A feature from the IAGTO Directory 2014

Dominican Republic

Caribbean Golf at its Best2013 IAGTO Golf Destination of the Year, the Dominican Republic, has it all as the current tourism campaign highlights, and this certainly applies to golf. With more oceanside golf than any other comparable destination and a wide array of inland and coastal courses for the golf traveller to enjoy, the Dominican Republic can be considered the ‘It’ destination for golf!

The country’s courses carry the world-class designer labels of Pete Dye, PB Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Sr, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Nick Price. In fact, nine of the country’s golf courses are included in Golfweek Magazine’s 2010 list of the top 50 courses in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The second-largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is also one of the most ecologically-diverse nations in the world. Stunning vistas, including waves crashing over dramatic coastlines, coconut palm groves, lush, sun-kissed fairways, gentle mountains and exotic nature, set the scene for uniquely-designed and distinct golf courses.

The busiest of six international gateways, Punta Cana Airport is a short drive from popular golf resorts, and new highways have made the nine courses of Punta Cana, Cap Cana and Bávaro no more than a 30-minute drive from each other. Casa de Campo also now comes into play for golfers not staying on-site as it can be reached within 50 minutes from Punta Cana. Most dramatically of all, Juan Dolio and La Romana are within 40 minutes Santo Domingo Airport and Punta Cana is only two hours away, halving the previous journey time.

The Dominican Republic is set on attracting many more avid golfers from all key markets to this spectacular golf destination. The following are some of the main courses visitors can enjoy:

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

Catalonia Bávaro Resort

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Dominican Republic

East Region: Punta Cana, Cap Cana & Bávaro

The glittering East Coast comprising Punta Cana, Bávaro and the Cap Cana Resort area has 189 holes of golf all easily accessible from a wide range of sumptuous beach-front resorts, enough to make the Caribbean golf enthusiast’s heart melt!

La Cana Golf Club PUNTACANA Resort & Club, Punta CanaLa Cana Golf Club was established in 2001 as an 18-hole course with a new nine-hole Hacienda added in January 2012. The Tortuga and Arrecife nines capture the Caribbean’s stunning scenery thanks to 14 ocean-view holes including four remarkable holes that play right on the beach. Hacienda is both challenging and beautifully designed and takes the golfer inland through dense, colourful tropical vegetation.

Corales Golf Course PUNTACANA Resort & Club, Punta CanaThis Tom Fazio creation, the second oceanfront course at PUNTACANA Resort & Club, was inaugurated in 2010. It features cliff-top holes along the north shore of the resort’s luxury Corales enclave. Fazio’s breathtaking, distinctive design has quickly established Corales as one of the Dominican Republic’s must-play courses, featuring six oceanfront holes set between rocky cliffs, coral reefs and the Caribbean Sea.

Punta Espada Golf Course Cap CanaThe first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in the Dominican Republic opened for play in September 2006 and continues to make top golf course lists including Golfweek magazine’s number one course in the Caribbean and Latin America in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Nicklaus’ gem boasts eight holes playing either alongside or over the Caribbean Sea and a further five with ocean views. Punta Espada also hosted the PGA Tour’s Champions Tour event, the Cap Cana Championship, in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Holes: 27; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,152Designer: PB Dye

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,200Designer: Tom Fazio

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,396Designer: Jack Nicklaus

Punta Espada Golf Course

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Dominican Republic

Catalonia Bávaro Resort Cabeza de Toro, Punta CanaThe 18-ho le Cata lon ia Caribe Golf Club is open from November to April and features a large lake, five lagoons, numerous mature shade trees and ample fairways, with a mix of uphill and downhill holes. The nine-hole Cabeza de Toro Golf Club is adjacent to the resort and open year-round. This challenging executive course is surrounded by swaying palm trees and pristine waterways.

The Lakes Barceló Golf Course Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort, BávaroBarceló Golf de Bávaro, which opened in 1991, was redesigned by PB Dye in 2009 and is widely recognised as a beautiful and well-maintained first class golf course, within walking distance of the hotel itself. The inland course is set alongside the Bávaro lagoon with some holes bordered by lush vegetation and others completely open.

Cocotal Golf and Country Club Meliá Hotels and Resorts, BávaroOpened in 2000, Cocotal Golf and Country Club’s three nine-hole courses – Hibiscus, Bouganvillea and Benjamina – each possess memorable routings designed by Jose “Pepe” Gancedo. The six-time Spanish champion utilises the natural terrain of an old coconut plantation for all 27 holes, including serene lakes and swaying palm trees, with strategically-placed trees, bunkers, mounds and gently-rolling terrain, as well as generous fairways.

