Arelauquen Golf & Country Club. Eighteen Holes Among the Lakes and Mountains of Patagonia.
A private course on the edge of Bariloche — water on every horizon, the Andes above, and no public tee time channel to reach it from abroad.
Arelauquen Golf Course: Private Access in the Heart of Patagonia
There are very few golf courses in the world where you can stand on the first tee, look left and see a glacial lake, look right and see an Andean peak, and know that fewer than a handful of international visitors will play this course this season. Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is one of them.
Situated on the outskirts of Bariloche in Argentine Patagonia, Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is a full 18-hole, Par 72 private course designed by Vicente "Chino" Fernandez — one of Argentina's most decorated professional golfers. Consequently, the course carries the perspective of someone who competed at the highest levels of the game: every hole rewards strategic thinking over raw distance. Furthermore, the layout was built around the natural terrain rather than imposed upon it, which means that water, elevation, and native Patagonian forest are consistent features throughout the round — not decorative additions.
For international golfers traveling from the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, access to Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is arranged exclusively through vetted operators. Specifically, Argentine Golf Agency — an IAGTO-certified ground partner — holds a direct institutional relationship with the club. As a result, international groups cannot book independently: there is no online portal, no third-party booking platform, and no mechanism by which a golfer abroad can confirm a tee time directly with the club.
Course Specifications at a Glance
The Arelauquen Golf Course plays as a full 18 holes, Par 72, designed to challenge accomplished golfers while remaining accessible to a range of handicap levels. Electric carts are available and included in all AGA group programs. Notably, caddies are not available at Arelauquen — trolleys are the standard alternative for groups who prefer to walk. The course is open Tuesday through Sunday throughout the Patagonian golf season, which runs from October through April.
What Playing Arelauquen Golf Course Actually Looks Like
Arelauquen Golf & Country Club plays through a setting that rewards the golfer who pauses between shots. Moreover, the course sits within the broader Arelauquen complex — a private residential and country club development on the eastern outskirts of Bariloche — and was designed from the outset to work with the topography of the land rather than flatten it. The result is a layout with genuine elevation changes, natural water hazards, and views that are difficult to convey to someone who hasn't stood on the back nine.
Vicente "Chino" Fernandez is one of the most significant figures in Argentine golf history. Born in Córdoba, he spent the better part of three decades competing at the highest levels of professional golf, including multiple appearances at The Masters. When he turned his attention to course design, he consequently brought to it the perspective of a player who understood strategic architecture. At Arelauquen, that philosophy is visible on every hole: the most dramatic views align with the most consequential decisions. Furthermore, the course was built with the Patagonian wind in mind — a factor that international visitors consistently underestimate on first rounds.
The Role of Water and Elevation at Arelauquen
Water plays a consistent strategic role throughout the Arelauquen Golf Course. Several holes incorporate streams, ponds, and the influence of Lake Nahuel Huapi as genuine decision points on approach — not decorative hazards placed to look dramatic in photographs. However, the most memorable water feature is the approach on the par-5 closing hole, where the green site brings a lake hazard directly into the line of play. As a result, it regularly produces the most animated post-round conversations at the clubhouse.
Elevation change is the other defining feature of the layout. The outward nine climbs through native Patagonian forest — coihue and ñire trees frame many fairways — before delivering panoramic views from the high points of the property. Therefore, electric carts are not merely a convenience at Arelauquen: they are a practical necessity for most visiting groups, particularly on the back-to-back uphill sections of the front nine. Additionally, the back nine opens up considerably, which is where the Patagonian wind off Lake Nahuel Huapi becomes a factor on at least six holes. Groups visiting for the first time are consequently advised to take local guidance on club selection seriously — the conditions here bear little resemblance to North American or European parkland golf.
The Clubhouse and Post-Round Experience
The Arelauquen clubhouse is a genuinely local institution. In fact, it is a members' club where the post-round experience reflects Argentine club culture rather than international resort hospitality. For visiting groups from North America or the United Kingdom, this distinction is frequently noted as a highlight of the day: eating and socializing in a setting built entirely for Argentine members — not for tourists — produces an experience that no resort course can replicate. Moreover, the staffing and food at the clubhouse follow the rhythms of a private club, not a commercial operation, which means the lunch after a morning round at Arelauquen is a distinctly Argentine experience.
Natural water hazards — streams, ponds, and Lake Nahuel Huapi — are integrated into the strategic logic of the course. The par-5 finishing hole is the most photographed in Patagonian golf.
The front nine climbs through native forest with genuine vertical shifts. Electric carts are included in all AGA programs and strongly recommended for groups playing a full 18.
Coihue and ñire trees frame the fairways throughout. The rough is genuine rough — the course feels like it belongs to the landscape, not the other way around.
Wind off Lake Nahuel Huapi affects at least six holes on the back nine. Groups playing Arelauquen for the first time consistently find the conditions unlike anything they've experienced at home.
A members' club with no tourist infrastructure. The post-round lunch is an entirely Argentine experience — which visiting groups consistently describe as one of the best parts of the day.
Fairways and greens are maintained to private club standards year-round. March delivers the firmest, most consistent conditions of the season as summer moisture recedes.
