Are you thinking about a golf trip when the season in Poland comes to an end and temperatures in Europe are far from ideal?
Without a doubt, the best country you can choose for your paradise golf trip is the Dominican Republic. Read 8 things you should know about the Dominican Republic.
The country is located on the eastern side of Hispaniola Island and borders Haiti. The Dominican Republic offers not only the most spectacular golf courses in the Caribbean, but also has an excellent base of hotels, houses, and apartments for rent… right next to the golf courses.
You have never been there. We will answer below what you should know. Is such a trip expensive? Can you manage without knowing Spanish? We answer these and many other questions below:
1. What makes golf in the Dominican Republic the number 1 choice in this part of the world?
Nowhere will you find so many picturesquely located holes and entire courses by the ocean as here. From Casa de Campo in the south to Punta Cana on the east coast or Playa Grande in the north. There are nearly 30 courses here, and many of them are designs by the best in the field such as Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, and Rees Jones.
2. Where to play?
Certainly, the tourist mecca of the Caribbean, Punta Cana, and Casa de Campo are top locations. Casa de Campo, located on the southern coast, has two excellent courses, both designed by Dye. The first is an absolute masterpiece, the famous “Teeth of the Dog.” The second – Dye Fore – has incredible views of the ocean, mountains, and river. On the east coast, right next to the international airport, is a region encompassing the Cap Cana and Punta Cana resorts, with courses such as Punta Espada (Jack Nicklaus design), La Cana Golf Course (P.B. Dye), and Corales (Fazio).
3. … but which golf course is the most beautiful in the region?
One could debate for a long time, but most believe that Punta Espada in Cap Cana or Teeth of the Dog in Casa de Campo is the best choice in the entire Western Hemisphere. What speaks in favor of such a choice is the view during play. From most holes, we can admire the cliffs, coastline, and beauty of the Caribbean Sea.
4. Accommodation options?
Many golf courses are simply parts of hotel resorts such as Cocotal belonging to Melia in the Punta Cana area. For example, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is one of the best resorts in this part of the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic, and particularly the Punta Cana area, is one of the most visited vacation destinations in the world (MasterCard ranking from 2018). There will be no problem renting an apartment, house, or room in all-inclusive hotels located right next to the most beautiful golf courses.
5. What does the Dominican Republic offer besides excellent golf courses?
The Dominican Republic is beautiful, so you should definitely try to visit its most interesting corners. From January to March, we can observe whales in their natural habitat in the north. It is worth visiting the paradise islands of Saona and Catalina. There are several excellent places for reef, wreck, and cave diving. The town of Cabarete in the north is a surfer’s mecca. It is also a great place for fishing or horseback riding. It is worth adding that the Dominican Republic is also one of the best places in the world to play polo. The Dominican Republic is beautiful and you cannot get bored here.
6. How much does a round of golf cost?
If you go to the Dominican Republic to play golf, you must prepare for expenses. Several top courses cost approximately $200-400. This will be the case at Puntacana Resort & Club; Teeth of the Dog; Dye Fore, and Punta Espada Golf Club. For about $100, we can play at Cocotal Golf & Country Club; Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club, or La Romana Golf Club.
It is always worth checking whether a given course offers a package with accommodation, meals, and attractions.
7. Do you need to know Spanish?
It depends. To play, use the courses, correspond with the hotel, or rent a car, we can manage knowing only English, as most of the staff works daily with tourists from all over the world. Dominicans living and working a bit further away will not know English.
8. How to fly and where to land?
From Poland, direct flight options until recently were organized trips by travel agencies ITAKA and TUI. These operators also offered charter flights, and this was essentially the only option to get to the Dominican Republic without a layover. Direct flights are more frequent through regular flights from many European countries: Brussels, London, Paris, Madrid, or from Germany, which is closest to us (Munich, Frankfurt), etc.
If we want to be close to the courses, we must choose Punta Cana (PUJ). Here, within 1 hour by car from the airport, we have most of the courses that will definitely be enough for our first contact with the Dominican golf paradise.
We warmly invite all those who play golf but do not know the Dominican Republic, and those who have already fallen in love with the Dominican Republic but do not yet know golf. We will help you choose the right place to play and stay. We will organize your free time and show you the beautiful Dominican Republic.
Casa Dominicana
