Brazil is known around the world for its football and samba music, but the country’s golf scene has quietly become one of the best places in South America to play the sport. Brazil has golf experiences that are just as good as those in more traditional places around the world. The country has a tropical climate that lets people play all year round, a wide range of landscapes from Atlantic rainforest to dramatic coastal cliffs and a growing collection of world-class championship layouts.
This carefully chosen list includes five of Brazil’s best golf courses, chosen for their championship pedigree, unique architecture, stunning locations and reputation in the international golf community. This overview of Brazil’s best golf courses is helpful whether you’re a seasoned golfer planning a golf vacation or a traveler looking to combine world-class golf with the country’s natural and cultural treasures.
How We Selected the Top Golf Courses in Brazil
The courses featured in this list were evaluated based on the following general criteria:
- Championship pedigree: hosting professional tournaments, Olympic games, or big national events
- Architectural Distinction: The quality of the design and the reputation of the course architects
- Beautiful Setting: Blending in with Brazil’s natural landscapes, like the coast, mountains, or forests.
- Awards and Recognition: Awards from industry magazines and the World Golf Awards
- Playing experience: the level of challenge, the conditioning and the overall quality of the golf experience
List of Top 5 Golf Courses in Brazil
- Campo Olímpico de Golfe (Rio de Janeiro)
- Terravista Golf Course (Trancoso, Bahia)
- Gávea Golf & Country Club (Rio de Janeiro)
- Quinta da Baroneza Golf Club (Bragança Paulista, São Paulo)
- Fazenda Boa Vista Golf Course (Porto Feliz, São Paulo)
A Closer Look at Each Golf Course
1. Campo Olímpico de Golfe (Olympic Golf Course) – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The Campo Olímpico de Golfe in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro is a special place in Brazilian golf history because it was the site of golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016, when Justin Rose won the gold medal. This 18-hole championship course is still Brazil’s best public-access course and a regular stop on the PGA Tour Americas, where the Brazil Open is held.
Course Overview
Gil Hanse, an American architect, designed the Olympic Golf Course. He made a modern layout that works well with the natural features of the site. The course goes through native wetlands, sand dunes and plants that grow along the Atlantic coast, giving it a links-like feel, like old-fashioned seaside courses. The design philosophy focused on being environmentally friendly and long-lasting, protecting the site’s natural ecosystem while building a world-class playing field.
Course Features
The layout is characterized by wide, undulating fairways that encourage strategic play, with native grasses and bunkers providing visual and tactical interest. The coastal location means wind management becomes a critical factor, requiring golfers to think carefully about club selection and shot shape. The course has been described as “extremely demanding” with narrow fairways and plenty of undergrowth, ensuring it tests every aspect of a golfer’s game.
Recognition and Awards
The golf community has always praised the quality of the Olympic Golf Course. Golf Magazine named it the Best New Golf Course of 2016 and Golf Digest gave it the Green Star Award for being environmentally friendly. The Golf Awards 2024, a prestigious event that honors the best golf courses in the country, named the course Brazil’s Best Golf Course.
Accessibility
One of the most unique things about the course is that anyone can take it. The Olympic Golf Course is open to everyone, unlike many of Brazil’s top clubs, which require membership or an invitation. This makes world-class championship golf available to both tourists and locals. The facility also has a strong social mission, running programs that make golf more accessible to everyone and give young people from at-risk communities more chances.
Contact Information
Website: www.campoolimpicodegolfe.com.br
2. Terravista Golf Course – Trancoso, Bahia
Terravista Golf Course is one of the most beautiful golf courses in South America. It is located in the beautiful village of Trancoso, on top of dramatic cliffs that look out over the Atlantic Ocean. Traveling golfers can’t miss Terravista, which is known as the largest golf course in Brazil. It has beautiful views of the ocean, is surrounded by native Atlantic rainforest and is known for its beautiful views.
Course Overview
Terravista opened in 2004 and American architect Dan Blankenship designed it. The layout covers 70 hectares of coastal land between cliffs and preserved Atlantic Forest. The course is now one of the most famous golf courses in the world. The British magazine The Pig Journal recently named it one of the ten most famous golf courses in the world.
Course Features
There are two distinct nines in the 18-hole layout. The front nine holes go through the Atlantic rainforest, which lets golfers see Brazil’s native plants and animals. The back nine holes are closer to the coast, with four holes right on the edge of stunning cliffs. The 14th hole, a par-3 with a green 150 feet above the water, is without a doubt the most famous. It has become one of the most photographed places in South American golf.
The course is located on 175 acres of the Terravista resort complex and its fairways are the largest in Brazil. The project kept the natural landscape and included archaeological digs that found signs of the Aratu and Tupiguarani cultures in what are now holes 14 and 15.
Recognition and Awards
People have always praised Terravista for being great. The course has won the World Golf Awards for Brazil’s Best Golf Course four times, making it the best place to play golf in the country. The Pig Journal’s list of the world’s ten most famous courses includes it, which shows how great the layout really is.
