Club de Golf Los Leones
Club de Golf Los Leones is widely regarded as the most prestigious golf club in South America, a mature parkland in the heart of Santiago with the Andes as its backdrop. A par 72 of more than 7,100 yards, it has hosted the world amateur championship and ranks at the very top of Chilean golf.
Photo: Ganesh R. via Google.
The verdict
Los Leones began life as the Santiago Golf Club in 1910 and, after a couple of moves, settled in the foothills of Cerro San Luis in 1934, where members including Alex MacDonald set out an 18 hole course. Generations of architects have refined it since, among them Eduardo Costabal in 1950, Bobby Muller in 2002 and more recently the respected British firm Mackenzie and Ebert, giving the layout a polish to match its standing.
Today it plays to a par 72 of about 7,132 yards, a mature, tree lined parkland tucked into the prosperous Las Condes district with the Andes rising behind. It hosted the Eisenhower Trophy, the world amateur team championship, in 1998, and is regularly rated the best course in Chile and among the finest in South America. The club is private and exclusive, so a game usually comes through a member or a specialist, but for the traveling golfer it is the crown of a Santiago trip.
Club de Golf Los Leones at a glance
- Founded
- 1910, present site 1934
- Designers
- Club members, Costabal, Muller, Mackenzie and Ebert
- Type
- Classic parkland, 18 holes
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,132 yds
- Access
- Private members club
Founding, design history, par and yardage verified June 2026 against Top 100 Golf Courses and leading databases. The club traces to 1910 and settled at its present site in 1934; later work came from Eduardo Costabal, Bobby Muller and Mackenzie and Ebert, and it plays to a par 72 of about 7,132 yards. Los Leones hosted the 1998 Eisenhower Trophy. It 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
Los Leones is a parkland of real maturity, its fairways framed by tall, established trees that turn many holes into tight, demanding corridors. Position off the tee is everything; find the wrong side and the timber blocks the line in, while the player who drives it into the correct spot is rewarded with a clear approach to well guarded greens.
The strength of the course is its balance and its conditioning, qualities that drew the Eisenhower Trophy here in 1998. The greens are firm and subtly contoured, the bunkering precise, and the recent work by Mackenzie and Ebert has sharpened the test without losing the classical character. The much praised short par four fourth is a particular favorite among those who know the course.
All of it plays out below the wall of the Andes, an ever present backdrop that gives even routine holes a sense of occasion. For visitors fortunate enough to secure a game, it is a chance to walk South America's most prestigious course in the kind of condition its reputation demands.
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 | Las Condes in the eastern part of Santiago, about 20 to 30 minutes from the city center, below the Andes foothills |
| Best months | September to April, the warm Chilean golf season, with the spring and autumn shoulders the most pleasant |
Access verified June 2026; Los Leones 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 stay in Las Condes or the neighboring Vitacura and Providencia districts in the east of Santiago, the city's most comfortable areas for hotels and dining and the closest to the club and the mountains. A base here keeps Los Leones, the city and the Andes within easy reach.
Santiago is also the gateway to Chile's wine country and the coast, and the club pairs naturally with a wider trip across the Andes to the great courses of Argentina, from Buenos Aires to Patagonia. For a focused golf week, the Chilean capital is the natural starting point.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Las Condes and eastern Santiago.
Plan a Santiago golf trip
Where access allows we arrange the introductions, pair Los Leones with the best of South American golf and book the city lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Club de Golf Los Leones questions
Why is Los Leones considered South America's best club?
Club de Golf Los Leones is widely rated the most prestigious golf club in South America for its history, its mature parkland design and its conditioning. It hosted the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team championship in 1998.
Who designed Club de Golf Los Leones?
The course was set out at its present site in 1934 by club members including Alex MacDonald, and refined over the years by Eduardo Costabal, Bobby Muller and, more recently, the British firm Mackenzie and Ebert.
What is the par and length of Los Leones?
Los Leones plays to a par 72 of about 7,132 yards. Mature trees, tight corridors and firm, subtle greens make accuracy and positioning the priority, all set below the Andes.
Can visitors play Los Leones?
It 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.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding, design history, par, yardage and host history verified June 2026. The club is private; confirm access directly. Last reviewed June 2026.