If there is something that characterizes golf courses at the Dominican Republic is its location along the sea shore. This is a tour along the best golf panoramas of the island.

Our tour starts along the north coast from Luperón locality until Las Galeras where we found the fields of Hacienda Golf, Los Mangos, Playa Dorada, Costa Azul, Playa Grande, Nagua and Loma de Chivo. Still under construction are the courses of Hacienda Golf and Nagua, whose inauguration is expected for the end of this year. That of Hacienda Gold will be located near Hacienda Resort Hotels and will be a super course of double 9 holes, Nagua will be attached to the new Resort Cayena and even 15 of its 18 holes designed by Michael Beaudoin, will be located next to the water. Of all the courses of this area, Playa Grande has the special feature of bordering an abrupt ad rough coast. There a championship par 72 is played. Likewise with the same par is Playa Dorada, one of the oldest, since it was built in 1984, and has already a fifty per cent of the greens along the beach. However the characteristics of Los Mangos, Costa Azul and Loma de Chivo are that of the interior, whose design shows fruit trees, luxurious villages and palm hills. They are rather small 9- hole courses, par 32 and even par 27 in La Loma. Ideal for the teaching of the first introductory classes. In the eastern coast, we will reach to the tourism coast of Bávaro and Punta Cana along the Eastern National Park. There Bávaro courses are located. Also very soon in August the 9-hole course of White Sands will start operating and for the end of November, the first 9-holes of Cocotal Club will be ready. Cocotal Golf and Country Club will be very special, located in an old coconut plantation and designed by a Spaniard, José Pepe Gancedo. With an extension of 2 km2 , this course will be one of the largest in the Caribbean and will comprise a 18-hole par 72 camp and another separated of 9 holes par 36.

Teeth of the Dog The southern area is not less attractive for the practice of this sport, following the route from the Parque Nacional del Este (National Park of the East), we reach Casa de Campo (Country House). One of its jewels is a beautiful golf course, bordering the sea by the name of Teeth of the Dog, designed by architect Pete Dye. It has 18 holes par 72 and a famed international championship is held there. Casa de Campo can be visited by road or by plane, landing directly on the complex by American Airlines or Santo Domingo Airlines. Peter Dye has designed two other courses in the same area, very close one to the other: Links and Country Club, the latter is a complete private club only for its members. Guests at the Casa de Campo can make their reservations by phone (free toll) 800-856-3642, and you can get information in the web site: www.casadcampo.com. When you reach the capital, other fine centers to practice this sport are: Santo Domingo Country Club, located at the outskirts of the city, exhibits well-preserved greens. Cayacoa Country Club is located 20 km away and is a par 72 with many water obstacles formed by their ponds in a peaceful atmosphere, deprived of any kind of construction. The beauty of Isabel Villa is special. It is a small 9-hole course and par 27, located alongside Isabela River. It is the only golf course found in the island equipped with a projector light operating from 7 to 11 in the evening where golfers have the possibility to play without natural light. Our tour can conclude with interior smaller-size courses and perhaps more suitable for amateur tourists. Bellavista and Jarabacoa have 9-holes, but surrounded by beautiful landscapes among pine hills, streams and other water obstacles. Las Aromas in Santiago de los Caballeros is located among the mountains and the valley views are wonderful. It is a bit larger, because it has 18-holes and par 70.

Tours of Golf This route can be taken to reach the best courses or to those courses that visitors prefer to go through organizations as Tour de Golf S.A. For any information on this regard, you can contact: Tours de Golf S.A: P.O. Box 29 c/Duarte 1, Río San Juan Campo de Golf de Playa Grande Phone: 001-809-248-5263 Fax: 001-809-248-2287 E-Mail: info@golfguide-do.com