Location: La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean | Ranking: #100
Designer: Pete Dye (1971) | Type: Clifftop Links-style | Green Fees: From $395
Editor’s Note: Pete Dye personally moved coral rocks by wheelbarrow to create the seven oceanfront holes at Teeth of the Dog — in 1971, heavy machinery did not yet reach this corner of the Dominican Republic. The coral edges that line every ocean hole give the course its extraordinary name. Consistently ranked the finest course in the Caribbean and Latin America, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo is the course that put the Dominican Republic on the world golf map and has never been surpassed in its region. A complete destination — golf, beach, polo, marina and exceptional resort hospitality.
1. Travel & Logistics
- How to Get There: La Romana is on the south coast of the Dominican Republic, 2 hours from Santo Domingo by road. La Romana Airport (LRM) — 15 mins from the resort, served by charter and regional flights. Punta Cana (PUJ) — 1h 30m by road; served by direct UK flights.
- Nearest Airport: La Romana (LRM) — 15 mins | Punta Cana (PUJ) — 1h 30m | Santo Domingo (SDQ) — 2h
2. Contact & Booking
- Website: casadecampo.com.do
- How to Book: Open to resort guests and non-resident visitors — advance booking strongly recommended. The three courses at Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog, The Links, Dye Fore) can be combined in multiple-round packages.
- Course Rating / Slope: 76.3 / 145 | Green Fees: From $395 (Teeth of the Dog); resort package rates available
3. Championship Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| Yards | 405 | 388 | 185 | 545 | 415 | 425 | 185 | 548 | 415 | 3,511 |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 420 | 185 | 422 | 552 | 420 | 432 | 188 | 555 | 425 | 3,599 | 7,333 |
Par 4Par 3Par 5
4. Hole-by-Hole Strategy — The Ocean Holes
- Hole 5 — Par 4, 415 Yards: The first of the oceanfront holes — the Caribbean Sea appears on the right. The tee shot must carry the coral edge; the approach is into a wind-exposed green above the water.
- Hole 7 — Par 3, 185 Yards: Entirely along the coral cliff edge — the tee and green are both perched above the Caribbean. In trade wind conditions this plays up to a 5-iron; into the wind it may require a driver. One of the most photographed par 3s in the Americas.
- Hole 16 — Par 3, 188 Yards: The return to the ocean on the back nine — a mirror of the 7th experience, this time playing from a lower tee with the cliff edge tighter. The trade wind pushes left; the correct aim is always slightly into the wind.
- Hole 17 — Par 5, 555 Yards: The longest of the ocean holes — three shots along the coral coast to a green perched at the clifftop. The most strategic hole on the course.
5. The 19th Hole — Where to Stay & Dine
- Casa de Campo Resort (5★): The most complete golf resort in the Caribbean — three Pete Dye courses, a marina village with 15 restaurants, polo fields, a shooting centre and the Altos de Chavón artists’ village above the Chavón River. Book via Expedia →
- The Links at Casa de Campo: Pete Dye’s companion course (1976) — a Scottish links-style layout in deliberate contrast to Teeth of the Dog. Playing both in a day is the definitive Casa de Campo experience.
- Altos de Chavón: A replica 16th-century Mediterranean village built above the Chavón River gorge — home to the Frank Sinatra Amphitheatre, art galleries and some of the best restaurants on the property.
- Best Time: December–April for dry season and reliable trade winds. Start rounds at 7am to finish before the midday heat.