John Van Kleek designed the Founders course at the 36-hole Country Club of Bogotá in 1950 and it occupies a lofty site in the middle of the city. Host to numerous events, including the Colombian Open, it's a layout that's heavily influenced by water on many holes.
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John Van Kleek designed the Founders course at the 36-hole Country Club of Bogotá in 1950 and it occupies a lofty site in the middle of the city. Host to numerous events, including the Colombian Open, it's a layout that's heavily influenced by water on many holes.
Bogotá (Founders)
The Country Club of Bogotá dates back to 1917 but it occupied a couple of different sites before settling at its present location. American architect John Van Kleek (who worked for a while with Wayne Stiles before emigrating to South America) laid out the Fundadores and shorter Pacos y Fabios 18-hole courses for the club in 1950 and two years later it hosted the Colombian Open for the third time. The event has since been staged here on a further seven occasions (the last one taking place in 2000).
Playing to a par of 72, the Founders layout can be stretched to just over 7,200 yards, with holes occupying the western half of a property that extends to around 220 acres. Set out as two returning nines, the course has water in play at half the holes on the scorecard as fairways weave their way around several irrigation lakes.
Highlight holes include the first of the par threes at the 228-yard 5th (played over a pond to a heavily bunkered green); the par four 9th (where water threatens both the tee shot and the approach shot); the left doglegging par five 10th (rated stroke index 1), where the tee shot has to carry a lake in front of the clubhouse; and the par five 18th, which demands an aerial approach over a lake inlet to the home green.
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