto and Emilio Serra, Los Lagartos also has large and fast greens and was home to the Professional Open (from 1991 to 1995). This 27-hole facility is divided into three independent 9-hole loops, called La Vieja, Del Agua and La Larga. Every year the best amateurs from all over the world compete for the Tailhade Cup.

Hole three on La Vieja (the Old course) is a par three with a relatively wide hazard that forces the player to hit a long shot across the water.

Una de las primeras canchas del Gran Buenos Aires en ser diseñadas con el estilo de las canchas americanas, con amplios fairways y largos tees de salida. Su rough presiona a quien desea ganar distancia y se equivoca en su estrategia del golpe. Tiene muy grandes y veloces greens. Sede del Abierto Argentino de Profesionales (1991 a 1995) esta cancha de 27 hoyos se divide en tres canchas independientes de 9 hoyos cada una, llamadas La Vieja, La Larga y Del Agua.

Todos los años se juega la Copa Tailhade, importante torneo con los mejores aficionados de todo el mundo. Aquí también se han jugados los Campeonatos Nacionales de Aficionados y el Campeonato Interclub de Primera División.

Fue inaugurada en 1969 y queda a solo 40 minutos de la capital porteña.

Los Lagartos

Los Lagartos Country Club – opened in 1969 – was one of the first courses in Argentina to be designed in an American-style...

Martindale Country Club is one of Argentina's more modern courses. It blends an American design with a traditional English style, carved through dramatic cypress, cedar, oak and pine trees.

It is a long course but adaptable to all playing levels. It has artificial lakes and fairways with slopes and big multi-tiered greens, surrounded by high grass slopes and bunkers turning it into a challenging course for players of all levels.

In addition to its 18-hole course it has one of the most unusual and prettiest par three courses in South America which is used for smaller events by professional golfers.

Championships played: Argentine Open, Amateur Argentine Championship, Amateur stroke Play Championship, South American Junior Championship.

Es una de las más lindas y modernas canchas de Argentina. Su diseño americano, inserto en una magnífica arboleda de cipreses, pinos, cedros y robles mantiene intacta las tradiciones inglesas: una difícil combinación, muy bien lograda. Es una cancha larga, pero adaptable a todos los niveles de juego. Tiene lagunas artificiales, fairways ondulados, grandes greens con distintos niveles rodeados de altas lomas y bunkers de arena y pasto que convierten a la cancha en un gran desafío para jugadores de todos los niveles. Además de su cancha de 18 hoyos, posee una de las más singulares y pintorescas canchas de par 3 de Sudamérica utilizada para torneos de demostración de profesionales.

Campeonatos disputados: Abierto de la Republica, Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados, Campeonato Nacional por Golpes y Campeonato Sudamericano Juvenil y Prejuvenil.

Martindale

Nordelta Golf Club, the course that Jack built, opened for play in 2007 and is one of Argentina’s most challenging layouts. The course is now the centrepiece of a new district that comprises of a neighbourhood-gated community, which offers residents a plethora of sporting activities.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Nordelta course is routed across former wetlands where the holes weave their way around and across a series of lakes to the south of the River Plate – the world’s widest estuary. Host to the 2008 Argentine Amateur Championship and 2009 and 2012 Argentine Open, the new Nordelta Golf Club has a bright future and we expect the club to rise in the rankings.

Nordelta

Nordelta Golf Club, the course that Jack built, opened for play in 2007 and is one of Argentina’s most challenging layouts.

Olivos Golf Club is one of the more traditional and recognised golf clubs in Argentina and the Blanca & Colorada (White & Red) nines comprise of the premier eighteen at this 27-hole facility. It was shortlisted by the American PGA to host the World Cup in 2000. Though Olivos was not chosen, it was highly praised by the foreign visitors. It is an English style course with smooth but long slopes. It has big and fast greens with notorious movement, which enhance the difficulty level.

