The Course
La Macarena is Mahannah’s 1973 contribution to Colombian golf — an 18-hole parkland layout that sits in a more open, rural setting than El Rodeo’s mountainside terrain. Mahannah designed across Colombia throughout the 1970s and 80s, and La Macarena carries his signature style: wide, generous fairways, lakes integrated into the strategic line on roughly half the holes, and green complexes that reward approach shots coming in from the correct angle.
The 6,792-yard layout plays as a proper 18-hole championship test without the severe elevation of Medellín’s hillside courses. Water is the defining feature: expect carries over ponds and streams on several par-4s and at least one par-5, and at least one par-3 with a forced carry all the way to the green.
How It Plays
At ~1,500 m elevation, the ball carries about 5–8% further than sea level. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling — meaning club selection is a straightforward distance-plus-altitude calculation, without El Rodeo’s vertical curveballs. Afternoon wind is a factor on the more exposed holes; mornings are typically calmer.
Bermuda fairways. Greens run firm and medium-paced. With water on so many holes, the course rewards position play over power — laying back to a comfortable yardage beats carrying the longest possible drive if it means flirting with a hazard.
Location & Access
La Macarena sits in the Rionegro valley, close to Medellín’s regional airport (Olaya Herrera — different from the international MDE). Drive time from El Poblado is roughly 40 minutes. This makes the course practical for golfers with tight schedules, including a round before an inbound or outbound connection.
The club is private. Visiting play is arranged through an operator.
Practical Notes
Caddie is mandatory. Walking and carts both available depending on the day and member traffic. La Macarena pairs well with afternoon activities in central Medellín (Museo de Antioquia, Plaza Botero) or a drive further east toward Guatapé and Piedra del Peñol — about 90 minutes from the course.
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