Summary
Thanks to the work of golf-course designers like Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Robert Trent Jones Sr., the Dominican Republic has become one of the top golf travel destinations in the Caribbean, attracting elite players from all around the world.
Golfers have over 20 courses to select from, featuring some of the finest courses not only in the Caribbean but globally. With luxury facilities and unparalleled views, there’s nothing quite like teeing off in this tropical paradise.
01. Punta Espada Golf Club
This par 72 Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at the Cap Cana resort features 15 of its 18 holes overlooking the sea, with a landscape that includes bluffs, beaches, and jungle. It has been recognized by Golfweek as the best golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico, a well-deserved accolade it has held for many years.
Nicklaus himself remarked, “Nowhere in the world will golf experience be like this.” Reviews from both professionals and enthusiasts endorse this sentiment.
02. Casa de Campo
The Casa de Campo resort features three legendary courses: Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, and The Links, all designed by Pete Dye. Teeth of the Dog, noted for its jagged coral coastline, presents a “labyrinthine” challenge, particularly on its fifth through seventh holes, with many balls finding their way into the Caribbean. Additionally, it ranks 35th on Golf Magazine’s top 100 courses in the world. Dye Fore is another stellar design by Dye at this resort.
In 2015, Casa de Campo was awarded Golf Resort of the Year by the IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators).
03. Playa Grande Golf Course
Located on the north coast of Hispaniola near Rio San Juan, Playa Grande is one of the last courses designed by the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr., later renovated by his son, Rees Jones in 2015. This par 72 course is perched on towering cliffs with splendid views of the beach and sea, earning it the title “The Pebble Beach of the Caribbean.”
04. Punta Cana Resort and Club
Punta Cana features two elite golf courses, totaling 45 holes of championship golf. La Cana, another course designed by Pete Dye, measures 7,152 yards, spotlighting four seaside holes and Dye’s signature pot bunkers, including 21 on the pivotal hole 7.
Corales, designed by Tom Fazio, opened in 2010 and features six stunning Caribbean Oceanside holes, making it one of the world’s premier golf experiences.
05. Roco Ki Resort
The par-72 Faldo Legacy Course at Roco Ki Resort opened in 2008 and garnered rave reviews from golf experts. This layout winds through dunes, marshes, and forests before opening to the sea at hole 17. The last two holes have drawn comparisons to famous sites at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.
06. Melia Caribe Tropical Resort and Golf Club
Designed by José Pepe Gancedo, the course at Cocotal Golf & Country Club within the Melia Caribe Tropical Resort encompasses 27 holes with captivating oceanfront views and a lush landscape. This course caters to golfers of all skill levels, and adjacent to it lies the elite Melia Golf Academy for training.
