Region: Dominican Republic, Caribbean | Best Time: December–April (dry season) | Nearest Airport: La Romana (LRM) — 20 mins; Punta Cana (PUJ) — 1h 30m
Editor’s Note: The Caribbean delivers golf’s ultimate lifestyle equation — championship courses designed by the game’s greatest names, combined with beach, rum, marine life and winter sunshine. Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog is widely considered the finest course in the Caribbean; the combination of Pete Dye’s cliff-top par 3s, the Casa de Campo resort and the Dominican Republic’s extraordinary hospitality makes this the Southern Hemisphere’s answer to Pebble Beach.
The 5 Courses to Play
1. Teeth of the Dog — Casa de Campo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Pete Dye (1971) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,333 yards | Rating: 76.3 / 145
- Why Play It: Pete Dye personally moved the coral rocks for the seven oceanfront holes — hauling them by wheelbarrow before heavy machinery existed in the region. The Caribbean water hazards, the trade wind exposure and the drama of coral cliff tee shots make this the finest course in the Americas outside the continental USA. Named for the jagged coral edges that line every ocean hole.
- Book: casadecampo.com.do | Green fees from $395
2. The Links — Casa de Campo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Pete Dye (1976) | Par/Yardage: 71 / 6,461 yards
- Why Play It: Dye’s tribute to Scottish links golf in the Caribbean — built specifically to contrast with Teeth of the Dog. More forgiving, equally scenic. The combination of playing both courses in a single day — ocean and links — is unique to Casa de Campo.
- Book: casadecampo.com.do
3. Punta Espada — Cap Cana ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Jack Nicklaus (2006) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,192 yards
- Why Play It: Eight holes directly on the Caribbean Sea — Nicklaus’s finest tropical design. The turquoise water, white coral and tropical vegetation combine with an exceptionally demanding layout to create an experience that rivals Teeth of the Dog for pure visual drama. Host of the PGA Tour’s DR Open.
- Book: puntaespada.com
4. Playa Grande Golf Club — Puerto Plata ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1997) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,879 yards
- Why Play It: Jones’s final great design — 10 holes directly on Atlantic cliffs. Largely undiscovered by international visitors; this is the Dominican Republic’s best-kept golf secret. The closing stretch along the cliff-tops rivals anything in the Caribbean. Recently renovated to Jones’s original vision.
5. Sandy Lane — The Country Club, Barbados ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Tom Fazio (2001) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,060 yards
- Why Play It: The finest course in the Eastern Caribbean — Sandy Lane’s Country Club course through mature mahogany trees is immaculately maintained, superbly designed and set within the Caribbean’s most prestigious resort. The Barbados combination of cricket culture, flying fish and rum punch makes this a uniquely Anglo-Caribbean golf destination.
- Book: sandylane.com
Where to Stay & Practical Information
- Casa de Campo Resort (5★): The most complete golf resort in the Caribbean — three courses, a marina village, 15 restaurants and polo fields. All-inclusive golf packages include Teeth of the Dog and The Links. Check availability on Expedia →
- Sandy Lane (5★ Ultra-Luxury): Barbados’s finest hotel. Three Tom Fazio courses, a legendary spa and the most discreet luxury service in the region.
- Getting There: London to La Romana (via Miami or Punta Cana) — approximately 11–14 hours total travel. Direct flights to Punta Cana with British Airways and TUI from Gatwick. Direct to Barbados (BGI) with British Airways — 8h 40m.
- Best Time: December–April for dry season. Hurricane season runs June–November; golf is playable but afternoon storms are common July–September.