Facilities and Sustainability
The course has the best infrastructure, such as a closed-loop water system, automated irrigation and 100,000 meters of cart paths. The Terravista complex has more than just golf. It also has luxury accommodations, spa services and dining options that are perfect for travelers from other countries. The facility also has a social mission: it offers free golf lessons on Saturdays by appointment and runs a school to teach new players how to play.
Accessibility
While the course is associated with the Terravista resort, access is available to both resort guests and outside visitors through prior scheduling, making it accessible to traveling golfers.
Contact Information
Website: https://terravistagolf.com.br/
3. Gávea Golf & Country Club – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Gávea Golf & Country Club has one of the most beautiful settings for a golf course in the world. This Rio de Janeiro institution is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Tijuca Forest, under the famous granite monolith of Pedra da Gávea. It has one of the most beautiful settings for golf. The course is always at the top of the list of Brazil’s best and most memorable places to play.
Course Overview
The 18-hole layout of Gávea is on a beautiful piece of land in Rio’s São Conrado district, with the huge Pedra da Gávea mountain rising above it. The course goes through hilly terrain and then crosses a main road to get to the back nine, which is on land next to São Conrado beach, where lakes are in play.
Course Features
The course is a little over 6,000 yards long from the back tees, which is short by today’s championship standards. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for with strategic depth. The hilly terrain causes big changes in elevation and the layout twists and turns, so players need to be able to make precise shots instead of just using brute force. The course is called a “challenging charmer,” and accuracy and course management are more important than distance.
Holes 10 through 14 are especially memorable because they are next to São Conrado Beach and the lake adds more strategic elements before the course crosses back to finish the round.
Recognition and Prestige
Gávea is one of Brazil’s most exclusive private clubs and it gives members and their guests a unique experience. Its famous location at the foot of Pedra da Gávea and next to the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world, gives it a sense of place that is uniquely Rio de Janeiro. The club has hosted Brazilian Opens and is still a big part of Brazilian golf culture.
Accessibility
Gávea is a private club, so you usually need to be with a member to get in. But for those lucky enough to get an invitation, the course offers an unforgettable round of golf that combines championship-level play with one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world.
Contact Information
Website: http://www.gaveagolfclub.com.br/portal/
4. Quinta da Baroneza Golf Club – Bragança Paulista, SP
Quinta da Baroneza was named Brazil’s Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards 2025. It is the best example of Brazilian golf design and conditioning. This 18-hole course in Bragança Paulista, São Paulo state, is known as the best in Brazil and one of the best in Latin America.
Course Overview
Famous American architect Dan Blankenship designed Quinta da Baroneza in the “Scottish links” style, which focuses on using natural shapes, strategic bunkers and blending in with the landscape. The course is located in a private residential condominium that is surrounded by preserved Atlantic Forest, natural lakes, springs and forest trails.
Course Features
The 18-hole links-style course has different types of technical challenges and unique greens. The greens on the 9th and 18th holes are shaped like horseshoes, which makes approach shots and putting much more difficult. The course’s open layout and natural terrain are like those of traditional links courses, which means that golfers have to deal with wind, ground conditions and making creative shots.
Facilities
The club has modern training facilities, like a driving range and practice areas, but only members and their guests can use them. There is also a sauna, bar and swimming pool, as well as professional caddies who help players choose clubs and plan their course strategy.
Recognition
The World Golf Awards 2025 named Brazil’s Best Golf Course, which is the highest honor in Brazilian golf. It honors the best course design, condition and overall experience. This award solidifies Quinta da Baroneza’s status as the best golf course in the country.
Accessibility
Quinta da Baroneza is a private club with access restricted to members and their invited guests.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.golfpass.com/
5. Fazenda Boa Vista Golf Course – Porto Feliz, SP
Fazenda Boa Vista Golf Course is the best resort golf course in Brazil. It is about an hour away from the busy city of São Paulo. This championship layout is part of a private residential and resort development. Palmer Course Design created it, bringing the famous design philosophy of golf legend Arnold Palmer to the Brazilian countryside.
Course Overview
The land where Fazenda Boa Vista is located used to be a 3,500-acre sugar and coffee plantation. The course fits in perfectly with the natural tropical plants by using traditional architectural ideas that have worked well in the past. The layout is both strategically difficult and beautiful, which golfers of all skill levels like.
Course Features
The 18-hole course is famous for its beautiful landscaping and strategic problems. Natural obstacles like rolling hills and native plants test every part of a golfer’s game. The course design focuses on making smart decisions, with chances to take risks and get rewards throughout the round.
The larger Fazenda Boa Vista development has high-end accommodations, a spa and a full range of recreational activities, making it the perfect place to go golfing. The course has several sets of tees to accommodate players of different skill levels, so beginners will have a good time and experienced golfers will have a tough time.
Playing Experience
The course rewards strategic thinking and precise execution. Golfers will find opportunities for both aggressive play and more cautious approaches, with the design allowing players to choose their level of risk based on confidence and ability.
