Carmelo

The championship 18 holes constructed in the wetlands at Carmelo were designed by two Robert Van Hagge protégés, Kelly Moran and Randy Thompson, from the American Golf Course Design Company. They created 67 acres of lakes from what was originally a swamp, building the holes from more than 1 million cubic yards of earth that was moved.

Opening in 2000, the course at Carmelo Golf Club has gained the reputation as one of the very best in South America, drawing many golfers to play here from all over the continent.

Only three holes (1, 3, and 10) are free from water hazards but don't get the idea that the use of water is excessively penal here as it isn't. Most of the time, the lakes are out of range and only the very wayward will be punished (apart from the 7th where the green is placed directly behind water) so hats off to Moran and Thompson for their imaginative and sympathetic use of water at Carmelo.

Many feel the 204-yard, par three 7th is the best hole on the property while others like the run of holes from 12 to 15 that begins with a right angled doglegged fairway that has water on both sides at the 12th.