Guatemala will host the Women’s Amateur Latin America for the first time from 19–22 November at El Pulté Golf. Organised by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, the championship will bring together the top 60 female amateur golfers from South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®).
The history of golf in Guatemala dates back to 1918, when the Pamplona Golf Association was established on 1 December. It is regarded as the starting point for organised golf in the country and in Central America. Its first course, a nine-hole layout, was located on land near the Pamplona railway station, in an area that today forms part of Zones 12 and 13 of Guatemala City. Over the years, the organisation evolved into what is now Mayan Golf Club. It moved its facilities to La Chácara in 1939 and subsequently to Finca El Zarzal, where its current course was officially opened on 18 July 1964. More than a century after those early beginnings, this legacy remains one of the cornerstones of the history and development of golf in Guatemala.
One of the most challenging episodes for Guatemalan golf in recent years occurred on 3 June 2018, when the eruption of Volcán de Fuego severely affected La Reunión Golf, one of the country’s most emblematic courses and a venue that had hosted PGA TOUR Latinoamérica events for five consecutive years. The eruption caused extensive damage to much of the course, the clubhouse and the hotel. Since then, La Reunión has undergone a process of recovery and adaptation, with nine holes of the original layout brought back into operation.
For a relatively small country, covering 108,890 square kilometres and home to 18.7 million people, with seven golf courses, hosting the region’s leading women’s amateur golf championship represents an opportunity to broaden the sport’s reach in the years ahead. It also reflects Guatemala’s commitment to strengthening and further developing golf throughout the country.
“I believe that hosting the Women’s Amateur Latin America in Guatemala represents an enormous opportunity and a source of pride for our country”, said Mario Taracena, representing the Guatemalan National Golf Association (ASOGOLF). “We are deeply grateful to El Pulté Golf and Edgar Castillo for their efforts, dedication and hard work in making this important event a reality. Hosting a championship of this calibre will not only help showcase Guatemala internationally as an important golf destination, but will also have a positive impact on the development of women’s golf at national level.”
The championship has received extensive support from both the public and private sectors in Guatemala, through a joint effort involving public institutions, private companies and El Pulté Golf. This partnership was instrumental in bringing the WALA to Guatemala and reinforces the country’s ambition to establish itself as a destination capable of hosting major international sporting events.
The public bodies, companies and organisations supporting this edition include the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT) and its country brand, Visit Guatemala; Castillo Hermanos; CMI; BAC; American Express; Ferco Cerámica; the Guatemalan National Golf Association; Universales; and Ron Zacapa. Their involvement reflects the support the championship has received from different sectors of Guatemalan society.
Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director – Latin America & Caribbean at The R&A, said, “We would like to thank everyone who has made the WALA’s arrival in Guatemala possible. My thanks extend to the management and staff at El Pulté, to the sponsors supporting us and to the national organisations that have also joined this initiative to bring the best golf in the region to Guatemala.”
According to The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report 2025, Guatemala has approximately 1,800 registered golfers, with seven 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course. The report also estimates that around 2,000 people play golf in total, including both registered and unregistered players. The number of registered golfers increased by 29% compared with the previous year, a positive indicator for a market of relatively modest size compared with countries with more extensive golf infrastructure.
The R&A plays a key role in the development of golf across Latin America and the Caribbean, working alongside national federations and associations to strengthen the sport and create new opportunities for growth. In Central America, Lawrie has promoted initiatives focused on amateur golf development, education and improvements to golf facilities. These include the Copa Los Volcanes, established in 2018 with the support of The R&A and the participation of golf associations and federations from across the region, as well as training initiatives for golf course superintendents aimed at improving course maintenance. These efforts demonstrate The R&A’s commitment to the sustainable growth of golf in Central America, through competition, education and greater opportunities to access the sport.
ASOGOLF, meanwhile, runs a range of initiatives to promote access to golf and support its development from the earliest stages. In 2014, the organisation launched an initiative linked to The First Tee, designed to introduce golf to children and teenagers while teaching them values through the game. Its current offering includes introductory programmes for children and adults, as well as specific initiatives such as Girls Got Drive, which aims to encourage girls to take up golf, and Adaptive Golf, which seeks to make the sport more accessible to people with disabilities.
The children's introductory programmes receive support from The R&A. The association also organises holiday courses for children and adults, which conclude with a visit to a golf club and a nine-hole round. These initiatives are complemented by training activities for coaches, caddies and players, including a Level 2 Rules seminar delivered by specialists from The R&A in 2024. In this way, ASOGOLF combines sports education, inclusion and wider access to the game with the development of those involved in the country's golf community.
The national association also works on player development, technical education and the organisation of national competitions. Its institutional plan for the 2025–2029 period identifies the lack of a public golf course as one of the main limitations to the sport’s expansion. Its proposed areas of focus include strengthening partnerships with clubs, making better use of practice facilities, and providing training for coaches and technical staff. The document also sets out initiatives to support the development of junior players and improve their sporting preparation.
