Overview

The Greatest Golf Course
in the Caribbean

There are golf courses, there are great golf courses, and then there is Teeth of the Dog. Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1971 at Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic, Teeth of the Dog has held the title of #1 golf course in the Caribbean and Latin America for over five decades. Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and virtually every major golf publication agrees: if you play one Caribbean course in your lifetime, this is it.

The name comes from the jagged coral formations that line the oceanfront holes — sharp, tooth-like limestone outcroppings that frame seven stunning holes directly on the Caribbean Sea. It is a design element that exists nowhere else on earth, and it makes Teeth of the Dog instantly recognizable and permanently unforgettable.

Pete Dye himself, with help from his wife Alice and a crew of local Dominican workers who moved coral by hand, spent years perfecting this layout. Dye has gone on record stating that he considers Teeth of the Dog among his finest work — and given that his portfolio includes Harbour Town, TPC Sawgrass, Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, and Whistling Straits, that statement carries extraordinary weight.

The Ocean Holes — Holes 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18

Seven of the eighteen holes run directly along the Caribbean Sea. No other course in the Caribbean — perhaps no other course in the world — can match that number of true oceanfront holes. Each one is a memorable, self-contained challenge.

  • Hole 5 (Par 3, 157 yards): The first ocean hole and one of the most photographed par 3s in the world. Tee shot directly over open Caribbean water to a green guarded by coral rock. Wind is everything.
  • Hole 7 (Par 4, 435 yards): A dogleg left with the ocean running the entire left side. The drive must navigate a narrow corridor between coral and rough. One of the most strategically demanding holes on the course.
  • Hole 8 (Par 3, 175 yards): Another stunning par 3 over the sea. Longer than Hole 5 and often more exposed to the trade winds that funnel along this stretch of coastline.
  • Hole 9 (Par 4, 440 yards): The finishing hole of the outward nine plays back toward the clubhouse with the ocean framing the entire right side. A green approach over a coral-lined bunker.
  • Holes 16–18: The finishing stretch brings you back to the ocean in spectacular fashion. Hole 16 is perhaps the most photographed hole on the course — a par 3 with a green seemingly suspended above the Caribbean. Holes 17 and 18 close the loop with ocean in view throughout.

Course Details & Playing Information

Teeth of the Dog is a private club within the Casa de Campo resort, meaning tee times are primarily available to resort guests and villa owners. Day visitors can book through the resort at a premium rate, subject to availability.

  • Par: 72
  • Length (Blue Tees): 6,888 yards
  • Course Rating / Slope: 74.5 / 140
  • Green Fees (Guests): Approximately $250–$350 USD per round (check Casa de Campo directly for current rates)
  • Caddies: Mandatory — and a highlight of the experience. Dominican caddies at Casa de Campo are among the best in the Caribbean.
  • Best Time to Play: November through April (dry season). Trade winds are lighter in the morning — book the earliest tee time available.
  • Replay Rounds: Available and strongly recommended. Many serious golfers play the course twice on the same trip.

Getting There & Where to Stay

Casa de Campo is located near La Romana on the south coast of the Dominican Republic. The closest airport is La Romana International Airport (LRM), approximately 15 minutes from the resort. Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is about 90 minutes by road and is served by many more direct flights from North America and Europe.

Staying inside Casa de Campo is by far the best option — guests get priority tee times, walking distance to the first tee, and access to the resort's other courses (Dye Fore and The Links). Villa rentals within the resort compound offer the full experience with complete privacy.

For golfers combining a trip to Teeth of the Dog with Cap Cana's Punta Espada course, consider basing yourself at Villa Espada in Cap Cana — a luxury private villa steps from the Punta Espada first tee, with easy road access to Casa de Campo for a day trip to Teeth of the Dog. The two-course DR golf itinerary — Punta Espada and Teeth of the Dog — is the gold standard Caribbean golf experience.

You can also explore villa options near Teeth of the Dog at TeethoftheDogVilla.com, which specialises in Casa de Campo villa rentals for golf groups.

Our Verdict — Is It Worth It?

Without reservation: yes. Teeth of the Dog is not merely a great golf course — it is a genuine pilgrimage destination for anyone who loves the game. The combination of Pete Dye's design genius, the extraordinary natural setting on the Caribbean Sea, the mandatory caddie experience, and the sheer visual drama of those seven ocean holes makes Teeth of the Dog a once-in-a-decade experience for most golfers, and an annual ritual for those lucky enough to return.

Book early. Play in the morning. Hire a caddie. Replay the round if you can. And don't miss holes 5, 16, and 18.