Gavea Golf: 18-Hole Course in Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Gavea Golf (Gávea Golf & Country Club) is an 18-hole, par-69 golf course in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state (RJ), Brazil, designed by the Scottish architect Arthur Morgan Davidson; the club was founded in 1921 and took its current name in 1926. It is a private club, and visitors play as guests of members or of partner hotels on weekdays.

In brief: Gavea Golf is an 18-hole course between the Pedra da Gávea, the Tijuca Forest and São Conrado beach in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It measures 5,990 yards from the back tees. Visitors can play Tuesday to Friday with advance booking; weekends are for members. Call +55 (21) 3323-6050 or e-mail gaveagolf@gaveagolf.com.br.

Course and facilities at Gavea Golf

Course and facilities at Gavea Golf reflect a club that dates from 1921, when it was founded as the Rio de Janeiro Golf Club; it became Gávea Golf & Country Club in 1926. Arthur Morgan Davidson designed the course. It plays to par 69 from all tees, with 5,990 yards from the back tees, 5,622 from the club tees and 5,117 from the front tees, according to Where2Golf. The front nine climbs into hilly forest terrain; after nine holes you cross the road for five flat holes near the sea, and the last four return to the hills. In the 1990s, Dan Blankenship redesigned the greens on holes 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15 and added fairway bunkers. Gil Hanse, while working on the Olympic course in Rio, renovated holes 10 to 14. Practice areas include a driving range, a chipping green and a putting green. The club has caddies, carts, club rental, a pro shop, a bar, a restaurant, locker rooms, a sauna and a pool. Gávea hosted the Brazil Open 16 times between 1945 and 2014, with winners such as Billy Casper, Peter Alliss and Gary Player. Top100golfcourses.com ranks the course 4th in Brazil.

Access and booking at Gavea Golf

Access and booking at Gavea Golf are limited, because it is a private members’ club. Visitors can play from Tuesday to Friday as guests of members or of selected partner hotels, with advance booking; weekends are reserved for members. The course is closed on Mondays. Green fees are not published online, so please ask the club. Phone: +55 (21) 3323-6050 (office and pro shop). E-mail: gaveagolf@gaveagolf.com.br. Address: Estrada da Gávea, 800, São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22610-002.

FAQ about Gavea Golf

How many holes does Gavea Golf have?

Gavea Golf has 18 holes and plays to par 69 from every tee, with 5,990 yards from the back tees and 5,117 yards from the front tees.

Can visitors play at Gavea Golf?

Visitors can play at Gavea Golf from Tuesday to Friday as guests of members or of partner hotels, with advance booking; weekends are members only. Contact the club at +55 (21) 3323-6050 for rates and availability.

Who designed Gavea Golf?

Gavea Golf was designed by Arthur Morgan Davidson from Scotland, and the course was later updated by Dan Blankenship in the 1990s and by Gil Hanse. The club was founded in 1921 and renamed in 1926.

Where is Gavea Golf?

Gavea Golf is at Estrada da Gávea, 800, in the São Conrado district of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, between the Pedra da Gávea and the Tijuca Forest. The postal code is 22610-002.

Sources: course data of this site and the earlier listing, Where2Golf, top100golfcourses.com, as of 2 Nov 2026. The operator site gaveagolfclub.com.