Catalonia Caribe Golf Club: 18 holes; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,650Cabeza de Toro Golf Club: 9 holes; Par: 35/27; Yardage: 2,860Designer: Alberto Sola and Jack Corrie

Holes: 18; Par; 72; Yardage: 6,376Designer: Juan Manuel Gordillo/PB Dye

Holes: 27; Par: 36 for each nine; Yardages: 3,380/3,905/3,203Designer: Jose “Pepe” Gancedo

Catalonia Bávaro Resort

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Dominican Republic

Iberostate Bávaro Golf Club Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, BávaroGolfers of all levels will de l ight a t PB Dye’s Iberostate Bávaro Golf Club. The inland course is within the 1,800-room, family-friendly Iberostar complex which includes the 276-room Grand Hotel for adults only that is very popular with golfers. The course itself is well known for its excellent greens and is set in naturally-lush surroundings and dramatically-undulating elevated terrain.

Punta Blanca Golf Club BávaroInaugurated in May 2007 and the first design in the Caribbean by three-time Major championship winner Nick Price, the fairly-open, inland course is built around natural wetlands within Bávaro’s Punta Blanca residential development and features wide fairways with large bunkers and lakes.

Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay Hard Rock Hotel, Punta CanaThe first golf course to carry the iconic Hard Rock brand, this Nicklaus-designed golf course, which opened in March 2010, is challenging, memorable and enjoyable and is located just inland from the beach-front Hard Rock Hotel.

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,897Designer: PB Dye

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,174Designer: Nick Price

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,253Designer: Jack Nicklaus

Punta Blanca Golf Club

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Dominican Republic

South-East Region: La Romana

The South-East Coast lays claim to a combination of picturesque beaches, chic accommodation and a variety of exciting attractions in addition to its famous golf courses. Golfers can play at some of the world’s best courses designed by the Dye family dynasty. Four courses are located at Casa de Campo Resort. Once a sugar-producing region, the La Romana area charms with azure Caribbean seas, exotic islands, the Chavón River valley and palm-tree covered national parks.

Teeth of the Dog Casa de Campo Resort, La RomanaDye’s first Casa de Campo creation in 1971 was the course that initially put the Dominican Republic on the world’s golf stage. Over 40 years later, Teeth of the Dog consistently ranks among the world’s best courses. There are seven oceanfront holes. Dye sharpened its teeth by lengthening some holes, and upgrading greens and bunkers for a November 2005 re-opening.

The Links Casa de Campo Resort, La RomanaThe second Dye course at Casa de Campo opened in 1975 and has drawn comparisons to traditional British and Scottish links courses thanks to firm fairways and open putting surfaces that invite golfers to play shots along the ground. The moderately-hilly course features several lagoons and lakes, dense bahia and guinea jungle-grass rough and numerous bunkers.

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,888Designer: Pete Dye

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,650Designer: Pete Dye

The Links

Teeth of the Dog

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Isla Saona

Isla Beata

Hato Mayor

Higüey

Barahona

Bonao

PuertoPlata

Santiago

Montecristi

Nagua

Jarabacoa

Constanza

BocaChica

Punta Cana

Miches

Bahía deSamaná Cayo

Levantado

Río San Juan

CabareteSosúa

CostambarLuperón

Oviedo

Laguna de Oviedo

Cabo Rojo

Bahía deManzanillo

San Pedro de Macorís

Monte Plata

Cayo Arena

(Paraíso)

La Vega

Laguna Rincón de

Cabral

Lago Enriquillo

Samaná

El Seibo

María Montez (BRX)

Punta Cana (PUJ)La Romana

Casa de Campo(LRM) Cap Cana

La Isabela (JBQ)

HaitiArroyo Barril

Pedernales

SANTODOMINGO

La Romana

Cibao (STI)

JuanDolio

Gregorio Luperón (POP)

IslaCatalina Bayahibe

El Catey (AZS)Las Terrenas

El Portillo

Las Américas(SDQ)

Bocade Yuma

Salinas

CayosSiete

Hermanos

Azua

Baní

San Cristóbal

Cabrera

San Joséde las Matas

San FranciscoDe Macorís

PlayaDorada (18)

Los Mangos (9)

Playa Grande (18)

Punta Espada (18)

Catalonia Caribe (9)Catalonia Cabeza de Toro (9)

Bonao (9)

Barceló Golf de Bávaro (18)Cocotal (27)

Iberostate Bávaro (18)

Cana Bay Palace (18)Punta Blanca (18)

Corales (18)La Cana (18)

Teeth of the Dog (18)The Links (18)Dye Fore (27)La Romana Country Club (27)

Los Marlins (18)

Las Lagunas (18)Isabel Villas (9)

Jarabacoa (9)

