Club de Golf del Uruguay

Overlooking the tranquil waters of the Río de la Plata sits the Club de Golf del Uruguay. It’s more than just a golf course. It’s a living testament to a century of sporting passion and social gatherings in Montevideo. The club, founded in 1922, started as the “Uruguay Golf Club”. Its first president, Haroldo Capurro, along with 30 other founding members, saw the potential for a vibrant sporting community. They met in the offices of Mundo Uruguayo magazine, a publication owned by the Capurro family, to establish the club. The initial goal was to manage the existing nine-hole course in Punta Carretas. This course was built by the Municipal Administration Council to attract tourists to the area’s hotels. By the end of 1922, membership had grown to 180. The Club de Golf del Uruguay was quickly becoming a popular destination. The nine-hole course eventually transformed into the 18-hole masterpiece we see today. It was designed by the renowned Scottish golf architect, Alister MacKenzie. This 6,635-yard course opened in 1934, just in time for the 2nd Torneo Abierto de Montevideo. The club’s course, officially known as Parque de las Instrucciones del Año XIII, has hosted prestigious tournaments, including the Copa Los Andes and the Roberto De Vicenzo Invitational Copa NEC. It’s a significant landmark, declared a national monument in 1975, open to the public on Sunday afternoons, with exceptions for winter and international tournaments. While golf is its heart, the Club de Golf del Uruguay embraces a diverse range of sports. From rugby and hockey to basketball and yoga, the club fosters a spirit of competition and camaraderie. The club’s rugby team, “Los Cuervos” (The Crows), known for their black uniforms, was formed in 1959 and competes in the Campeonato Uruguayo. Even a field hockey section adopted the “Cuervos” nickname and black kit in 2018. The Club de Golf del Uruguay even publishes its own Golf Magazine, chronicling the club’s vibrant social life and sporting events. It is a testament to how a shared passion for sports can build a community. The Club de Golf del Uruguay is more than a sports club. It’s a piece of Montevideo’s history, a place where sport, social life, and the city’s beautiful landscape intertwine.