Golf Paradise Dominican Republic

Mmmm, the Dominican Republic…

Doesn’t it taste sun, rum and salty sea on the tongue? Add the scent of sun-warmed, newly-mowed Bermuda grass and the sound of gently swaying coconut palms and you have captured the best of the exotic Dominican Republic in your senses.

But of course the country is best experienced in real life! 

On 15 December 1492 Christopher Columbus sighted the south of Hispaniola, and believed he had found paradise. Nearly 500 years later, hordes of sun- thirsty tourists come to the north of the island, where golden beaches create a stark contrast between the Atlantic waves and the high mountains inland. Not as many found their way to the capital, Santo Domingo, but already during the seventies people started to speak about the course the Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo, on the southeastern coast – where the beaches are coral white and the sea changes its name to the Caribbean Sea.

What's this? One of the world's best golf courses laid out on the coast of the peninsula which is shared with Haiti? What folly! Or is it? 

One of the world's best golf courses - Teeth of the Dog

Legendary course designer Pete Dye says himself that he had help in the design work from higher powers. When he came to the then useless area - that would one day be one of the world's most famous courses - he discovered three small beautiful bays on the coastline. He measured them up to 380, 200 and 450 yards, and there they were - three fantastic holes in a row, as if made for world-class golf. 
Dye later said that he only had to draw 11 holes – the rest were created by “the man upstairs ". The name (Diente de Perro) is said to come from the course workers thinking that the jagged coastline looked like a wild dog's irregular row of teeth. 

On the giant resort Casa de Campo a number of attractions popped up for holiday celebrating Yankees, such as a wholly artificial village of charming Mediterranean-cut - Altos de Chavon. Here they could eat or shop for handicrafts, and in fact it's not as silly as it sounds. The environment is clearly inspiring, and if you didn’t know whether it was built in the seventies you would never suspect it. 
There were soon two other courses in the design of Mr. Dye – partly the private Romana and partly the public Links, which despite the name is an inland course and much more forgiving than its big brother. A few years ago the resorts latest shooting star "Dye Fore" opened, which unlike the seaside course Teeth of the Dog and The Links, keeps to high altitude above sea level and thus offers a magical view of the ocean, river and verdant hills. And it’s difficult to score here as well!

Casa de Campo in La Romana is today a fixed star in the golf travel sky and one of those places that you just have to experience during your lifetime. The facility was the starting shot for an expansion that in 2008 resulted in the Dominican Republic being voted as the year's golf destination.

The first golf course in the Dominican Republic 

The Dominican Republic's first course was called the Santo Domingo Country Club and from the mid 40's gave joy to many of the foreign managers who settled in the capital, Santo Domingo. The southern coast around Santo Domingo has in recent years experienced a revival and has become something of a "hotspot" for the really rich, and many - mostly from the U.S. - have acquired a luxury holiday home here. Consequently, there are currently a number of equally luxurious courses, designed by famous names like Gary Player, Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus. The “White Shark” - Greg Norman - is behind the brand new Greg Norman Signature Golf Course, which opened in 2010.

The vast majority of Scandinavians who travel to the Dominican Republic on holiday will hardly have time for more than a stopover in Santo Domingo, so I think we‘ll leave the capital behind. Information on all courses with contact details can be found in the list of related materials to the left. 

Up in the north there are also nice courses, and here it is possible that you will travel with one of the charter operators that fly into the region. The spectacular Playa Grande is unfortunately privatised, but it will soon reopen as part of a truly luxurious resort. It is the last course that Robert Trent Jones Sr designed, and many think it is his best. The good news then is that the nine-hole course Los Mangos is being rebuilt in order to reopen at the end of 2010 with 18 holes. In addition, there is the fine Playa Dorada, also designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The courses around Puerto Plata are all a delight for the eyes, thanks to the contrast between the majestic mountains in the south and the vast ocean to the north. 

