Golf in Bariloche: Llao Llao and Arelauquen

Bariloche has two 18-hole golf courses, and on both of them the scenery plays like an extra opponent. One sits on the Llao Llao peninsula, between Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Moreno; the other lies on the shore of Lake Gutiérrez, facing Cerro Catedral. Because of the weather, the season runs from October to April, and both welcome hotel guests as well as visitors.

The Llao Llao course is at kilometre 25 of Avenida Exequiel Bustillo, inside Nahuel Huapi National Park, just below the hotel designed by Alejandro Bustillo and opened in 1938. It is a par 70 with sloping fairways, tilted greens and bunkers that keep you honest, yet it stays playable for golfers of different handicaps. It started out as nine holes tucked into the forest and now has the full eighteen; the closing holes look out over Nahuel Huapi, with Cerro López overhead and, on clear days, Tronador in the distance. If you're short on time, a nine-hole round is also an option.

Arelauquen is on Route 82, about 15 minutes from downtown and 10 from Cerro Catedral. It is a par 71 designed with input from Argentine golfer Vicente "Chino" Fernández, and players who know both agree it is the longer and tougher of the two: water comes into play on holes 5 and 9, a stream crosses the 17th, and Lake Gutiérrez keeps you company for much of the round.

The two work well together in a single trip: Llao Llao for a more relaxed round with the picture-postcard views of the west, and Arelauquen to test your game on a more technical layout near Catedral. Getting from one to the other means crossing town, so it makes sense to give each its own day and spend the afternoon exploring the area.

• Tour type: Sport and sightseeing
• Difficulty level: Moderate (Llao Llao, suited to a range of handicaps); moderate to high (Arelauquen)
• Tip: The season runs from October to April; before you go, check each club's conditions for visiting players and book your tee time in advance.