Chapelco Golf Club

Few golf destinations in South America can match the sheer drama of Chapelco's setting. The course occupies the foothills of the Andes in Argentine Patagonia, where the fairways thread through native lenga beech and coihue forests against a backdrop of snowcapped peaks and the deep blue waters of nearby Lago Lácar. The design — attributed to Jack Nicklaus and his design group — leans into the natural topography rather than fighting it, with elevation changes, mountain vistas, and strategic bunkering that demand both shotmaking and patience.

San Martín de los Andes itself is one of Patagonia's most appealing towns: a small, Swiss-influenced resort village that draws visitors for skiing at Cerro Chapelco in winter and hiking, fishing, and golf in the warmer months. The course shares its name with that ski resort, and the dual-season character of the destination gives the club a polished, international feel without losing its Andean soul.

Wildlife crossings, unpredictable mountain winds, and the sheer visual distraction of the surroundings make concentration a genuine challenge here. The course rewards those who can stay focused amid the scenery, and most visitors report that holding that focus is, happily, almost impossible.