golf in argentina - Language: Spanish
Currency: Pesos - International Dialling Code: +54
- Voltage: 220V
- Time Difference: 3 hours behind GMT
- National Airline: Aerolineas Argentina www.aerolineas.com.ar
- National Tourist Board: www.argentinaturistica.com
- National & regional golf publications:
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A FIRST GLANCE AT ARGENTINA |
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by Keith Hewitt 
I landed at Buenos Aires airport in the morning having left New Delhi thirty-six hours before travelling via London; a tiring journey, but made easier by enough empty seats on the last leg for me to stretch out and sleep for a good eight hours.
Considering Buenos Aires is most probably one of the finest capital cities in the world it has, by comparison, seen few visitors. The refinements of this pleasantly clean city are as enjoyable as the natural beauty of the country's interior. A short distance outside the city and the skies look down on the wide open spaces of Patagonia and its rolling grasslands, the pampas, home to the rough riding gauchos, only too willing to show off their horsemanship and swirling accuracy with the boleadoras, used to bring down wayward cattle. Activities available for visitors are limitless, ranging from horseback-trekking in the Andes to gambling in a seaside casino; there is white-water rafting, sailing, exciting winter sports and even German Oktoberfests and Welsh Eisteddfods and naturally, golf. Visitors are as amazed at Argentina's fine wines, jungle waterfalls, colonial cities and penguin colonies as they are at the quality and extent of its golf courses.
 A view of Buenos Aires
In London, all my arrangements had been made easy by the efficiency of Latin American Travel, who arrange over three thousand holidays to South America each year. The ground handling of the operation in Buenos Aires, owned by Argentineans of British descend and more British than the British, could not have been smoother. For golfers their services even include arranging for a visitor to play at the more private clubs and fixing tee times. I met David Mackintosh, golf writer for the daily English language newspaper Buenos Aires Herald, an avid golfer who had been more than helpful in encouraging me to visit Argentina. David has kindly produced an excellent article on golf in his adopted country that will follow these personal observations.
After two or three days in Buenos Aires, during which time I visited a number of golf courses, I travelled to Bariloche.  Bariloche in early summer
Nearly two thousand kilometres away from the capital, the town of San Carlos de Bariloche, nestles in the "Alps" of Argentina, a well kept secret. I would rate it as one of the prettiest places I have seen and should I have been blindfolded until I was in the main square of the town I would have thought it was Switzerland. Charming pine houses and municipal buildings, cosy together around the main square with the residential side of the town above, spilling down the steep slopes that run to the huge lake of Nahuel Huapi. A busy ferry boat potters from end to end of the lake throughout the day, the municipal swimming pool packed with all ages balances on the edge of the lake while the whole area is surrounded by a backdrop of snowcapped mountains.  San Carlos de Bariloche I stayed at the Panamericano Bariloche Hotel, comfortable and well run it is located right in the centre of town. My large and spacious room led out to a sizeable balcony and panoramic views across the lake and mountains, a stunning setting. The five star Llao Llao Hotel, standing at the far end of the lake has a very good golf course. Although only nine holes at present, these are well established; the second nine are planned and when completed should make a perfect venue for major events. Winter in Bariloche is just as eventful. With a thick covering of snow the town and surrounding area changes its ball-gown and overnight becomes a major winter resort, with a wide selection of exciting pistes and a very popular après-ski trade for evening and late night revellers. It is a picture-book part of the world that sadly few know about.  Bariloche golf course On returning to Buenos Aires and finding myself with three days free of appointments, I golfed. My hostess was Carola von Waldenfels of the La Orquidea golf course, who kindly gave me the run of a two bedroom bungalow that golfers can rent bordering the course. La Orquidea is a very attractive and well designed layout and a pleasure to play. It was a quiet time of the year, so for those few days I had the course to myself, no one in front nor behind, a clear sky above and peace; naturally under those conditions my golf improved. My hostess had been in Argentina many years and travels extensively, including trips into Patagonia with the Indians and throughout the rest of this wonderful continent, as well as North America. The evenings were pleasantly spent in dining and interesting conversation. I have not had such a relaxing time in years.  Orquidea golf course |
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JUST A GLIMPSE by David Mackintosh Argentina, of course, is huge. Just a tiny bit smaller than Canada, longer up and down than the USA from coast to coast, it stretches lazily from dense northern tropical jungles to the Antarctic. And golf is played in all twenty-four provinces!
