Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects expects construction to begin this year on a new course for Quito Tenis y Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city.
The RTJ II firm completed a project in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, in 2022. “The people at Guayaquil CC were contacted by those from Quito,” said Bruce Charlton, president of RTJ II. “The two situations were similar: they each had a nice 18-hole course that was part of a big sports facility that was built in the 1950s or 60s. And at Quito, the club is surrounded by housing, industrial and other uses, so, they started a search to find a new site.”
Charlton describes the plateau site they found as “crazy good”. He says: “Imagine the cliffs along the eighth hole at Pebble Beach, but much bigger. It’s very dramatic. It’s truly one of the strongest sites I’ve ever worked on.
“The clubhouse and other activities are at the southern portion, then the course heads north with returning nines. Thirteen holes directly touch a canyon edge. We didn’t have to transform the site at all; we’re just naturally laying the course without a lot of earthmoving. We’ll take what the land gives us and go with it.”
With the course to be built at 9,500 feet above sea level, Charlton and Gorman have had to design long holes; the latest plan has the back tee golfer playing to an 8,200 yardage, which Charlton says will play more like 7,400 yards.
“Our overall philosophy everywhere is firm, fast and fun,” said Charlton. “Up on the plateau there is some wind, and you’ll have to play under it on some holes. We’ve made sure that there is plenty of width. A number of greens come right up to the cliff, but there are places to bail out.
“There’s a nice natural stream that, as it runs towards the north, gets deeper and becomes a side canyon to one of the bigger canyons. We determined early on that we wanted to use that. Holes eleven and twelve are directly adjacent to it on the west side, while seventeen and eighteen play on its east side. Obviously, the canyons are well defined, making players very aware of the drama… and our routing is very respectful of that.”
The club would like to host a PGA Tour Americas event, and the RTJ II firm has designed places to hide pins, change angles and add distance. “We’re also using ribbon tees, which can vary hole lengths by more than 100 yards,” said Charlton. “They also wanted a par-three layout, so we were able to get most of the main course out by the canyons and fit in a pitch-and-putt that will be for beginners.”