Advice on upcoming golf trip to Argentina

[Michael Wolf]

I'm headed to Argentina in March for what will likely be the only visit I'll ever make. So I'd welcome any advice or contacts for my trip.


Based on the Confidential Guide recommendations, my current plans are to stay in Buenos Aires and play 36 holes at The Jockey Club, plus San Andreas and probably Buenos Aires GC. And then fly to Cordoba and play El Potrerillo de Larreta and Cordoba GC. And then add another course or two based on recommendations of the caddies or locals I meet while I'm there.


Questions:


- How do you get to Mar Del Plata and how hard is it to access?
- Is there any way to visit Ellerstina and should I make a large effort to try?
- Has anyone been to CdG del Uruguay in the past decade and is the ConfGuide review still accurate?
- Are there any courses in Peru, or anywhere else en route to Argentina, that I should consider adding? Especially since I'll already have travelled so far to get (somewhat) close by
- Is the in-town clubhouse for The Jockey Club very "golfy" ? The online photos certainly look elegant. But I'd like to know if there's much golf memorabilia/history/art inside


Thanks for any help you can provide. Sincerely,
Michael

[Tom_Doak]

Sent you a sitemail.


Nobody had anything good to recommend in Peru, apart from the food there!

[Adam Lawrence]

It's not Argentina but Uruguay -- but I have always liked the look of Las Piedras in Punte del Este, designed by Thad Layton of Palmer Design.

[Tal Oz]

Michael,
I'm currently in Argentina myself. Just played Jockey Club 2 days ago. I'm back home stateside next week, I'll PM you and we can discuss.

[MClutterbuck]

I'm headed to Argentina in March for what will likely be the only visit I'll ever make. So I'd welcome any advice or contacts for my trip.


Based on the Confidential Guide recommendations, my current plans are to stay in Buenos Aires and play 36 holes at The Jockey Club, plus San Andreas and probably Buenos Aires GC. And then fly to Cordoba and play El Potrerillo de Larreta and Cordoba GC. And then add another course or two based on recommendations of the caddies or locals I meet while I'm there.


Questions:


- How do you get to Mar Del Plata and how hard is it to access?
- Is there any way to visit Ellerstina and should I make a large effort to try?
- Has anyone been to CdG del Uruguay in the past decade and is the ConfGuide review still accurate?
- Are there any courses in Peru, or anywhere else en route to Argentina, that I should consider adding? Especially since I'll already have travelled so far to get (somewhat) close by
- Is the in-town clubhouse for The Jockey Club very "golfy" ? The online photos certainly look elegant. But I'd like to know if there's much golf memorabilia/history/art inside


Thanks for any help you can provide. Sincerely,
Michael

Michael, get in touch with me privately re Ellerstina. It is not the same course Tom Doak saw. We can discuss privately.


Unless you want to eat extremely well, skip Peru and add Patagonia for golf. I am biased, but I think you will enjoy San Martin de los Andes and golf there. Play Chapelco and El Desafio. Maybe add Llao Llao.


Mar del Plata is relatively easy to get to, 5 hours by car, or a short flight. Well worth it. Should be great and not crowded in March. No access problem in March unless there is a tournament.


Golf Club del Uruguay can be added as a side day trip from Buenos Aires, via ferry. But Covid rules are so dumb these days, i would not add a second country. You risk getting stranded in Montevideo.


Jockey Club is golfy, with a member. San Andres has a ton of memorabilia, including all of its Scottish origin and members.

[Tony Dear]

I played CdGdU at the end of the 2019 with the pro and club Captain. Though, as Tom said in 'Confidential Guide', a lot of the Mackenzie has been lost, it was still very enjoyable. The routing's still the same and squeezing 18 holes (half a dozen very good holes) into 80 acres or so without it feeling cramped at any point was incredible. As MClutterbuck (forgive me, don't know full name) says, adding a second country to your trip maybe more trouble than it's worth and I'm not sure CdGdU is worth getting stranded for. But if you can get in and out without too much bother, I'd think it worth the effort.

[Thomas Dai]

Micheal,
A couple of GCA threads you might like to peruse -
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,38901.0.html
&
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,51776.msg1185383.html#msg1185383
atb

[Carl Nichols]

I don't disagree with anything that's been written already, just have some additional thoughts:


1.  Definitely rent a car, whether or not you go to Mar del Plata.  BA is a huge city and the courses are really spread out--and driving isn't nearly as difficult as some people say.


2.  Check the entry requirements; my wife and mother-in-law are actually flying to BA tomorrow and it seems like they need proof of vaccination, a negative covid test, and "medical travel insurance."


3.  I would play Olivos over Buenos Aires Golf Club.  Of the courses I've played in greater BA, Olivos is my second favorite (with Jockey Club Colorada #1).


4.  I've only been to the in-town Jockey Club once--it's a very cool building but I just don't recall if it's very golfy.


5.  I agree with Marcus that getting to Patagonia--especially San Martin de los Andes--would be great.  It's a spectacular part of the world and that's a great time of year to visit.


6.  Enjoy the steak!

[Wayne_Kozun]

6.  Enjoy the steak!

And the red wine!