Llao Llao Golf Course
The golf course at the Llao Llao resort is not the longest in Patagonia, but it may be the most beautiful place to play in Argentina. An 18 hole par 70 wrapped around a forested peninsula between glacial lakes and the Andes, it is the round most couples and resort guests remember from a Bariloche trip.
Photo: Llao Llao Hotel and Resort via Google.
The verdict
Llao Llao is part of the most famous resort in Argentine Patagonia, a grand lakeside hotel that has welcomed guests since 1940. The golf shares that history. Luther Koontz, who worked alongside Alister MacKenzie when the great architect visited South America, laid out the original nine holes in 1940, and a second nine was added in 1994 by Emilio Serra to complete the eighteen that play today.
At a par 70 of about 5,888 yards it is a short and walkable course, more a pleasure than a brute, and that is the point. The drama here is the setting: fairways that run between native forest and the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Moreno, with the snow streaked Andes rising on every side. For the traveling golfer it is a round to savor rather than to grind, ideally paired with the longer, sterner Chapelco a few hours north.
Llao Llao Golf Course at a glance
- Front nine
- Luther Koontz, 1940
- Back nine
- Emilio Serra, 1994
- Type
- Lakeside parkland, 18 holes
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 5,888 yds
- Access
- Resort and visitor play
Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026 against leading course databases and the resort. Luther Koontz laid out the original nine in 1940 and Emilio Serra added the second nine in 1994; the eighteen plays to a par 70 of about 5,888 yards, with a rating near 67.8 and a slope around 119. Green fees and club rental are set in Argentine pesos and move with the season and the exchange rate, so treat any figure as indicative for the 2026 southern summer and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
This is a course defined by its setting more than its severity. The fairways thread between stands of native forest and open to views of the lakes and mountains at almost every turn. The original Koontz nine has the older, more classical feel, with smaller greens and natural contours, while the Serra nine adds length and a little more modern shaping.
Because the course is short, the premium is on accuracy and touch rather than power. Trees, slopes and the occasional water feature ask for position off the tee, and the greens reward a soft, well judged approach. It is a layout that flatters the holiday golfer while still giving the better player plenty to think about.
The real signature is simply the walk. Few rounds anywhere place you so completely inside a landscape, with the Llao Llao hotel on its hill, the deep blue of Nahuel Huapi below and the Andes filling the sky. Take a camera, take your time, and treat the score as a secondary concern.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to resort guests and visitors; resort guests receive priority on the tee sheet |
| Green fee | Set in Argentine pesos with separate club rental; indicative for the 2026 season and the exchange rate, confirm directly before booking |
| Season | The Patagonian golf season runs roughly November to April, with the long summer days at their best from December to February |
| Getting there | On the Bustillo road about 25 km west of Bariloche, reached via Bariloche Airport |
| On the day | Tee times are managed by the resort; last starts are early to mid afternoon, so book the morning for a full day |
| Pair it with | Chapelco at San Martin de los Andes, about three hours north on the Seven Lakes road |
Access and fees verified June 2026; tee times and rates are managed by the resort and move with the season and the peso, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the Llao Llao Resort, Golf and Spa itself, the five star hotel on the peninsula whose guests play the course on their doorstep and enjoy the spa, the lake and the surrounding national park. It is one of the grand hotels of South America and a destination in its own right.
Bariloche town, a short drive east, offers a wider range of lodges and hotels along the lakeshore, with restaurants, chocolate shops and boat trips on Nahuel Huapi. Either base puts the course, the lakes and the Andes within easy reach for a relaxed Patagonian week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at the Llao Llao resort and around Bariloche.
Plan a Bariloche golf trip
We book the Llao Llao resort and its course, add Chapelco up the Seven Lakes road and arrange the transfers and tee times so all you do is play and take in Patagonia. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Llao Llao Golf Course questions
Who designed the Llao Llao golf course?
Luther Koontz laid out the original nine holes in 1940 and Emilio Serra added a second nine in 1994 to complete the eighteen. Koontz worked alongside Alister MacKenzie when the architect visited South America.
What is the par and length of Llao Llao?
Llao Llao is an 18 hole par 70 of about 5,888 yards, with a rating near 67.8 and a slope around 119. It is a short, walkable and highly scenic course rather than a long championship test.
Can visitors play Llao Llao or is it resort only?
The course is open to both resort guests and visitors, with resort guests given priority on the tee sheet. Green fees are set in pesos and move with the season and the exchange rate, so confirm directly before booking.
How do I combine Llao Llao with other Patagonia golf?
The natural pairing is Chapelco at San Martin de los Andes, about three hours north along the Seven Lakes road. Together the two courses make a complete Argentine Lake District golf and scenery trip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026. Green fees are indicative and move with the season and the exchange rate; confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.