How International Golfers Access Arelauquen Golf Course
This is the question every group leader asks, and it deserves a direct answer. Arelauquen Golf & Country Club does not have an online booking system for international visitors. Consequently, there is no tee time portal, no third-party reservation platform, and no mechanism by which a golfer in the United States or Canada can independently confirm a round. The club is a private members' institution, and visitor access is managed through a small number of vetted operator relationships.
In practice, this is not unusual for Argentine private golf clubs. Furthermore, it is the standard operating model across the country's most significant courses — from Jockey Club de San Isidro in Buenos Aires to Llao Llao Golf Club in Bariloche. The absence of a public booking system is, moreover, precisely what preserves the quality of the experience: these courses are not managing throughput, they are managing membership. As a result, the golfer who accesses Arelauquen through AGA is playing in conditions that bear no resemblance to a walk-in green fee experience.
Why you cannot book Arelauquen independently from abroad
Private clubs in Argentina manage their visitor access through institutional channels, not commercial booking systems. The club's members are Argentine nationals or long-term residents. Club administration communicates primarily in Spanish and operates on Argentine business rhythms. Therefore, a cold email from a golfer in Dallas or Toronto is not, in practice, a reliable way to secure a tee time.
Additionally, even in cases where initial contact can be made, the coordination of group tee times, electric carts, private transfers, and the logistical sequencing of a multi-course Patagonia itinerary requires the kind of on-the-ground relationship that takes years to build — not the kind that can be replicated from Google. AGA's relationship with Arelauquen is specifically the product of years of consistent operation, not a commercial listing on a booking platform.
What AGA Provides for Your Arelauquen Round
When Argentine Golf Agency arranges access to Arelauquen for an international group, the coordination covers every element of the round from hotel departure to return. Specifically, this means: confirmed group tee times arranged through AGA's direct club relationship, a private vehicle transfer from your Bariloche accommodation to the course and back, electric carts reserved and confirmed for the group, and a pre-round logistics briefing so every player arrives knowing exactly what to expect. Furthermore, all of this coordination happens before the group lands in Argentina — there are no on-the-ground surprises.
For group leaders coordinating a trip from North America, this matters considerably. The alternative — attempting to arrange access independently across language barriers, institutional norms, and a time zone gap — is not simply inconvenient. It is, in most cases, not feasible. Consequently, the decision to use AGA is not primarily a convenience choice: it is the only practical way to put an international group on the Arelauquen Golf Course.
"The most common thing groups say after their Arelauquen round is that they had no idea a course like this existed. That is precisely why they came with AGA — and why they couldn't have found it any other way."
Arelauquen and Llao Llao: The Patagonia Two-Course Program
Most international groups visiting Patagonia on an AGA program play two private courses during their time in the Bariloche region. The primary course is Llao Llao Golf Club — situated within the grounds of the Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, restricted to hotel guests and vetted operators, and the single most requested course on any AGA Patagonia program. Arelauquen Golf & Country Club serves as the natural complement for groups with time for a second round. Consequently, the two-course format has become the standard recommendation for groups spending five or more days in the region.
Why Two Courses Deliver a Better Patagonia Experience
Llao Llao and Arelauquen are entirely different rounds. Llao Llao is a shorter, more visually intimate course built on the tip of the Llao Llao peninsula — with lake views on three sides and a layout that prioritizes spectacle over length. Arelauquen, by contrast, is a full championship layout with elevation, strategic depth, and the kind of course management challenges that Llao Llao, by design, does not attempt. Furthermore, the two clubs sit in different parts of the Bariloche region, which means the drives offer different views of the same landscape. Playing both, therefore, gives a group the full range of what Patagonian private golf can be — one course for the visual drama, one for the architectural challenge.
Groups that commit to the two-course format almost universally recommend it to the next person organizing a Patagonia trip. Moreover, the logistics of playing both courses in a single program are straightforward when properly sequenced: AGA typically schedules Llao Llao in the morning and Arelauquen the following day, allowing time for the clubhouse experience at each without rushing. Additionally, the contrast between the two clubs — one inside a luxury resort, one a standalone private institution — is itself part of what makes the program memorable.
"Groups that play only Llao Llao leave with an unforgettable visual memory. Groups that play both Llao Llao and Arelauquen leave with a complete picture of what private golf in Patagonia actually is — and that is consistently the program they recommend to whoever is planning the next trip."
The Patagonia Golf Season: When to Play Arelauquen
The golf season at Arelauquen Golf & Country Club runs from October through April, with the southern hemisphere summer months — December through March — delivering the most reliable course conditions. However, understanding the trade-offs within that window is important for group leaders planning a first visit to the region. Each part of the season offers a different experience, and the right choice depends heavily on group priorities.
October and November: The Opening Season Window
The early Patagonian season brings mild conditions, low visitor volume, and the visual drama of the transition from winter. Consequently, the landscape is at its most vivid before the summer heat settles in. Course conditions at Arelauquen are typically playable from mid-October onward. Furthermore, November is widely considered one of the best months to visit: pleasant temperatures, long daylight hours, and accommodation availability that peak summer months cannot offer. Groups booking a November departure additionally benefit from the most flexible tee time windows at both Arelauquen and Llao Llao, and hotel room categories at Llao Llao Hotel & Resort are far more accessible than during January.
