What You Need to Know About Playing Golf in The Dominican Republic

The tropical haven of the Dominican Republic has been luring tourists seeking fabulous beaches, a relaxed vibe and great resorts since the 1930s.

Today more than 10 million travellers, mainly from the US, Canada, Europe and South America, descend annually making it the most visited destination in the Caribbean.

Golf is of huge importance and the Dominican Republic now boasts 26 courses, most of them featuring awesome Caribbean backdrops. The country can boast 86 sea view holes, with 39 of them running alongside the alluring Azure Sea.

Big name designers such as Pete Dye, PB Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Sr, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Nick Price and Greg Norman have all left their mark, testimony to the country’s claim of providing golfing quality that is second to none.

Most golfers head to the south and east to one of a number of huge gated resorts sited along the stunning coastline, such as the up-scale Puntacana Resort, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, the Playa Neuva Romana and Cap Cana. Each offer a wide range of price points, from all-inclusive, through to up-market, luxurious all-exclusive, suiting a variety of budgets.

Many of the best resorts offer discounted golf packages at their own courses, and some have reciprocal arrangements with their neighbours. Check out our travel partner Golfbreaks for the best deals going in this tropical paradise.

The Puntacana Resort

Occupying 15,000 acres of prime land near the main international airport this upscale gated beachside residential and holiday resort has absolutely everything a visitor could ask for.

The resort caters for all activities and interests, but it’s a haven for golfers who can enjoy two great courses, Corales and La Cana, along with comprehensive practice facilities and clubhouses, both with panoramic views of the sea. 

The latter is an easy-going resort type layout with 27 holes, designed by PB Dye. No fewer than 14 holes have sea views and several fairways run alongside the white sandy beach. Corales, designed by Tom Fazio, opened in 2010, and soon elevated itself to become rightly known as one of the best courses in the Caribbean. Over the past seven years it has hosted the Corales Puntacana Championship, a PGA Tour event. It was in pristine condition in every way possible during my visit in May 2024.

It’s an exhilarating course weaving up and down undulating terrain culminating with a pair of stunning closing holes clinging to a rocky seashore complete with crashing waves where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic.

Casa de Campo

Situated a little along the coast near the city of Romana is Casa de Campo, the original Dominican Republic resort, which has developed into a luxury mix of residential villas and all-inclusive accommodation. There are three courses here - Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links.

Teeth of the Dog is named after the jagged coral rocks that run along the coastline by the side of the glorious beachfront holes. Opened in 1971, it is regarded as Pete Dye’s signature design and considered by many as the best course in the Caribbean. It has a lot to admire, noted for its wide fairways, several elevated, tricky greens and famous for its seven holes that run along a glorious shoreline dotted with palm trees. The par 3 5th, playing with your feet almost in the sea, is one of the most memorable holes I have ever played.

The Dye Four layout has 27 holes which opened in 2005 with the Chavon and Marina loops being considered the preferred 18. Unlike its elder sibling, this course, when starting from the Chavon loop, opens on undulating ground with fairways clinging to the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Chavon River 300 feet below - famed, no less, as the prominent setting for the film Apocalypse Now. 

Playa Nueva Romana Resort

Spanish developers have big plans for their resort, home to the PGA Ocean’s 4 Course, the all-inclusive Grand Bahia Principe La Romana hotel and a host of villas and homes.

The all-inclusive hotel is popular with families and small groups of golfers who have unlimited access to the golf course, the Bahia Principe PGA Ocean’s 4.

Four is the magic number at this club which prides itself on offering an unusual course featuring a quartet of styles - parkland, links, Caribbean and desert characteristics all make an appearance within its 18 holes. 

The parkland holes, notably found on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th are surrounded by water in typical fashion, while the four on the seashore, in addition to holes 9 and 18, are reminiscent of a links layout. Large rocks and sandy waste on holes 11, 14 and 15 are in tune with desert style, completing a magical mystery tour within a single round of golf.

Opened as recently as 2017, it already feels well bedded in with first rate quality and presentation throughout.

Cap Cana

This is another destination lying adjacent to the Puntacana Resort, featuring luxury hotels and villas ranging from all-inclusive to all exclusive. It has the trapping of exclusivity with a beautiful marina and, naturally, a world class Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Punta Espada. It’s a spectacular, drop-dead gorgeous thoroughly testing course that demands full concentration, yet with scenery so stunning it’s at times hard to simply focus on your game. Conditioning and course presentation here are second to none and it’s easy to see why it is so highly rated among the best courses in the world.

Holes 10, with a green surrounded by sandy wastes, and par 3 13th over water are outstanding.

Getting There

There are regular flights from the UK to Punta Cana International Airport with a flight time of around 8 hours 50 mins. 

Most resorts are within a relatively short journey from the main international airport served by a good road infrastructure. 

Verdict

It’s easy to see why the Dominican Republic claims to be the best golfing destination in the Caribbean. There are a host of world-class shoreline courses which will thrill travelling players of all abilities.

For more information, please visit Golfbreaks.

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