Undoubtedly the strongest early sporting influence came about as a result of the rich British-owned railway companies. Under their support and guidance imported sports such as football, cricket, rowing, bowls and golf were fostered and encouraged. That spirit lives on today. Imagine; world champion Argentine football exists thanks to the British.
With no shortage of funds, famous British and American golf course architects were engaged to build the best. Some of these are still the classics of today - a range that spans almost a hundred years from Mungo Park to Alister Mackenzie to the modern delights of Van Hagge and Ronald Freem. There are almost one hundred and eighty courses in the country - that's a great deal more than in the rest of the entire South American continent, so if your passion leans a little to the exotic, Argentina's your destination. From the sultry steamy northern Mesopotamia to the diamond-sparkling glacier region deep south, there is no limit to the wealth of golfing experience. Imagine, record collectors - here's where you can play the most southerly golf course in the whole world. Hit your longest drive and maybe, just maybe, it will reach the Antarctic.  San Andres golf course
You will most probably first arrive in Buenos Aires, Paris of the Southern Hemisphere, capital of the Tango. Nightlife abounds, till 5.00 am if that's your fancy, but save some energy and try some truly wonderful courses around the city limits. Tradition begs you take a glimpse of San Andres - St. Andrew's - and the Jockey Club - site of the 1970 World Cup, but if playing new-design challenges is your thrill, try either the new Pilar ('Piero') Golf Club or the even more water-endowed Buenos Aires GC. And of course, there's the beautiful parkland Ranalagh GC, home of Roberto de Vicenzo: not to be missed.
Just down the coast is Miramar - which if moved to the wilds of Scotland would surely be considered amongst the finest 'hidden gems'. With sparkling white-rollers breaking in from the South Atlantic, and small ground-owls that occasionally pop out of their burrows to say 'Good Morning', here is a links in the grand old style that will have you begging for 'just one more round, oh please'. Surely there are no finer seaside greens anywhere.
Exclusive private clubs, often difficult to gain access to in full season, as well as the usually more accessible, run 'semi-open' events, usually during the week, but sometimes at weekends as well, where visitors are welcomed.
Indeed, even where the clubs' rule is a visitor must be accompanied by a member, the very generous nature of the Argentine golfer means that if you don't know a soul should you turn up, you will almost invariably find a game and a new friend.
Don't forget to bring a handicap certificate with you. It not only identifies you as a player, but means you will be able to participate in the competition.
For a country so distant from the origins of the noble pastime of 'vi et arte', golf turned from sport to passion in Argentina at just about the same time as it took the United States by storm. The first Argentine Amateur championship dates back to 1895 - the professional Open came into being just ten years later. During the twentieth century, Argentina has produced the most extraordinary list of outstanding players. Not just the venerable Roberto de Vicenzo, winner of the Open Championship in 1967, whose two-hundred and forty plus wins worldwide far exceeds any other professional record. There was also Jose Jurado, who lost the Open in 1931 to Tommy Armour by a stroke and erstwhile British tour notables such as Martin Pose, Marcos Churio, Enrique Bertolini, Fidel de Luca and Antonio Cerda. Current top stars such as Vicente Fernandez, Jorge Berendt, Jose Coceres and the redoubtable Eduardo Romero still find time to play the Summer circuit in Argentina and as crowds are small by European standards, there's a lot to be said for picking a holiday date to coincide with events such as the Argentine Open (December) or the Mar del Plata Open (January). A gaucho rounds up his horses
In every way, if you dream about great golf, magnificent food, finest wines and splendid company, you will be hard pressed to find a more hospitable site in the Southern Hemisphere, or indeed anywhere else in the world. Didn't I mention eating? Sorry, I got carried away with the golf. Argentina is the meat country. Everywhere you go,you will find the most delectable steak meals you have ever tasted, and being invited to an 'asado' - an outdoor barbecue of tender, succulent beef and all the trimmings, including things you have never even considered tasting before - will be a lifetime experience.
Argentine people love to eat out, drink fine local wines - didn't you know this is also the great wine country of the continent - and as a result there are a vast number of fine restaurants in most cities and towns. Beef, lamb and chicken on the grill, plus a salad and a local Cabernet Savignon (try Luigi Bosca or Trapiche) are staples. To balance the red meat intake, with such a high proportion of Italian immigrants years back, pasta dishes everywhere are particularly good and tasty.
The special restaurant zones are the Recolieta and the Costanera, where you will be over-spoilt for choice - there are something like thirty restaurants side by side on the Costanera trying to grab your attention! End |
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Argentina 