Nearshore Americas

Guadalajara Golfing: High Leisure in Mexico’s Silicon Valley

By Duncan Tucker

Guadalajara’s swanky Country Club is the perfect place for golf enthusiasts to take a break from business or pass a few hours of their vacation playing a round or two on a world-class golf course.

First opened in 1909 near the iconic Vallarta arches that once marked the entrance to the city, the Guadalajara Country Club was frequented by the most elite members of society.

In 1942 the club relocated to a more central area just off Avenida Americas. Its brand new golf course was designed by John Bredemus, an American architect responsible for crafting many courses in the United States, including Houston’s highly rated Memorial Park.

Measuring 6,638 yards, the par-72 golf course is regarded as one of the finest in Mexico. Its 18 holes are spread across a classic parkland layout, featuring plenty of oak trees, moderate water hazards and sand bunkers, kikuyu grass fairways and small bentgrass greens which require accurate approach play.

Native Golf Great

The golf course is best known for hosting the annual Lorena Ochoa Invitational tournament, part of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. The tournament’s patron, Lorena Ochoa is a Guadalajara native who grew up playing on the course. (Her family home overlooks the 10th tee.)

Ochoa was the world’s top-ranked female golfer from April 2007 until her retirement in May 2010. The only Mexican golfer – male or female – to ever be ranked number one in the world, she is considered the greatest golfer her country has ever produced.

The Ochoa Invitational debuted in 2008 and is played each year in November. Competing for the $1 millionUSD prize money are the top five golfers in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, the next 26 players on the LPGA Official Money List and another five golfers invited through sponsor exemptions.

The tournament provides an opportunity to show people all over the world “that Guadalajara is the best and that Mexico can offer the highest quality and deserves the respect and admiration of everyone,” Ochoa said ahead of last year’s event.

The fifth edition of the tournament takes place this year from Nov. 8 to 11. Proceeds are donated via the Lorena Ochoa Foundation to the Barranca Education Center for children in Guadalajara.

Golf Facilities

For non-pros with a slightly higher handicap, a round of golf will set you back $65 USD (plus $10 if you want a caddy). Besides the main golf course, there is also a driving range for practicing your swing and a putting green for perfecting your end game.

Open daily, year round, from dawn until dusk, the Country Club accepts guests of members, and from Monday to Friday outside players are welcome if they show proof of membership in another country club. The club also hosts father and son tournaments and tennis competitions, as well as summer schools in swimming, golf, tennis and other activities for kids ages 3 to 11.

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The club boasts impressive facilities, including a clubhouse, bar, restaurant, banquet room, full-size swimming pool, a horse riding and show jumping course, children’s play area and several tennis courts. There is also a luxury hotel, the Fiesta Americana Grand Guadalajara Country Club Top of Form located beside the golf course on Avenida Americas #1551.

The club is located at Mar Caribe 260, Colonia Country Club, Guadalajara. Telephone: (+52)33364-80300 or (+52)33381-72858.

Narayan Ammachchi

News Editor for Nearshore Americas, Narayan Ammachchi is a career journalist with a decade of experience in politics and international business. He works out of his base in the Indian Silicon City of Bangalore.

2 comments

  • I hosted 2 clients at this wonderful course last week. The article is correct, it is possible to play here but the visitor needs to prove private club ownership elsewhere or have a friend or relative who is a member of this course. The course is full of water and sand and very challenging. Very beautiful. Also very costly. For all 3 of us to play 18 holes, with 2 carts and 2 caddies.. the cost was about $700 USD. Just so you know 🙂

  • In this blog I have found some valuable information about the Guadalajara Country Club was frequented by the most elite members of society. Actually If you would ask me for the two most popular games in the world, I would definitely go for golf and horse racing in the second place. Thanks and inform like this at all…