Championships: World Amateur Championship, Los Andes Cup, Argentine Open, Argentine Amateur Championship, National Stroke Play Championship, Argentine Masters Tournament.

In 2010 Olivos Golf Club co-hosted the World Amateur Championship with 

. France won the event by four strokes from team Denmark.

Es una de las canchas más tradicionales y reconocidas del país. Cuando los expertos de la PGA de Estados Unidos realizaron un relevamiento de canchas para la disputa de la Copa del Mundo en el año 2000 en la Argentina, Olivos Golf Club fue una de las canchas evaluadas en su momento. Mas allá de no haber sido elegida se llevo grandes elogios de los visitantes extranjeros. Es una cancha de estilo ingles que se extiende sobre un terreno con suaves pero prolongadas pendientes. Tiene grandes y veloces greens y con mucho movimiento lo que los hace un poco más difíciles.

Campeonatos disputados: Campeonato Mundial de Aficionados, Campeonato Sudamericano de Aficionados (Copa Los Andes), Abierto de la Republica, Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados, Campeonato Nacional por Golpes, Torneo de Maestros.

En el 2010 será sede del Campeonato Mundial de Aficionados, Copas Espíritu Santo y Einsehower, junto con el Buenos Aires Golf Club.

Olivos (Blanca & Colorada)

Olivos is one of the more traditional and recognised golf clubs in Argentina and the Blanca & Colorada nines comprise of the premier eighteen at this 27-hole facility.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century it was the British who owned and operated the Argentinean railway networks. In 1911, the Great Southern Railway Company built a station in the Berazategui Forest and named it Ranelagh after Lord Ranlagh’s estate which is located on the banks of London’s River Thames.

Naturally, as had formerly happened all over Britain, a golf course was planned in close proximity to the station. In 1918 Ranelagh golf course opened for play, designed by Mr. Alberto Del Solar Dorrego and built by Mr. Enrique Rossi, cousin of the Mr. José Sworn. In those early days, golfers travelled to the course by train and a special golfer’s dining car was permanently located in a siding at the station and it was known as “the train of the golfers”.

Ranelagh Golf Club offers a pretty course located in mature, park-like surroundings with wide fairways and large greens, which break in all directions. Watch out for tough rough and water hazards on holes 5, 6, 11 and 13. Also keep an eye out for Roberto de Vicenzo as Ranelagh is his second home.

Ranelagh Golf Club has hosted the Argentine Open and the Argentine Amateur Championship.

En 1911 el ferrocarril del Sur construye, en la mitad del ramal Berazategui/Bosques, la estación Ranelagh, nombre inspirado en las propiedades del Conde de Ranelagh a orillas del río Támesis (Londres). En 1918 se consiguen las tierras (unas 65 has.) y la Cía. de Tierras del Sur resuelve iniciar la construcción del campo de golf, diseñado por Don Alberto del Solar Dorrego y construido por el Sr. Enrique Rossi, primo del Sr. José Jurado. En aquellos días no se contaba con instalaciones apropiadas, el Ferrocarril del Sur, que traía a los jugadores, dejaba en una vía muerta de la estación, un coche comedor especial, para comodidad de los mismos. Se lo llamó "El tren de los Golfistas".

El 16 de mayo de 1926, con brillantes palabras del Sr. Antonio Crouzel y una exitosa fiesta con importantes personalidades fue inaugurado el Club House, por la madrugada los concurrentes regresaron a la capital en un tren especial que el Ferrocarril del Sur dispuso para dicho evento.

El campo de golf ofrece una agradable arboleda acompañada de un lindo desafío, con fairways exigentes y greens de mucho movimiento. Este campo es el 2do hogar del maestro Roberto de Vicenzo.

Han pasado por él los más importantes eventos locales, como el Abierto Argentino y el Campeonato de Aficionados.

Ranelagh

Ranelagh Golf Club offers a pretty course located in mature, park-like surroundings with wide fairways and large greens, which break in all directions.

