The Caribbean's
Golf Capital
No other Caribbean island — no other single country in the hemisphere below Florida — can match the Dominican Republic for golf. With over 25 courses, three different resort corridors, architects including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, P.B. Dye, Nick Faldo, and Robert Trent Jones, and a year-round playing season, the DR has quietly become one of the world's great golf destinations.
The island has been producing world-class courses since 1971, when Pete Dye designed Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo in La Romana — a course that still holds the #1 ranking in the Caribbean over 50 years later. Since then, developers have recognised the DR's extraordinary natural advantages: miles of undeveloped Caribbean coastline, ideal trade wind conditions, and a domestic workforce that produces some of the finest caddies in the world.
The result is a destination where serious golfers can spend a full week playing a different world-class course each day, stay in a private villa steps from the first tee, and never run out of new experiences.
The Three DR Golf
Corridors
DR golf is divided across three main geographic areas, each with distinct resort environments and course offerings.
La Romana — Casa de Campo
The original DR golf destination, anchored by Casa de Campo. Home to three Pete Dye courses — Teeth of the Dog (the flagship), Dye Fore, and The Links. La Romana is accessed via La Romana International Airport (LRM), and the resort is a self-contained world of golf, polo, and beach. The jewel is Teeth of the Dog, universally ranked #1 in the Caribbean.
- Teeth of the Dog — Pete Dye, 1971. 7 oceanfront holes. #1 in the Caribbean.
- Dye Fore — Pete Dye, 2002. Clifftop course with river canyon and ocean views.
- The Links — Pete Dye, 1997. Links-style inland course at Casa de Campo.
- Playa Grande Golf Course — Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1997. Remote north coast masterpiece.
Cap Cana — Eastern DR
The newest and most exclusive golf corridor, adjacent to Punta Cana. Cap Cana is home to Punta Espada, Jack Nicklaus's personal favourite course design, and the associated La Cana course nearby. This area is served by Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), with direct flights from across North America. Luxury villa rentals including Villa Espada and Punta Espada Villa put you steps from the first tee.
- Punta Espada — Jack Nicklaus, 2006. 8 oceanfront holes. Jack's personal favourite.
- La Cana Golf Course — P.B. Dye, 1998. 4 oceanfront holes at Puntacana Resort.
- Corales Golf Club — Tom Fazio, 2010. Cliffside par 3s and coastal scenery at Punta Cana Resort.
- Cocotal Golf Club — José Pepe Gancedo, 1997. Large resort course at Barcelo.
Puerto Plata — North Coast
The quieter, less-developed north coast offers a completely different Dominican golf experience. Playa Grande is the standout — a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course of dramatic beauty on a remote coastline with 10 ocean holes. Puerto Plata airport (POP) is a 2-hour drive from Santo Domingo and is served by seasonal charter flights.
- Playa Grande Golf Course — Robert Trent Jones Sr. 10 oceanfront holes.
- Playa Dorada Golf Club — Robert Trent Jones Sr. Classic resort course.
Best Time to Golf
in the Dominican Republic
The DR has a year-round golf season, but conditions vary. The peak months are November through April — the dry season — when temperatures are cooler (low 80s°F), humidity is lower, and rainfall is minimal. Trade winds in this season are consistent and strong enough to add genuine challenge to the oceanfront holes at Teeth of the Dog and Punta Espada.
May through October is the wet/hurricane season. Golf is still very playable — mornings are typically dry and beautiful — but afternoon thunderstorms are common and hurricane risk is real from August through October. Green fees are often lower during shoulder season, and the courses are less crowded.
Verdict: November through March is ideal. Early morning tee times throughout the year will minimise rain exposure.
DR Golf — Practical Information
- Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP), but USD is widely accepted at all major resort courses
- Language: Spanish — English is spoken at all major resort courses
- Caddies: Mandatory or strongly recommended at all major courses. Tip $30–50 USD
- Equipment Rental: Available at all resort pro shops; quality has improved significantly in recent years
- Flying with Clubs: Most airlines allow golf bags as checked luggage for a fee. Soft bags recommended for DR travel
- Handicap: Some courses require a valid handicap for tee time booking; carry your certificate