Las Aromas (18)

Santo DomingoCountry Club (27) Guavaberry (18)

© 2011 PRO RD S.A. (dr1.com)Email: info@dr1maps.com • Tel. 809.769.9560

Pico Duarte

Atlantic Ocean

Caribbean Sea

KEYGolf Course (# holes)

City and Town

BeachesInterest

International Airport

Domestic Airport

Cruise Port

Marina

Highest Peak

Dominican Republic

Dye Fore Casa de Campo Resort, La RomanaPete Dye’s th i rd masterpiece at the luxurious Casa de Campo Resort, built in 2005, will take your breath away with the dramatic Chavón River valley – where scenes from Apocalypse Now were filmed – as a backdrop. The course boasts seven cliff-side holes dropping 300 feet to the Chavón River below, the replica Mediterranean village of Altos de Chavón, the eastern mountain range (Cordillera Oriental) and amazing views.

La Romana Country Club Casa de Campo Resort, La RomanaOpen since 1990, La Romana Country Club was originally exclusively available only to the Casa de Campo resort’s Villa owners; however it is now also open to visitors. The course was expanded in 2009 with nine additional holes including the 8th, with a view of the sea from its new gazebo.

Holes: 27; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,770Designer: Pete Dye

Holes: 27; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,661Designer: Pete Dye

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Dominican Republic

South Region: Santo Domingo, Juan Dolio

Home to the capital city of Santo Domingo, the South Coast offers golfers rounds of world-class courses within a thriving metropolis that overflows with vivacious culture. The beach town of Juan Dolio is only 30 minutes from Santo Domingo Airport and a bit further from the city itself and is now less than an hour’s drive from Casa de Campo.

Las Lagunas Golf Course Santo DomingoLocated 25 minutes from Santo Domingo, Las Lagunas Country Club was built in 1989 but remains a well-kept secret which golfers will find a joy to discover. The course is spread over hilly terrain with many lakes amid lush vegetation providing a great challenge, including long water carries and some terrific par 3s.

Metro Country Club (Los Marlins Golf Course) Juan DolioLocated about 25 minutes east of Santo Domingo’s airpor t, at the Metro Country Club, the well-maintained Los Marlins Golf Course features numerous artistic bunkers, lakes and mounds. Golfers can take advantage of the private Beach Club just five minutes’ drive away or relax in the clubhouse after their round.

Guavaberry Golf & Country Club Juan DolioThis Gary Player design is located 30 minutes east of Santo Domingo’s airport near the resort town of Juan Dolio and borders a tropical forest and nature preserve. Opened in 2002, Player included some unique features into the design, such as a 15-foot waterfall cascading into a quarry pond (on the par-3 13th signature hole, where two separate greens are rotated daily), and indigenous coral rock formations on holes 9 and 18.

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,726Designer: Pete Dye and Jack Corrie

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,396Designer: Charles F. Ankrom

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,156Designer: Gary Player

For more information on the Dominican Republic, visit www.godominicanrepublic.com or email info@godominicanrepublic.com

Adapted from copy supplied by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

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Dominican Republic

North Region: Puerto Plata, Rio San Juan

The North Coast beckons not only with sunshine, eco-adventures and miles of water-sport-beaches, but also two Robert Trent Jones Sr masterpieces – Playa Dorada Golf Club and Playa Grande Golf Course. The forest-clad hills provide a stunning backdrop for Puerto Plata’s collection of all-inclusive resorts. While not golfing, visitors will find plenty of cultural influences including the rhythms of spicy merengue, prehistoric amber, exotic waterfalls and more.

Playa Dorada Golf Club Playa Dorada, Puerto PlataOpened in 1976, this beautiful c reat ion by legendar y architect Robert Trent Jones Sr is located in the popular Playa Dorada resort complex in Puerto Plata, providing easy accessibility and numerous accommodation and package options. The relatively-flat course is known for its outstanding conditioning and exceptional greens.

Playa Grande Golf Course Playa Grande, Rio San JuanPlaya Grande Golf Course, which opened in 1997, is the last golf course Trent Jones Sr designed. Fittingly, it’s also considered among his best. The course is cut into the cliffs overlooking the ocean and 10 of the somewhat-hilly layout’s holes play

along the Atlantic Ocean’s cliffs, hence why it is often referred to as the “Pebble Beach of the Caribbean”. The course is currently under redevelopment together with a luxury 30 villa hotel by the Aman Group and only nine holes will be in play until the redesigned 18 and hotel open, scheduled for late 2015.

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 6,765Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr

Holes: 18; Par: 72; Yardage: 7,090Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr

Playa Grande Golf Course

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Cover Photo: Majl is Course, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai • www.dubaigolf.com

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