Dominican Republic Golf Resorts: Best in the Caribbean
Part 1, Casa de Campo
by Karen Misuraca
A labyrinth of paths winds through the voluptuous tropical gardens at the sprawling
Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican
Republic. The arms of huge Royal Ponciana trees are vivid
red-blooming umbrellas above riots of bougainvillea, and hibiscus. Amid the greenery are low-rise
buildings of guest rooms and suites; large and small rental villas, two golf courses; a
full-service spa, swimming pools, restaurants and sports venues.
 Teeth of the Dog
Casa de Campo has been famous for decades as a beach vacation destination, and as the
home
of Teeth of
the Dog, until recently the
reigning king of golf courses in the Caribbean. Nowadays,
new courses on the island are giving Pete Dye's notorious track some stiff competition. (Stay
tuned here for more to come on new golf clubs around DR.)
Three very different playing experiences await golfers at CdeC. At or near the top of every "Best
Golf Courses in the Caribbean" list, as it has been since it opened in 1971, Teeth of the Dog was
designed by Pete
Dye and built under his close supervision. Hundreds of local workers hacked
fairways out of coral stone with sledgehammers, pickaxes and chisels. Maintaining a villa on the
golf course, where he lived with his wife and co-architect, Alice, Dye tinkered with the course,
expanding and improving it over the years, lengthening it to 7,350 yards and extensively
renovating tees, greens and bunkers in 2005. The revolutionary saltwater-loving Paspalum grass was
introduced on the tees and greens.
The Dog still bites, with seven holes so near the sea that you feel the mist, the sound of the
surf fills your ears, and steady winds are seldom absent. Endless sandy waste areas are ball
collectors, as are Dye's ubiquitous pot bunkers (his autobiography is entitled, Bury Me in a
Pot
Bunker). In spite of a daunting 75.9/145 slope and rating from the back tees, Alice Dye's
influence has made the forward tees quite playable for the average golfer.
Dye's trademark mounds and hollows whirl and swell like the ocean itself. On the 7th hole, the
surf crashes all around the tee, and a 224-yard carry finds no safe landing, save the small green.
Holes 5-8 run along the oceanfront, the course then turns inland, then back to the sea again to
three ravishing holes, 15-17. The par-3, 204-yard 16th plays right into the wind and the sea spray
to a green guarded by deep bunkers, front and back.
Dye's second masterpiece at CdC, The Links meanders inland into green hills. Sandy wastes lakes
and lagoons, steep bunkers and small, hard-to-read, elevated greens comprise the challenge, along
with the breezes on five holes along the shoreline. You do get less wind here than on the Dog, and
tighter fairways.
 On windy clifftops, 300
feet or so above the Chavon River gorge, Dye sited his third
Casa de Campo course,
Dye Fore--7,700 yards of wide, sloping, undulating fairways leading to greens that fall off
precipitously on all sides (77/134 slope and rating from the blacks-yikes!). The views are
distracting: Altos de Chavon, the picturesque replica of a 16th-century village; the massive new
marina with the ocean beyond; kayaks and tourist boats plying the river far below. My advice here?
Stay out of the secondary rough (super-sticky guinea grass), and take care to get a caddy who
speaks good English.
Beyond Golf
Resort guests can choose from myriad activities and
entertainment at Casa de Campo. The waters off
the private Minitas Beach are translucent and calm, perfect for easy swimming, snorkeling and
kayaking, while sailing and deep-sea fishing is popular farther offshore. You can take merengue
lessons on the beach every afternoon, and linger at the glam open-air restaurant and bar, Beach
Club by Le Cirque (that's Le Cirque in NY). After dark, the water at the shoreline is subtly
illuminated, and the restaurant is transformed into a glamorous, romantically candlelit fine
dining venue.
Sporting Clays Shooting Center
A dense forest and jungle on 245 acres creates the most
challenging shooting facility in the
Caribbean, and one of the largest in the world--an in-the-wild shooting experience for all
ages
and skill levels. A 110-foot tower stands above more than 200 stations for trap, skeet and
sporting clays. Not a shooter? Enjoy a quiet libation in the airy Safari Club Bar here.
Water Sports
Sport-fishing boats take guests on deep-sea expeditions for tuna and kingfish, and trophy
sailfish
and marlin, while freshwater fishermen cast for snook on the river. Daytrippers cruise and sail on
catamarans, small sailboats and yachts to Catalina, Catalinetta and Saona Islands, where
snorkeling and scuba diving is popular.
Found recently in 10 feet of water just 70 feet off of Catalina Island is the wreckage of "Quedagh
Merchant", the ship abandoned by the scandalous 17th century pirate, Captain William Kidd. The
wreck will soon be made safe for divers to explore.
 Cygalle
Healing Spa
Bamboo gardens, a labyrinth and sleek, contemporary interiors create a Zen atmosphere
at the spa.
Don't fail to come at least a half-hour early for the "water ritual", involving private sauna,
steam, indoor and outdoor showers, and hot and cold plunge pools and lounge chairs in an enclosed,
private outdoor patio. Unique treatments are based on the inspirations and experience of the
holistic healing expert, Cygalle Dias.
Equestrian Center
A world-renowned polo champion and an Indian Prince, Maharajah Jabar Singh founded the
Equestrian Center at Casa de Campo, where polo ponies and riding horses are bred and trained.
Resort guests may take Western
or English riding, dressage and polo lessons, and sign on for guided trail rides. From November
through the spring, international polo teams practice and compete on the lush playing fields here.
La Terraza Tennis Center
13 Har-Tru courts are laid out in a lovely, garden setting. Decked out in crisp white
outfits, a
platoon of ball boys and more a dozen instructors and teaching pros are at the ready.
Altos de Chavon
Sightseers and shoppers take the few minutes drive from the resort into the hills to the
fancifully
recreated 16th century, Mediterranean stone village of Altos de Chavon. Restaurants,
shops, folk art vendors and zowie views of the Chavon River valley are reasons to spend time here.
In the Roman-ruin-themed amphitheatre, a folkloric show is put on frequently, and international
super-stars are scheduled throughout the year, from Andrea Bocelli to Il Divo, Kenny G and others.
Marina and Yacht Club
Casa de Campo's massive new,
400-berth
marina is surrounded by dozens of upscale boutique shops and restaurants.
Diners at La Casita enjoy watching the boating activity while digging into fresh snapper, paella,
and lobster. Recently, locals got a glimpse of Bill Gates, who parked the 413-foot yacht,
"Octopus", here for several weeks, and was seen riding around the marina on a bicycle.
What's New
Before the Christmas holidays this year, a recent investment of $20 million will be shown
off in
the gracious new lobby, which opens onto a new indoor-outdoor bar/lounge, three swimming pools, a
fine dining restaurant, business center, library and fitness center.
And, the new
"Elite" guest rooms will be unveiled, complete with sleek, urban-chic furnishings
and high-tech amenities such as flat-screen TVs, espresso machines, and iPod docks; each has a
private deck or terrace with golf course views (rates $295-$645, all-inclusive plan optional).
And as with all CdeC accommodations, Elite rooms come with golf-style touring carts; soon the gas
carts will be replaced by electrics.
For longer stays and for families, the tennis and golf villas are elegant hideaways with private
garden patios, swimming pools, personal butlers and special services. And, larger, quite elegant
homes and villas are available to rent.
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