Caribbean's hottest golf destination - Punta Cana 

No, now I have kept you on the rack long enough, and it is time to present the Dominican Republic’s real pièce de resistance - Punta Cana on the island's eastern side - where the whitest, most fine-grained and elongated sandbeaches happen to be, and where the waves no longer belong to the Atlantic Ocean, but the Caribbean Sea. Here more than 10 billion euros have been spent on creating a true golfing paradise with luxury hotel facilities and spectacular golf courses - many of absolute world class.

Punta Cana has for years had unprecedented development, which the air travel to the area reveals. For five years, from 2002 to 2007, the number of incoming passengers increased from1 to 3 million! Very many of these tourists fly down with flexible flights from the U.S. and Canada and therefore you can expect that many North American customs and traditions (hysterical tipping, not entirely healthy eating habits, caddy and golf cart coercion, etc.) have been taken up by hotels and golf clubs. If you can handle this and are looking for sun, sand and really, really good golf, you can hardly find a better destination in the world. The hotels are wastefully large and many lavishly luxurious. The beaches are short and simply magically beautiful, with super fine white sand and lazily swaying palm trees.

Punta Espada, by Jack Nicklaus.

Punta Cana is growing fast and many marinas, luxury villas and not least - the magnificent golf courses, are being built. "All" are there: Nick Faldo, Pete Dye, PB Dye, Tom Fazio, Nick Price and no other than Jack Nicklaus, whose Signature course (which means that he was personally on site with pencil and sketch books. Well, he has in any case been there) Punta Espada is something beyond the ordinary. Star designers have designed the fascinating courses that wind their way between palm trees and soft sand beaches, or throw themselves along the edge of the very steep cliffs. One course outdoes the other, and yet there is no end to the splendor. The new, recently opened Tom Fazio course at Puntacana Corales Resort & Club and several other exciting projects are underway. If the international economy gets going in earnest again, it shouldn’t take long before even more tidbit are presented. 

Of course there are negative aspects to such extreme and rapid development and exploitation of a coastline. Punta Cana is woven with a rather delicate  thread in paradise-like fabric. Tourism is cyclical, and when it comes to extremely large investments as in Punta Cana, you don’t have to be Einstein to understand that it can go to blazes if things go badly. And of course there are also lots of social and economic problems to be overcome, not least the humanitarian aspects of living conditions for all poor people and the number of guest workers - many from earthquake-stricken neighbor, Haiti – who build all those tourist palaces. Let us hope that some of the huge revenues generated by tourism can be used to good purpose including for the poorer strata of the population, and to fund schools, hospitals and better infrastructure. Since 2003 there is at least a law that guarantees all of its citizens social benefits, education and healthcare. 

But forget for a moment social responsibility and throw the yoke from your shoulders. Exchange a couple of weeks in a cold and gray winter for a few lovely weeks in the Dominican Republic. I promise it will do wonders for body and soul, and heal general depression like the winter blues. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed

By Mikael Andersson

Six activities after golf

No, you cannot travel to the Dominican Republic just to play golf! The country has some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and also the Caribbean's highest mountain. In between there are lots of exciting activities which you can have your travel agent book for you.

Sunbathe and bathe
The climate is perfect, with sunshine and warm winds all year round. The most common weather forecast is sunny, hot and possibly a small shower in the afternoon. The temperature ranges between 17 and 33 degrees, which is pleasant to say the least. As you understand the vast majority of resorts are situated on the fine, white -sand beaches. If the waves are too high, most of them have lovely pool areas – like at the Majestic Resort, Punta Cana, where I stayed last. Below my balcony was the biggest pool I've ever seen. 400 metres long and with more curves than Brigitte Bardot.

Eating and drinking 
The Dominican Republic's cuisine is as colourful as the scenery, but usually relatively simple and accessible in taste. Inspiration comes from Creole cuisine mixed with indigenous ingredients such as rice, beans, fish, shellfish, meat and vegetables. Of course you drink good, local beer and equally good,  local rum with the food. The Dominican rum is often stored in American oak barrels, which gives a sweet taste and golden colour. Brugal, Barcelo and Bermudez are brands that have become famous far beyond the country's beaches. 
Most major hotels are all inclusive– and I mean everything! – in the tour price, so there are no obstacles to a sharp increase in body weight. Be aware that portions can be quite substantial - suited for the American guests...

