Clube de Campo de São Paulo

Set next to the Guarapiranga reservoir, the tree-lined fairways at Clube de Campo de São Paulo were carved from a large rainforest landscape located to the west of the Jardim Kioto city suburb. The club also offers its more energetic members the opportunity to participate in other sports such as sailing, tennis and equestrianism.

The golf course extends to just over 6,200 yards from the back tees and as nearly all the fairways are narrow playing corridors leading to small greens, precision play is the key to scoring well around here – wayward shots will be severely punished for those who stray too far from the short cut grass.

The round begins in rather unconventional style with a par three hole but, even more unexpected, four of the first eight holes are played as par threes, including back-to-back short holes at the 5th and 6th. With such a configuration, it’s hardly surprising to learn that the front nine holes measure over 400 yards less than the back nine.

On the inward half, the par four 16th is regarded as the signature hole on the card, doglegging severely right, past a small pond on the left to an undulating green. Two holes later, the par five 18th heads along the edge of the reservoir to an offset home green that’s protected by a couple of large bunkers to the front left of the putting surface.