Sao Paulo in Brazil has some great golf courses with wonderful scenery, close to one of the world’s most vibrant, colourful and culturally rich cities. Here’s a quick rundown.
Only around 15km from the city centre, this is one of the most historic clubs in Brazil that has hosted two European Tour events. It’s a classic layout with tree-lined fairways, remodelled by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in 2005, that has stood the test of time. It’s surrounded by city centre buildings providing an urban golf experience, but it’s a quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle. Visitors are welcome, and Palacio Tangara and Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC are two affiliated hotels.
Located around a 40-minute drive west of the city centre, this is a testing course in lovely parkland surroundings which hosted ‘Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf’ series back in the 70s. Built in a valley with elevated tees and a wide variety of terrain, there is plenty of water with lakes featuring on many holes. Visitors are welcome to play here, one of the best and most impeccably maintained golf courses in the whole of Brazil, and the green fees aren’t too expensive.
Completely surrounded by nature, this course is set within 170 acres of valleys, hills and native forests only 30 minutes from the city centre. It’s a nice parkland layout with plenty of testing holes, blind shots and tee boxes for various abilities. The name translates to ‘green view’ and the views here are worth the trip alone. It’s another course open to visitors willing to pay the not-too-expensive green fees.
This club, about an hour by car west of the city, is part of the 4-star Novotel Itu Terras de Sao Jose Golf & Resorts, a great place to stay with all the family offering access to the golf course. It was one of the city’s first clubs to open its doors to non-members as well. It’s a highly manicured parkland layout and is regularly voted in Brazil’s top 10 courses.
American architect Brian Costello designed the 18 holes here in 2006, within a gated residential community around an hour’s drive from downtown Sao Paulo. Some holes sit on top of a ridge that offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the course’s main lake. It’s an enjoyable, strategic test which is well-maintained with plenty of water, and its open vistas provide constant panoramic views.
One of the most beautiful courses in Brazil, around 40km south of the city centre. Despite its exclusive look, it’s a club that’s very welcome to visitors and the green fees won’t set you back too much. There’s a great variety of holes, with water, doglegs left and right, and it’s surrounded by stunning forests with an abundance of flora and fauna.
This splendid 18-hole course is set within a lake-side resort, the 5-star Paradise Lake Hotel & Spa Resort managed by Club Med, with 245 rooms, a spa and a lake for water sports, round 50km east of the city centre. During the football World Cup in 2014, the Belgium team stayed at the resort. There’s plenty of water at the course and the signature hole is the par 3 second hole with an island green. It’s highly manicured with an abundance of palm trees. This is a great option for a golf trip to Sao Paulo, with the city within easy reach.