Accessibility
Fazenda Boa Vista is part of a private residential community. Access to the golf course is typically available to property owners, resort guests and their guests.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.golfpass.com/
How to Choose the Right Golf Course in Brazil
- Figure out what you need access to: If you are a golfer who travels and doesn’t know anyone with a club, the Campo Olímpico de Golfe in Rio has public access and championship-level golf. Terravista in Bahia is open to visitors who make plans ahead of time. Members of private clubs like Gávea, Quinta da Baroneza and Fazenda Boa Vista usually have to be with someone else.
- Think about where you want to be: Terravista (Bahia) and the Olympic Golf Course (Rio) both have amazing views of the ocean that can’t be beat. Quinta da Baroneza has Atlantic Forest surroundings for mountain and forest settings and Fazenda Boa Vista shows off the countryside around São Paulo. Gávea is a one-of-a-kind place to play because it is under the famous Pedra da Gávea.
- Check the Difficulty of the Course: The Olympic Golf Course’s tough design and Quinta da Baroneza’s strategic depth will appeal to championship-level players. All of the courses have more than one tee option, so they are good for both intermediate players and low-handicap golfers.
- Think about the weather and the seasons: Brazil’s tropical climate makes it possible to play golf all year round, but the weather can be different in different parts of the country. Some seasons may bring more wind to coastal courses, which makes them even harder. The cooler highlands near São Paulo have nice weather all year round, while Bahia stays warm all the time.
- Look at the resort’s amenities: Terravista and Fazenda Boa Vista have everything a traveler could want for a full vacation, including luxury rooms, restaurants and spa services. The Olympic Golf Course is a great place to play golf and is close to Rio’s beaches, restaurants and attractions.
- Recognition and Awards: The Olympic Golf Course (winner of the Golf Awards 2024) and Quinta da Baroneza (winner of the World Golf Awards 2025) have both recently won awards that prove how good they are. Terravista’s four World Golf Awards and its place among the top ten most famous courses in the world show how special it is.
The golf scene in Brazil has changed a lot over the years. It went from being a niche sport to a world-class destination that combines championship-quality design with the country’s stunning natural beauty. The five courses highlighted are the best in Brazil for golf and each one offers something different.
The Campo Olímpico de Golfe is Brazil’s best public golf course. It has hosted Olympic events and PGA Tour Americas events and was named Brazil’s Best Golf Course at the Golf Awards 2024. Terravista Golf Course, which is located along the dramatic cliffs of Bahia, is one of the ten most famous golf courses in the world and the biggest in Brazil. The iconic Pedra da Gávea mountain in the heart of Rio makes Gávea Golf & Country Club one of the most beautiful places to play golf. The World Golf Awards 2025 named Quinta da Baroneza Golf Club Brazil’s Best Golf Course. It is the best-designed and best-maintained course in the country. Fazenda Boa Vista brings Arnold Palmer’s design ideas to the countryside around São Paulo. It has both strategic challenges and all the amenities of a full resort.
Each course has its own strengths that make Brazil’s golf scene unique. The best choice for you will depend on what you want, whether it’s public access, coastal drama, urban prestige, championship recognition, or resort luxury. We urge golfers to check out these amazing courses and find out why Brazil is becoming one of the best places in the world to play golf.
As the global golf tourism market is expected to grow a lot by 2035, Brazil’s world-class courses are getting more and more attention from golfers around the world. These courses offer the best of Brazilian golf, whether you’re going on a golf vacation or just want to add some rounds to your trip to Brazil.
FAQ
1. What is the best golf course in Brazil?
The World Golf Awards 2025 named Quinta da Baroneza Golf Club in Bragança Paulista as Brazil’s Best Golf Course. At the Golf Awards 2024, the Campo Olímpico de Golfe in Rio de Janeiro was named Brazil’s Best Golf Course. Both courses are the best in Brazil for golf.
2. Can the public play at Brazilian golf courses?
Yes, but access varies significantly. The Campo Olímpico de Golfe in Rio is a public facility that welcomes visitors. Terravista in Bahia accepts outside players with advance scheduling. Most other top Brazilian courses are private clubs that require member accompaniment or guest privileges.
3. Which Brazilian golf course hosted the Olympics?
The Olympic golf tournament took place at the Campo Olímpico de Golfe in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, during the 2016 Rio Games. Justin Rose won the gold medal. Since then, the course has become a regular stop on the PGA Tour Americas, where the Brazil Open is held.
4. What is the largest golf course in Brazil?
Terravista Golf Course in Trancoso, Bahia, is the largest golf course in Brazil. The 18-hole layout spans 70 hectares of coastal terrain between cliffs and Atlantic Forest .
5. How many golf courses are there in Brazil?
Brazil has about 75 golf courses, which is a lot less than many other countries of the same size. But as golf tourism grows, the number of courses and the quality of the facilities keep getting better.
6. What is the best time of year to play golf in Brazil?
Due to Brazil’s tropical climate, golf is possible all year round, but the weather can vary by region. You can play in coastal areas all year, but the wind may change with the seasons. The area around São Paulo and Rio in the southeast has nice weather all year long. Summer (December to March) is warmer and sometimes rains. The Gramado area in Rio Grande do Sul has a unique European-influenced landscape that makes for cooler mountain golf.
