The East Region of the Dominican Republic takes pride in being the most attractive golf destination in the Caribbean for golf enthusiasts, with La Romana and Punta Cana as flagship destinations and hosts of important international tournaments in recent years.
Here are some of its most iconic golf courses:
- Teeth of The Dog (Casa de Campo, La Romana): Opened in 1971, it is, to this day, the best golf course in the Caribbean according to numerous specialized media.
Designed by the prestigious Pete Dye, Teeth of the Dog features 7,350 yards following its last renovation in 2005, with holes that embrace the beauty of the Caribbean Sea and its coral reefs.
On several occasions, the architect claimed to have received “divine inspiration” while working, considering “the man above” as the direct creator of 7 of the 18 holes that bring exciting challenges to the player, whether due to the strong breeze or their proximity to the sea. It also ranks 27th among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World by Golf Digest and is considered the best golf course in Latin America by Golf Magazine. - Corales (Puntacana, Punta Cana): Opened in 2010 and designed by Tom Fazio, Corales is the second golf course at Puntacana Resort & Club, offering an exquisite 18-hole experience with a distance of 7,650 yards, of which 6 holes are played right by the sea.
Its final three holes, known as the “devil’s elbow,” provide a world-class challenge that culminates in an eye-catching 18th hole in the shape of a “U,” played around cliffs and a narrow bay.
Together with La Cana, it hosts the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, the first PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic. Its third edition took place in March 2020 with the participation of over 130 professional players.
- Dye Fore (Casa de Campo, La Romana): Opened in 2005 over the stunning Chavón River Valley, designed by Pete Dye. It offers an unparalleled experience of 27 holes and 7,740 yards with beautiful elevated views of the Chavón River, Altos de Chavón, Casa de Campo Marina, and the Caribbean Sea.
Dye Fore ranks 3rd among the best golf courses in the Dominican Republic, according to Golf Digest’s Planet Golf. For some, holes 12 and 15 are among the most challenging and beautiful “par 3s” in the world due to their dimensions and the beauty of playing on cliffs that drop 90 meters to the valley, as well as gusts of wind up to 65 kilometers per hour. - Punta Espada (Cap Cana, Punta Cana): Opened in November 2006 as the first of several golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus for the Cap Cana project, incorporating the natural topography of the beach, lagoon, and tropical foliage of the tourist destination. It covers 7,396 yards, with half of its holes aligning with the shore of the Caribbean Sea, playing alongside or over it.
- Golfweek magazine considered it the #1 course in the Caribbean and Latin America from 2009 to 2016. Punta Espada also has the distinction of hosting several PGA (Pro Golfers Association) championships.
- La Cana (Puntacana, Punta Cana): Thirty years after the debut of Teeth of The Dog at Casa de Campo, Pete Dye’s youngest son, Paul Burke Dye, completed the construction of La Cana, the first 18-hole course in Punta Cana.
The project was expanded to 27 holes in 2012, covering a combined distance of over 11,000 yards across its three divisions: Arrecife, Hacienda, and Tortuga. Like other Puntacana Group initiatives, it takes pride in its environmental responsibility, being the first golf course in the Caribbean to use Paspalum, a type of grass that can be irrigated with seawater.
Golf Magazine has declared La Cana as the “Caribbean’s #1 Golf Course” and compared it to the extraordinary Pebble Beach in California.
If you love golf, there’s no doubt that you should consider investing in La Romana or Punta Cana!
