global
by Margaret Swaine Columnist and Author
GOLF GETAWAY
If you’re a golfer, winter in Canada means mostly you don’t play or you fly away to a golf getaway. One of the best warm weather places to whack that dimpled ball and enjoy other pursuits is the Dominican Republic. The DR (Dominican Republic) is my favourite island for golf in the Caribbean for the diversity and excellence of its courses and resorts around them. Located on the eastern part of Hispaniola Island shared with Haiti, it’s the oldest European settlement in America. Years ago it set on establishing itself as a premier golfing vacation destination, as well as host for major tournaments in the Caribbean.
Punta Espada Golf Course
Casa de Campo Lounge
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Teeth of the Dog Golf Course
At least seven of the DR’s courses have consistently been in the top tier of Golfweek Magazine’s Top 50 courses in the Caribbean and Mexico. These include Punta Espada which was number one on the 2018 list, Teeth of the Dog in the third spot and Los Corales where the 2018 PGA Tour was held last year, ranking tenth. The DR’s courses have at last count 86 sea-facing holes and 39 ocean-side along with lush tropical inland fairways. Famous golf course architects Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Rees Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Nick Price, and Greg Norman have all designed for the island. The island’s golfing tradition began at Casa de Campo in 1972 and at the Amateur Golf Championship held there in 1974. Pete Dye was the designer of the famous “Teeth of the Dog” course, consistently rated among the finest courses on the globe. Dye said at the time that he actually laid out only 11 holes of Dientes del Perro (its Spanish name) because God created the other seven on the Caribbean Sea. Also within the resort community of Casa de Campo, Dye designed The Links, which plays homage to the classic British Isle courses and later the 27-hole Dye Fore with its challenging cliff side holes. One could easily argue this resort on the southeast coast by the town of La Romana pretty much has it all. If I could only pick one spot for my winter golfing vacations, this would be it. Set on 7,000 private acres of verdant land, it’s edged by the Caribbean Sea on one side and the winding Chavón River on the other. The property’s so large guests are given personal “carritos” (modified golf carts) to tour around. I spent an hour driving in one direction one day and never got to the end of