December and January: Peak Summer Conditions
The Patagonian summer brings the warmest temperatures and the longest days — late January rounds at Arelauquen can finish in full late-evening light, which is a remarkable experience on the longer holes. However, January in Bariloche is also the peak of domestic Argentine tourism. As a result, accommodation prices are at their highest, availability at Llao Llao Hotel requires significant advance lead time, and the summer wind patterns can be more unpredictable. Moreover, the course itself can become firm and fast in ways that require adjustment from golfers used to softer northern hemisphere fairways. Groups committed to a January or February window should consequently book all elements — hotel, tee times, internal flights — at least five months in advance.
March: The Recommended Shoulder Season
March is, in the view of most experienced Patagonia travelers, the finest month to play in the region. The Andean autumn light is extraordinary — arguably the most photogenic conditions of the Patagonian year. Furthermore, the crowds have retreated, course conditions at Arelauquen are firm and consistent after the summer, and accommodation availability is significantly more comfortable than mid-season. Additionally, the autumn colors moving through the native coihue forest give the course a visual character that summer rounds simply cannot match. Therefore, for groups with some flexibility on exact travel dates, a March departure is the recommendation AGA makes most consistently — and specifically the one that generates the most post-trip satisfaction across all Patagonia programs.
"The groups that get the most out of Patagonia are the ones that come in March. The course is at its best, the light over the Andes is unforgettable, and they have the place largely to themselves."
Arelauquen Golf Course: Frequently Asked Questions
Can international tourists play at Arelauquen Golf & Country Club?
Yes — but not independently. Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is a private members' club with no international booking system for visiting golfers. Access is consequently arranged through vetted operators like Argentine Golf Agency (AGA), which holds direct institutional relationships with the club. AGA coordinates tee times, electric carts, private transfers from Bariloche, and all logistics for international groups.
What are the green fees at Arelauquen Golf Course?
Green fees for visiting international groups at Arelauquen run approximately USD 300–450 per player per round, arranged through AGA. Electric carts are available and included in all AGA group programs. Caddies are not available at Arelauquen — trolleys are the standard alternative for groups who prefer to walk the course.
How many holes does Arelauquen Golf Course have?
Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is a full 18-hole, Par 72 course designed by Argentine professional Vicente "Chino" Fernandez. The layout incorporates natural water features, significant elevation changes, native Patagonian vegetation, and consistent views of the Andes and Lake Nahuel Huapi throughout the round.
How does Arelauquen compare to Llao Llao Golf Club?
Both are private clubs in the Bariloche region. Llao Llao Golf Club sits within the Llao Llao Hotel & Resort grounds — a shorter, more visually intimate course with water on three sides. Arelauquen, by contrast, is a full 18-hole championship layout with more elevation change and strategic depth. Groups on extended Patagonia programs typically play both — one for the spectacle, one for the architectural challenge.
What is the best season to play golf at Arelauquen in Bariloche?
The golf season runs October through April. November delivers excellent conditions with low visitor volume and strong hotel availability. January is peak summer — long days and warm temperatures, but highest accommodation prices and most domestic tourists. March is the recommendation most consistent with optimal conditions: firm courses, extraordinary Andean autumn light, and significantly fewer international travelers. AGA therefore strongly recommends March for groups with date flexibility.
Adding Arelauquen Golf Course to Your Patagonia Program
A round at Arelauquen Golf & Country Club is, for most international golfers, the kind of experience that recalibrates their sense of what golf can be. Not because the course is the most technically demanding they've ever played — but because the combination of the setting, the privacy, the absence of any resort infrastructure, and the genuine strategic challenge of the layout adds up to something that is difficult to find elsewhere in the world.
Arelauquen is included in AGA's extended Patagonia programs as a second course alongside Llao Llao Golf Club. Consequently, the two-course format has become the structure that most groups adopt after their first conversation with the AGA team. For groups with five or more days in the Bariloche region, both courses are furthermore achievable without any sense of rushing — AGA sequences the itinerary to allow a full clubhouse experience at each.
For groups on tighter itineraries, Arelauquen is typically the course that gets added when a group leader, having already confirmed the Llao Llao round, decides they want more. More Patagonian golf. More private access. More of the experience that motivated the trip in the first place. Moreover, the decision to add Arelauquen is almost never regretted — in practice, the groups that play both consistently describe the combination as the defining experience of the trip.
To include Arelauquen Golf & Country Club in your program, the first step is reaching out to AGA with a travel window and estimated group size. AGA will therefore confirm availability at both courses, propose the optimal sequencing, and respond with a complete Patagonia program proposal within 48 hours. Specifically, no fixed dates or confirmed headcount are required at this stage — the goal of the first exchange is simply to establish what is available for your group's preferred window.
Include Arelauquen in Your Patagonia Golf Program
Tell us your travel window and group size. We confirm availability at Arelauquen and Llao Llao and respond with a complete Patagonia program proposal within 48 hours.