The national calendar and age-group competitions are also essential components of golf development in Guatemala. Tournaments organised by the national association and individual clubs allow many amateur players to gain competitive experience and progress to higher levels of competition.
Guatemalan men’s golf has earned international recognition, with a presence in high-level competitions and notable results in both amateur and professional golf. At the same time, the development of women’s golf remains another important area of focus, particularly in terms of expanding opportunities for participation and training. In this context, hosting the Women’s Amateur Latin America represents an opportunity to raise the profile of female talent and introduce high-level golf to new generations.
In men’s amateur golf, Guatemala has achieved notable results at the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC). At the 2025 edition in Argentina, Gabriel Palacios finished third, equalling the country’s best-ever result in the championship, previously achieved by Daniel Gurtner in Chile in 2018. Alejandro Villavicencio has also recorded strong performances in various editions of the LAAC, a tournament in which Guatemala has maintained a consistent presence over the years. Palacios is also enjoying an excellent period in international golf and is currently the highest-ranked Latin American player on the (WAGR®). .
Guatemala has also been represented by outstanding players in women’s amateur golf, with several figures making their mark beyond the country's borders and paving the way for future generations. Among them is Lucía Polo, who won the individual golf gold medal at the 2013 Bolivarian Games in Trujillo, where Guatemala competed in the sport for the first time. Another notable name is Pilar Echeverría, who enjoyed an outstanding collegiate golf career in the United States, recording 18 victories and earning NCAA Division II Player of the Year honours twice. Echeverría subsequently turned professional and competed on the Epson Tour, the developmental tour for the LPGA Tour. Another leading figure in recent years is Valeria Mendizabal, who earned several individual honours and won collegiate tournaments in the United States. In 2021, she also reached the Round of 32 at the US Women’s Amateur, while in 2024 she advanced to the Round of 16 at the US Women’s Mid-Amateur.
In recent years, the Copa Los Volcanes has become another important platform for Guatemalan golf development. In the team competition, the women’s side has won the title in four of the five editions held, while the men’s team also claimed victory in 2022. In the individual competition, Alejandro Villavicencio won the men’s title that same year. Guatemala has also dominated the women’s individual event, claiming four titles in five editions: two by Valeria Mendizabal, one by Ha Ni Lee and one by Tiffany Moon.
These results reflect the level Guatemalan golf has reached in amateur competition and highlight the importance of international events in continuing to strengthen its development. “The Women’s Amateur Latin America will be an opportunity to inspire new generations of girls and young women, encourage our female golfers to raise their competitive level and continue to strengthen the growth of the sport in the country. I am convinced that the WALA can mark a turning point for women’s golf in Guatemala, leaving a sporting and institutional legacy while opening up new opportunities for international exposure,” Taracena added.
Guatemala has also produced notable players on the professional stage, with several representatives competing internationally. José Toledo is one of the country's leading figures, with an extensive career across different tours. He played four seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour and won twice on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. He also recorded seven victories on the Mexican Professional Golf Tour and represented his country at the 2011 World Cup of Golf. He is currently a member of the Asian Tour, where he has made 36 appearances and recorded two top-ten finishes. His achievements also include the individual gold medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
José Pablo Rolz is another leading figure in Guatemalan professional golf. Throughout his career, he has competed on international circuits including PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, the Mexican Professional Golf Tour, the Asian Development Tour and the Clutch Pro Tour in the UK.
Returning to the amateur game, Guatemala has also been represented at the ANNIKA Invitational Latin America, an event established in 2016 by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation, which was held on four occasions. Ana Paulina Aldana competed in all four editions, while Jasmine Youn took part in the final three. The tournament laid the foundations for a new chapter with the creation of the Women’s Amateur Latin America in 2021.
Since then, several Guatemalan players have competed in the WALA. At the inaugural edition in 2021, the country was represented by Pilar Echeverría and Valeria Mendizabal, who finished fifth, securing Guatemala’s best-ever result in the championship. In 2022, Mendizabal, Jasmine Youn and Ha Ni Lee represented the country. In 2024, the players were Mendizabal and Elzbieta Aldana, who also competed in 2025 and finished 11th.
For the 2026 edition of the Women’s Amateur Latin America, Guatemala will have three representatives: Elzbieta Aldana, alongside debutants Tiffany Moon and Sara Castrillo. All three will have an extra source of motivation: the opportunity to compete in the WALA for the first time in front of their home crowd.
The WALA champion receives invitations to compete in three majors: the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and The Amundi Evian Championship. Against this backdrop, the arrival of the championship will mark a new chapter in the history of Guatemalan golf and will undoubtedly have an impact that extends beyond the competition itself. For Guatemala, it will be an opportunity to welcome the region’s leading amateur players, showcase the work being carried out across the country and leave a lasting mark on the generations of young people discovering the sport.
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