Casa de Campo to Host First-Ever LAAC Academy

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Casa de Campo Resort & Villas once again cemented its place as the heart of Latin American golf. During the 10th edition of the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) at Pilar Golf Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina, organizers announced that Casa de Campo will host the first-ever LAAC Academy. This groundbreaking initiative, backed by the Masters, The R&A and the USGA, aims to elevate the region’s golfing talent through a world-class training program.

A Major Step for Golf Development

The LAAC Academy will offer a week-long training program designed to elevate players’ skills in high-performance areas such as nutrition, short-game mastery, sports psychology, physical training, and technical swing analysis.

And the best part? The academy will be completely free for the selected players, with all expenses covered by the LAAC’s founding partners, ensuring accessibility for talented golfers regardless of financial background.

Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are very grateful that a wonderful place like Casa de Campo allows us to establish our first academy for the Latin America Amateur Championship there. We are truly excited about the future and what this will mean for the championship.”

Why Casa de Campo?

Casa de Campo isn’t just another golf destination — it’s the golf destination in the Caribbean. Having previously hosted the LAAC in 2016, 2019 and 2022, the resort boasts top-tier facilities, including the renowned Golf Learning Center. So, when it came time to pick a home for the new LAAC Academy, the choice was obvious.

Further strengthening its commitment to excellence, Casa de Campo started a significant renovation of its iconic Teeth of the Dog golf course in January 2025. The project, led by Jerry Pate Design, aims to enhance playability while preserving the course’s legendary character. The updates include re-sodding with Dynasty Paspalum grass, improving irrigation, and restoring the greens to their original sizes. These upgrades reinforce Casa de Campo’s standing as the region’s top golf resort and make it the perfect home for the LAAC Academy.

Casa de Campo’s Commitment to the Game

For Casa de Campo, this isn’t just another accolade — it’s a continuation of its commitment to growing golf in the region. Jason Kycek, the resort’s senior vice president and director of marketing, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are honored to be chosen as the inaugural host of the LAAC Academy. This partnership reinforces our dedication to developing talent and providing world-class facilities for the next generation of golfers in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

A Bright Future for Latin American Golf

With the LAAC Academy officially calling Casa de Campo home and the Teeth of the Dog renovations, the future of Latin American golf looks brighter than ever. As young players step onto the same fairways that legends have walked, the dream of competing at the highest levels of the sport becomes more tangible. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that Casa de Campo doesn’t just host golf events — it helps shape the future of the game.

*Photos courtesy of Casa de Campo

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