Opened in June 2018, the Termas de Rio Hondo Golf Club is situated in the northern Argentine province of Santiago del Estero and was designed by the American firm of Robert Trent Jones II.

According to a press release issued to announce its opening, the course is expected to help grow tourism to the region alongside a world-class Formula 1 and Grand Prix motorcycle racetrack, new airport, national museum of art and history and historical habitat preserve.

Weaving along a large wetland/marsh habitat while negotiating natural ravines and bordered by the Rio Dulce (“Sweet River”), the Termas de Rio Hondo course features an abundance of sun-loving vegetation reminiscent of arid areas of Nevada and Spain. Fairways are wide and engaging, giving golfers room to play in the changing winds. The golf course is planted in Paspalum grass throughout, selected for its ability to thrive on the site’s salty soil base and compatible with northern Argentina’s summer weather. The local climate invites year-round play.

The design at Termas de Rio Hondo Golf Club takes “flexibility” to a new dimension in championship golf course setup. Two holes – No. 6 and No. 9 – can be played either as a par 4 or par 5, while No. 15 provides the option to be a par 3 or par 4, allowing the golf course to be set up differently every day. The course can play from 5,137 to 7,510 yards, and as a par 72 or 73. The “ribbon tees” are merely extensions of the fairway and make the course playable for any and all golfers.

“A key component to playing Termas de Rio Hondo will be to stay below the wind and use your imagination,” said Bruce Charlton, President and Chief Design Officer for RTJ II. “The greens do not always require an aerial shot, so playing the ground game is essential. The course requires a different style of play.”

“With the spacious design of this golf course,” Jones added, “we have created a premier venue deserving of a championship-level golf tournament.”