Located in the heart of the City of Buenos Aires, it is one of the few public golf courses in Latin America. Bearing Alister MacKenzie’s signature, between 150 and 200 golfers play here daily. 

Golf Club Argentino was inaugurated in 1905, but not at its current Del Viso headquarters, but rather at what is now the City of Buenos Aires Golf Course. That was its home until 1949 when it was expropriated, but we are not concerned with the political issue but rather with the fabulous golf course we still have, which is one of the great gems of Argentina.

With a low maintenance budget, a need for a proper “Tree Management Program,” distances that perhaps need updating for today’s technology, and lacking a grand Clubhouse—this incredible golf course with city views still manages to ensure that golfers of any skill level enjoy an entertaining and, at the same time, challenging round.

The 18th green with the clubhouse in the background. 

We had the pleasure of visiting it a week ago, still under strict protocols caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we rediscovered a masterpiece of golf architecture. It is perhaps one of the top five designs in the country. It is unofficial and unconfirmed that Dr. Alister MacKenzie, during his visit in the early 1930s, made some touches to the greens. While there are no blueprints or written testimonies, the Doctor’s imprint is visible in several false fronts, shedding edges, and even two double greens. One very short, another very long, a well-elevated green, and one where the shot must go over the trees, make the set of par 3s one of the best in Argentina.

The course maintenance was good, especially considering that, for the first time, they did not overseed the greens with winter grass and went several months without being able to mow it. What they clearly need is to work on a drainage system, attempt to achieve uniformity in the bunker surfaces, and clear some trees, either by cutting low branches or trying to thin out some groves. The woodland, designed by Carlos Thays, must be one of the most beautiful and complete in Argentina. We are not referring to removal, but rather giving more oxygen to the course soil. For example, in groves where there are 12 casuarina trees, leaving seven or eight will not modify the botanical design but will provide much better conditions for the grass to grow. And considering it is a course that receives between 150 and 200 players a day; this will make it much easier to maintain.

Let’s highlight some holes:

- Hole 1 is a short par 4 with an elevated tee, dogleg right, and a small false front. With water on the left side and out of bounds on the right, the tee shot is not easy.

The green of hole 1, protected by bunkers on the right and left.

- Hole 2 is the first of two holes with a double green (shared with the 9th), a narrow par 4 with another false front.

The green of the 2nd is also protected by two bunkers, in addition to a pronounced false front.

- Hole 3 is the other double green shared with the 16th, both with false fronts. It is a narrow-entry green, although by today’s standards, it is a short hole.

- Hole 5 is the longest par 3 on the course, with a considerable sized green and a pond in front that only comes into play for high handicaps.

The par 3 on hole 5 plays 180 yards from the back tees. 

- Hole 6 is a great par 5, with a characteristic MacKenzie green similar to the old 9th at Augusta National with a boomerang design. Out of bounds on the right and trees on the left make the second shot very demanding.

- Hole 7 is a par 3 where the tee shot goes over the trees, which makes distance calculation difficult; it is one of the most characteristic holes on the course.

Hole 7 is a dangerous par 3 that, from the tee, requires flying over a small grove of eucalyptus trees.

- Hole 10 and its elevated green facing views of the city’s buildings are one of the high points of the design, perhaps the best hole at the City of Buenos Aires Golf Course.

Missing the green makes it truly difficult to save par on the par 3 10th. 

- Hole 12 is a par 4 with a very nice tee behind the pond, which, along with the stream on the right side, makes the tee shot one of the most fun shots on the course.

The par 4 hole 12 plays up to 405 yards from the back tee. 

- The short par 3 13th, similar to Merion’s 13th in design, does not present great difficulty, but any mistake that isn’t in the bunkers will cost dearly.

The par 3 13th is the shortest hole on the course: it is 140 yards from the back tee. 

- The par 5 16th has a very nice dogleg right tee shot, then faces a narrow-entry green with a false front. It can be a birdie, but also a bogey if missed in the wrong place.

The City of Buenos Aires Course is a gem unknown to many that surprises with its entertaining and creative design and the wide variety of shots it demands, requiring the ability to move tee shots with both shapes. With a proper maintenance improvement plan, it is a course that could easily be among the top 20 in Argentina. Even as it is today, it is a place we recommend visiting, and for regular golfers, don’t fail to do so a couple of times a year—you will be surprised.