San Andrés Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Argentina and was born with the original name of Buenos Aires Golf Club on August 30, 1902. The course was designed by the Scottish professional Mungo Park Jr. The club now carries the name of St Andrews of Scotland, headquarters of the oldest and most traditional entity in the world of golf: The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. This was not coincidental. At the time, the locality took the name of the club and of the railway station, which was originally created for golfers.

“The oldest golf club in the country, Argentina’s St Andrews is a charming flat course on 100 acres. The fairway bunkering here is pointless, but there is every variety of tree awaiting a bad tee shot, and the greenside hazards present a real challenge… The wonderful small clubhouse [set right next to a railway stop] is a step back in time. With all the money in Buenos Aires moving out to the suburbs, the club is struggling to retain its membership base, but a place like this must be preserved.” Par at San Andres is 72 for gentlemen and 73 for ladies, although it used to be a par 73 for gentlemen until the 15th hole was re-designed and reduced from a par five to a par four. San Andres is respected among its peers by its tradition and difficulty.

The course extends to 6,472 yards with rough that is fearsome even for the most skilled players. The club has hosted the Argentine Open on twenty one occasions and the "Maestro", Roberto de Vicenzo, won twice here.

De Vicenzo is honorary associate of the club and also the Argentine Amateur Championship, the oldest tournament in Argentina’s calendar, has been played at San Andres thirty times. Its most famous hole is the 14th, a short par four which doglegs to the left. Long hitters can reach the green with the driver.

Nacida con el nombre original de Buenos Aires Golf Club el día 30 de Agosto de 1902. El Club lleva el nombre del St. Andrew's de Escocia, sede de la más antigua y tradicional entidad rectora del golf mundial: The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's. Esto no fue casual: con el tiempo la localidad tomó el nombre del Club y de la estación de ferrocarril creada en un principio para sus usuarios.

La cancha, de 18 hoyos, fue diseñada por el profesional escocés Mungo Park. Es par 72 para los caballeros y par 73 para las damas, aunque solía ser par 73 también para caballeros hasta que el hoyo 15 fue modificado y reducido de par 5 a par 4. Está considerada entre las de mayor renombre por su tradición y dificultad. Con su extensión de 6472 yardas de máximo, tiene un rough que es temible hasta para los jugadores con más destreza.

El Club fue, en 21 ocasiones, el que más veces recibió al Abierto de la República. Y el maestro Roberto De Vicenzo ganó en dos ediciones el Abierto en San Andrés. De Vicenzo es incluso socio honorario del Club. También el Campeonato Nacional de Aficionados, el torneo con mayor antigüedad del calendario golfístico argentino, se llevó a cabo en 30 oportunidades. Como hoyo más llamativo veremos al hoyo 14, un corto par 4 de dogleg a la izquierda, en el cual los largos pegadores pueden alcanzar el green con el driver.

San Andrés

Originally named the Buenos Aires Golf Club, San Andrés now carries the most famous course name in the world - St Andrews.

San Isidro Golf Club was founded in 1911, but the course in play today is a Juan Dentone design from 1928 that was updated by Ron Fream in 1981, which included the addition of several water hazards at the north eastern section of the property.

One of the oldest golf clubs in the Buenos Aires area, the San Isidro course measures a challenging 6,644 yards and has been in important tournament limelight for many years, having hosted the Argentine Open, Argentine PGA Championship and Argentine Amateur Championship. After winning the 1941 Argentine Open at San Isidro, Jimmy Demaret said, “it is the course where trees are best placed for good players”.

Although the original course routing has changed over time, there is a comfortable balance between the front and back nines. The stretch of holes from 13 to 17 is particularly challenging, especially if you are tempted to take on the lagoon with your approach shot to the short par five 14th.

San Isidro is a highly respected golf club with membership buoyed by fast and easy access to and from Buenos Aires City.