Drink tips: Try a Mama Juana - a unique blend of various herbs, roots and leaves, mixed with rum, gin, wine, honey and lemon. Mama Juana is drunk for general health reasons and for increased vitality, and sexual appetite. Good? Do you care? 

Smoke – or at least buy – cigars
Many of the world's best cigars are manufactured in the Dominican Republic. It is the world's largest producer of cigars, and you can buy tidbits from Arturo Fuente, Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta at much lower prices than at home. Most are produced in the central regions, but there are manufacturers (and in many cases tailored tourist facilities) that you can visit to watch the production. Fascinating and fragrant!

 

Adventurous climax 
With due deference to paradise-like beaches, but maybe you could switch an afternoon on the beach for a little action? 
Rock climbing or rafting perhaps most people do not associate with the Dominican Republic, but the highest mountains in the region are actually here- with peaks of over 3000 metres! If you are adventurous and hungry for a little highland air after a sweaty round of golf there are many beautiful and exciting walking tours with experienced guides. 

Lovesick whales 
Experience a unique encounter with whales at close range. Between January and March every year hundreds of humpback whales come to the Samaná Peninsula in order to reproduce. An unforgettable spectacle! 

4 courses that you cannot miss

Generally, most courses are very nice, well designed and in completely different shapes than you are used to at home. Not so surprising perhaps, given the hordes of course workers who are constantly working on the finish of the courses. 
The majority of the country's newly produced masterpieces are located in the southeast and I’ll give you a tip here about three of these - plus the classic Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo, which is a "must play" if you are nearby. 
The rest of the country's courses you can find in the list of related materials to the left.

Punta Espada's 13th hole. 225 metres above sea level to a little green in the distance.

Punta Espada, Cap Cana
By far the coolest course we've ever played – if you look at the big picture, the environment, the feeling! From each hole you have a view of the sea and on several tees, you will get wet when the waves splash up in cascades against the coral rocks. Many times you can play almost at sea level and that is what makes the experience so great. Add to that the fact that the holes are ingeniously designed with many different game paths - it doesn’t make it any worse.

Roco Ki, Faldo 17th hole is short – but wonderfully short!

Roco Ki, Faldo Legacy On the whole, in an entirely different league than the Punta Espada, with a few holes that do not immediately stand out, but on the other hand it is one of the best we’ve experienced. Holes 16-18 are simply a trio that you want to play again and again and again... 

After a round on the Teeth of the Dog life feels so fair.

Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo The classic’s classic in the Caribbean and the course that put the Dominican Republic on the world map of golfers. Simply a wonderfully magnificent experience, even if the condition when I was there (before the renovation!) was not at the best. Overall, Casa de Campo is still one of the world's best destinations for families who want to sunbathe, swim and play golf without worrying about their everyday concerns.

La Cana is what one might call "maritime". Don’t forget your sand wedge...

La Cana, Punta Cana Resort 
 An extremely beautiful and fun course, right on the edge of the Caribbean Sea, which offers 12 holes of unrestrained ocean view. The large bunkers are constantly challenging and you are recommended to take hole 7 with oven gloves - this is known as "golfer's purgatory".

Three things to think about

The sun is strong! 
Smear yourself with sunscreen and have a hat or cap on when on the golf course. The sun is strong even if it sometimes doesn't feel that way in the sea winds on the course or the beach.

Tipping 
Although it is a super all-inclusive facility, the staff will be happy for a coin. Please be aware that they have very low wages and if you give a tip you will get service back many times over.

Golf carts, caddies, etc. 
On several courses, it is compulsory to have a caddy, and even sometimes a golf cart. There can thus be considerably expensive rounds with all of the charges and then tipping the caddies. Check this in advance (when booking tee time).