Gavea Golf and Country Club
Gavea is the most prestigious golf club in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most dramatically sited in the Americas, its fairways wedged between the sheer face of Pedra da Gavea, the Tijuca forest and the Atlantic at Sao Conrado. A par 69 of modest length, it is all about position, beauty and history.
Photo: Diego Lima via Google.
The verdict
Founded in 1921 as the Rio de Janeiro Golf Club by expatriate engineers and managers, and renamed Gavea Golf and Country Club a few years later, this is the grand old club of Brazilian golf. The Scottish architect Arthur Morgan Davidson had an 18 hole layout in play by 1929 and stayed on for two decades. Stanley Thompson later remodeled several holes, and in 2013 Gil Hanse contributed further design work, giving the course a lineage as rich as any in South America.
At a par 69 of about 5,986 yards it is short by modern standards, but length was never the defense here. The course sits in a tight, spectacular amphitheater between the granite tower of Pedra da Gavea and the beach at Sao Conrado, where accuracy, smart positioning and a steady nerve matter far more than power. It is private and exclusive, so a round usually comes through a member or a specialist arrangement, but for the traveling golfer it is the prize of a Rio trip.
Gavea Golf and Country Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1921
- Designers
- Arthur Morgan Davidson, Stanley Thompson, Gil Hanse
- Type
- Parkland by the sea, 18 holes
- Par
- 69
- Yardage
- About 5,986 yds
- Access
- Private members club
Founding, design lineage, par and yardage verified June 2026 against Top 100 Golf Courses and leading databases. Founded in 1921, the course was shaped by Arthur Morgan Davidson with later work by Stanley Thompson and, in 2013, Gil Hanse; it plays to a par 69 of about 5,986 yards. Gavea is a private members club with no published public green fee, so any guest rate is arranged through the club and is indicative; always confirm access directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
Gavea divides naturally into two contrasting halves. The opening holes work across flatter ground near the clubhouse and the sea, while the back stretch climbs toward the towering granite of Pedra da Gavea, the holes squeezed between rock, forest and the boundaries of the city. The change in mood from links like openness to mountain enclosed drama is part of what makes the round memorable.
Because the corridors are tight and the greens well defended, the course asks for control rather than length. Finding the correct side of each fairway, then judging approaches into small targets framed by trees and slopes, is the whole game. Wayward hitting is punished by the forest and the terrain, so the better player here is the one who plots a careful way around.
Above it all stands Pedra da Gavea, the immense flat topped peak that gives the club its name and its unmistakable backdrop. Few courses anywhere are framed so theatrically, with the rock on one side and the Atlantic on the other. For visitors lucky enough to secure a game, the setting alone justifies the effort it takes to get on.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitor play is limited and generally by introduction through a member or a recognized club |
| Green fee | No published public green fee; any guest rate is arranged through the club and is indicative for 2026, confirm directly before any visit |
| Booking | Arrange well in advance through a member, your home club or a specialist; weekends are reserved for members |
| On the day | The dress and etiquette of an exclusive members club apply; caddies are part of the tradition |
| Getting there | Sao Conrado in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, close to the beach and about 30 minutes from the city center |
| Best months | April to October, Rio's drier and cooler season, is the most comfortable for golf |
Access verified June 2026; Gavea is private and its policies change, so always confirm arrangements directly with the club or your trip planner before planning a visit. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors to Gavea stay in the beach neighborhoods of the South Zone, with Sao Conrado on the doorstep and Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana a short drive along the coast. A South Zone base puts the club, the beaches and the city's restaurants and culture all within easy reach.
Rio rewards a few days beyond the golf, with Sugarloaf, Corcovado and the Tijuca forest all close at hand. For a golf focused trip the club pairs naturally with the other leading courses of southeastern Brazil, such as Sao Paulo Golf Club a short flight away.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro near Sao Conrado.
Plan a Rio de Janeiro golf trip
Where access allows we arrange the introductions, pair Gavea with the best of Brazilian golf and book the beachfront lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gavea Golf and Country Club questions
Who designed Gavea Golf and Country Club?
The Scottish architect Arthur Morgan Davidson had an 18 hole course in play by 1929. Stanley Thompson later remodeled several holes, and Gil Hanse contributed further design work in 2013. The club was founded in 1921.
What is the par and length of Gavea?
Gavea plays to a par 69 of about 5,986 yards. It is short by modern standards, but its tight corridors and dramatic setting below Pedra da Gavea make positioning and accuracy the priority over length.
Can visitors play Gavea?
Gavea is a private members club. Visitor play is limited and generally arranged by introduction through a member, a home club or a specialist, with weekends reserved for members, so confirm access well in advance.
Where is Gavea Golf and Country Club?
The club is in Sao Conrado in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, between Pedra da Gavea, the Tijuca forest and the beach, about 30 minutes from the city center.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding, design lineage, par and yardage verified June 2026. The club is private; confirm access directly. Last reviewed June 2026.