San Isidro

The Juan Dentone-designed course at San Isidro Golf Club first opened in 1928 but Ron Fream updated it in 1981 adding water to the design.

Tortugas (founded in 1930) is the oldest country club in South America and an icon in the polo world. A 9-hole golf course opened in 1932 and was expanded to 18 holes in 1959. Today, the parkland course measures 6,448 yards from the tips.

Tortugas

The first record of golf in Argentina has Scotsman Valentín Scroggie playing the game in the town square of San Martín in Buenos Aries on 13th March, 1892. The San Martín Golf Club was founded in the Belgrano neighbourhood, shortly before the original Hurlingham Club course was built, and the following year Lomas Athletic Club was founded.

Although San Martín, which later gave birth to San Andrés, is considered the oldest club, Lomas was a pioneer in organizing competitions. Established by English emigrants who were bulding the railway network, the club allowed its members the opportunity to play cricket, rugby, football, tennis and golf in a competitive environment. Two years after its formation, the following notice was issued:

“The Bethell gold medal for the Río de la Plata Golf Championship, to be played on the 15th and August 16, 1895, on an eighteen-hole course, without handicap, according to the rules of the medal play and in accordance with the regulations adopted for the occasion by the Lomas Golf Commission. All players intending to take part in the contest, especially those residing in neighboring provinces or republics, are kindly requested to submit their names.”

Golfers from both banks of the Río de la Plata disputed the inaugural tournament, with George Barker from Uruguay declared the winner, ahead of Mitchell Fortune from Hurlingham in second place and A.D. Dunbar who was third. George Barker was unable to successfully defend his title the following year, ending up second to M. Withington but A.D. Dunbar went on to capture four titles in a row from 1897.

The 1906 Amateur champion John Avery Wright also won the Abierto de Argentina (Open Championship) the same year and the 1907 Amateur champion Frank Sutton won the Open the following year. The 1922 Amateur

is memorable because it was won for the first time by a native player, Federico Elortondo, who prevailed in the match play final that year by beating his opponent 1-Up at San Andrés.

The most prolific winner of the competition is Alberto Texier, who won five events between 1947 and 1973. After losing the 1949 final at Renelagh to Alberto Texier, Hugo Nicora won four in five years, starting in 1952. Raúl Travieso – who played at Augusta in 1968 when Roberto De Vicenzo signed the wrong scorecard – then repeated this four-time winning sequence between 1960 and 1964.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the championships is that not one of the three greatest Argentinian professionals – José Jurado, Roberto De Vicenzo or Vicente Fernández – ever won the event. Back in the days when they were emerging as talented golfers in their own country, it was more of a financial necessity to turn professional as quickly as possible to earn a living.

In the new millennium, a number of finals have been contested by non-Argentinean players, with European winners emerging from Buenos Aries Country Club in 2009 (Romain Wattel from France), San Isidro in 2011 (Daan Huizing from The Netherlands), and Estancias in 2012 (Antoni Ferrer from Spain).

The Argentine Amateur Championship, or Campeonato Argentino de Aficionados to give the tournament its proper name, is organized annually by the Asociación Argentina de Golf, which was formed in 1926. There’s a 36-hole stroke play qualifying phase (with the winner receiving the Kenneth R Gordon Davis Cup, introduced in 1932) followed by a match play competition with a 36-hole final.

Incidentally, the championship should not be confused with the Copa Peretra Iraola, which is awarded to the low amateur at the Abierto de Argentina.

San Andrés GC has hosted the event thirty times, it’s been held at Argentino sixteen times, and Lomas has staged the national Amateur on ten occasions. You’ll not find any of the following courses below as they’re currently not listed in our rankings for Argentina: Club Newman, CUBA Fátima, Hindú Club, Ituzaingó, Lomas and San Martín.

In addition, Montevideo in Uruguay (1900) and Flores (1902) are also not included as they no longer exist.