Colombia’s best courses are private clubs. They can’t be booked online. A practical guide to the 4 real ways to gain access — and which works best for the international traveler.
Updated: April 2026 · By Pelecanus — Golf Tour Operator in Colombia — IAGTO Member
If you come from the United States, Spain, or Portugal, you’re used to booking a tee time online in two clicks. You choose the course, the day, the time, pay, show up. That’s how golf works in traditional tourist destinations.
In Colombia it doesn’t work that way. And that’s not a flaw — it’s the reality of a country where the best courses are private clubs with access systems designed to protect the member experience. For the international golfer, this means two things: (1) the great courses aren’t on the usual booking engines, and (2) you need to know the system to play them.
Contents of this guide
The Access Map in Colombia
Colombian golf courses can be classified into three categories based on access type:
1. Fully private clubs (majority of top courses): Require a member invitation or access through an authorized operator. Examples: El Rincón, Pueblo Viejo, Ruitoque, Farallones, Club Campestre de Cali.
2. Semi-private clubs with visitor access: Allow play with prior arrangement, frequently through operators. Examples: Karibana (semi-private resort), La Cima (subject to current policy).
3. Public courses: Very few in Colombia. Briceño 18 (opened 2017), La Florida (9 holes), and some university courses.
The vast majority of courses you’d want to play on a serious trip fall into category 1 or 2. In other words: there is no “book now” button on a website that works without an intermediary.
Why the Clubs Are Private
Understanding why is important so you don’t get frustrated with the system. Colombian private clubs aren’t private to exclude travelers — they’re private because membership finances the operation.
In Colombia, golf resorts like those in Punta Cana or Cabo San Lucas practically don’t exist. Courses don’t survive on tourist green fees because the tourist volume wouldn’t allow it. They survive on member dues, many families who’ve been in the club for generations, and internal tournaments. The visitor green fee is, for almost all clubs, a marginal income compared to monthly dues.
This has two direct consequences for the traveler:
1. Clubs don’t invest in tourism marketing. They don’t have sales teams oriented toward international travelers. First contact must be made with knowledge of how they operate.
2. Communication is often via WhatsApp, not modern websites. Schedules, availability, confirmations — everything goes through informal messages with the club pro or director.
The Four Real Ways to Play Private Clubs
Path 1: Member Invitation
If you know someone who is a club member, they can invite you as a “guest.” It’s the traditional method and the simplest if you have the contact. In practice, a foreign golfer arriving in Colombia rarely knows members at multiple clubs in different cities.
Path 2: Club Reciprocity
Many Colombian clubs have reciprocity agreements with clubs in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and other countries. If you’re a member of a club that has an agreement with, for example, El Rincón, you can request access through your home club. This system works but requires advance coordination (2–4 weeks) and only covers one course at a time.
Path 3: Authorized Golf Operator (IAGTO)
This is the most efficient route for the traveler who wants to play multiple courses in a single visit. An authorized golf operator — ideally a member of IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) — has established relationships with clubs and manages access on a regular basis.
The advantages are concrete:
• A single point of contact for multiple clubs and regions
• Management of tee times, caddies, transportation, and hotel in one package
• The operator knows the directors and pros personally
• Resolves unexpected issues (rain cancellations, schedule changes) without the traveler having to negotiate in Spanish
• Transparent pricing — no hidden surcharges on the green fee
Pelecanus, for example, has confirmed access to 23 courses in 6 regions and is a certified IAGTO member.
Path 4: Hotels with Agreements
Some boutique hotels in Cartagena, Bogotá, and Medellín have direct agreements with clubs for their guests. It’s a limited option — usually covers only one course — but works if your trip is based in a single destination.
What to Expect When You Finally Play
Once inside the club, the experience is completely different from a resort:
Mandatory Caddie
Almost all private clubs in Colombia require a caddie. It’s not optional. Caddies are professional club employees — many have been there for decades, know every line on every green, and are part of Colombia’s golf tradition. It’s customary to give an additional tip at the end of the round (20,000–40,000 COP, ~$5–10 USD).
Actual Dress Code
Collared polo shirt, long pants or golf bermudas, golf shoes (spikeless or soft spikes). Collarless shirts, athletic shorts, and sandals are not allowed. Club pro shops usually sell polos and caps if you’re missing something.
Cart or Walking
Some clubs allow carts, others require walking (especially on weekends or during internal tournaments). Caddies usually carry your bag if you walk.
Club Restaurant
Eating after the round is part of the experience. Club restaurants in Colombia maintain a strong tradition: well-executed local cuisine, relaxed atmosphere, and frequently with a view of the course. Don’t skip this part.
The Common Mistake of International Golfers
The most common mistake: arriving in Colombia expecting to “wing it” and arrange a round once you’ve landed. It doesn’t work. Tee times are booked 2–4 weeks in advance minimum, and during high season (December–January, Easter Week, June–July) it can be 6–8 weeks in advance.
The other wrong expectation: thinking that “paying more” resolves access. At Colombian private clubs, access isn’t bought directly — it’s managed through proper channels. A bad attempt to force the system can close doors permanently.
Top Clubs Where Pelecanus Has Access
For reference of what can be achieved with an IAGTO operator, these are some of the clubs Pelecanus can arrange access to:
• Bogotá & Sabana: El Rincón, Serrezuela, Pueblo Viejo, La Cima, San Andrés, Guaymaral, Club Militar, La Sabana
• Coffee Region: Club Campestre de Pereira (Pete Dye), Club Campestre de Manizales, Club Campestre de Armenia
• Medellín: Club El Rodeo, Club La Macarena, Club Campestre de Medellín
• Cali: Club Farallones, Club Campestre de Cali, Lake House
• Santander: Ruitoque (Nicklaus), Club Campestre de Bucaramanga
• Caribbean: Karibana (Nicklaus), Lagos de Caujaral, Country Club de Barranquilla, Club Campestre de Cartagena
That’s 23 courses covering the country’s 6 golf regions. With that network, a 7–10 day trip can combine Colombia’s best designs — something impossible to organize course by course from abroad.
See What the Experience at a Private Club Is Like
Related Content
- Caddie Culture at Colombian Clubs
- Golf at 2,600 Meters (8,530 ft): What to Expect in Bogotá
- Karibana: The Nicklaus Signature of the Caribbean
- Golf and Coffee: Coffee Region Itinerary
- The Complete Guide to Golf in Colombia
Ready to play golf in Colombia? Pelecanus is your local IAGTO-certified operator, with access to 23 courses across the country’s 6 golf regions.
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Frank Spitzer
Golf Tour Operator • IAGTO Member • RNT 171769
Frank runs the only specialized golf tour operation in Colombia, with direct access to 23 courses verified on the ground. From Bogota he coordinates itineraries that combine golf, gastronomy, and nature in a country with over 50 courses from sea level to 9,843 ft (3,000 m) altitude.