Pilar Golf is looking forward to staging the Women’s Amateur Latin America championship (WALA) for the third time later this month (15–18 November).
The championship will welcome 60 of the best Latin American and Caribbean amateur golfers as they showcase their skills at the esteemed venue in Argentina.
Located north of Buenos Aires, 60km from the Argentine capital, Pilar Golf offers the perfect setting. The course was designed by The Ronald Fream Plan Design Group, based in the United States of America. The course is divided into three nine-hole layouts – Blue, White, and Red (a total of 27 holes) – with wide fairways, generous and undulating greens, abundant bunkers and water features.
Premier venue
Opened in 1992, it is a relatively new course, but has become one of the country’s most important venues having hosted the Argentina Open (2006 and 2011), the Professionals Championship of Argentina (2002, 2003) and the Stroke National Championship (1994, 2000, 2005).
In addition, Pilar Golf has excellent facilities for players and spectators. The club offers first-class services, including an impressive clubhouse, modern locker rooms and a high-quality restaurant. Golfers and sports fans can enjoy a unique experience. In recent times, the Hilton chain has its five-star hotel located within Pilar Golf.
More recognition of its quality was to come in 2015 when The R&A, the Masters Tournament and the USGA chose Pilar Golf to host the first edition of the Latin America Amateur Championship, a pivotal event for men’s amateur golf in the region, which was won by Matias Domínguez of Chile.
In 2021, the venue achieved another milestone as it was selected by The R&A and ANNIKA Foundation to host the first-ever Women’s Amateur Latin America championship. The championship saw Valery Plata of Colombia make history as the inaugural champion. Last year, the championship returned to Pilar Golf where Valentina Rossi of Argentina emerged victorious.
Tee shot strategy
The R&A Latin America and Caribbean office, headed by Director Mark Lawrie, along with the Argentine Golf Association and the AAG High Performance Centre, are also located at Pilar Golf.
The course conditions for the third staging of the championship are expected to be optimal, and a slight adjustment in preparation for this edition could be the decisive factor in determining who can earn the maximum benefit from their tee shots. “We have expanded the fairways, and given the ongoing drought for the past 18 months, they will be firmer,” reveals Matías Rómoli, Course Superintendent at Pilar Golf.
“If the ball hits the right spot, it will run significantly, enabling players to approach the green closely. Thus, strategic play from the tee is crucial,” concluded Rómoli.
The Women’s Amateur Latin America championship, presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, serves not just as a sporting event, but also as a platform to encourage female golfing talent in the region. The new edition at Pilar Golf is expected to be a success and will forge a lasting legacy in women's golf throughout Latin America.
The 2023 champion will play alongside the stars of women´s professional golf from around the world in three major championships next year: The Chevron Championship (in April at The Club at Carlton Woods, United States), The Amundi Evian Championship (11–14 July at the Evian Resort Golf Club, France), and the AIG Women´s Open (21–25 August over the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland). 
