WHY YOU SHOULD START FOLLOWING THIS NEW TREND OF  PLAYING GOLF IN ONE OF THE UPCOMING GOLF DESTINATIONS-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican Republic is regularly features among the top 100 golf course destinations in the world and dominates with four courses on many lists.

Easy access and local transportation, a great variety of courses to suit all levels of experiences and fun and dynamic designs of challenging bunkers, diverse greens and forgiving holes on land and close to the ocean, invite thousands of travelers to our Caribbean Island.

Always named first, as one of the top places is the golf course in Casa de Campo – Teeth of the dog – that has been designed by Pete Dye, followed by Punta Espada’s classy track designed by Jack Nicklaus in Cap Cana and Tom Fazio’s Corales golf course in Punta Cana.

Last but not least we want to mention as well Playa Grande, even though its only playable for a small and very exclusive club, on the North coast of the Dominican Republic, a golf course that is been renovated at the moment and will certainly not disappoint green and tee lovers.

Located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, the Punta Cana area is widely recognized as a world-class golf destination.

There are many great golf courses that are part of Hotels and Resorts in Punta Cana, if you want to play some rounds while on vacation in Dominican Republic and combine relaxing family time with your favorite sport.

2018 First Successful Golf Event In Punta Cana – Dominican Republic

For the first time, Punta Cana welcomes 132 professional players and thousands of spectators to the PGA TOUR Event in the Dominican Republic. TheCorales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship is hosted from March 19 to 25, 2018 and we have been there to report live for you.

It is so exciting to enter the gates of this exclusive and prime community. After security checks and short instructions of golf etiquette by the staff, we are off to the sky box, to see some of the world players challenging off shore winds, striking sun, sandy bunkers and difficult greens of this golf course.

I was joined by a friend of mine that has been in golf business for years, to explain me all the things I needed to know  to understand the game and let me tell you it seems easy, but it is so much harder than it looks.

You get to walk along side some small groups of three to four players and watch them up close, remaining silence when they concentrate and applaud when the chipped the ball up the green close to the hole and score.

At all times you have access to the PGA app and can follow the ranking of each player. Live streaming screens show names and plays as well as actual positions, for those following the event up close.

Close to the club house and as part of the PGA event, we made our way to the food court, food trucks and bars for regular guests.

The VIP lounge with exclusive snacks and tastings from the newly opened Seafood Restaurant Lorenzillos in the preferred Club house where only for club members, owners or residence of the Punta Cana Resort have access.

The PGA tour in Punta Cana 2018 was a huge success with international interest in this sport, nicely organized by Punta Cana Group with great atmosphere for golf enthusiasts and interested guests and visitors.

We Give You Selection Of  The Top 13 Golf Courses In And Around Punta Cana – Dominican Republic

Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana – Dominican Republic

Nr. 2 Dominican Republic, Nr. 3 Caribbean

Punta Espada in Cap Cana, is a Jack Nicklaus signature course that has become popular as the second best course in the Dominican Republic and ranks on third place Caribbean wide.

It is one of the world’s foremost golf experiences names by many international golf magazines.

Almost half the holes play to or along the rocky Atlantic coastline. The 13th hole is a par 3 that requires the player to hit a 249 yard shot over water and calls for a heroic, all-carry tee shot out over the Caribbean Sea to a green that clings to the edge of the island.

The architect of this course incorporated the natural coastal topography of cliffs, beach and lagoons into the design that provide phenomenal views of the landscape and this is what makes it interesting and fun to play here.

Green Fees for the 18-hole golf course Punta Espada: Monday to Sunday incl. holidays you pay US $220.00

Play Golf On One Of The Top Caribbean Golf Courses – Dominican Republic

La Cana Golf Club in Punta Cana – Dominican Republic

With its fabulous ocean-side holes and excellently crafted design, La Cana is understandably in Dominican’s top selection of golf courses.

It is located only a 10 minutes’ drive from the international Punta Cana airport.

There are 27 holes with breathtaking scenery of pebble beach style sand, luscious green vegetation and refreshing lagoons providing great experiences for beginners and pros.

The par-4 8th and par-5 9th hole on the Arrecife course are just fabulous and a favorite among the golf players that come to tackle this course. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea will swallow-up anything hit too far left on this challenging closing duo.

The beach and the pool area with its world class spa nearby offer families a great time while their loved ones enjoy their games.

The restaurant at the club house is amazing and make this for us one of the most family-friendly golf courses in Punta Cana for golfers that do not travel alone.

The practice facilities are ultramodern and with a day pass you gain access to the state-of-the-art teaching area, fully equipped with video and computer analysis using V1 Golf Software, is the ideal way to perfect your swing.

All this is part of the Punta Cana Golf Academy, where they offers private and group’s classes for adults and children.

Green Fees for the 3 courses incl. Tortuga, Hacienda, Arrecife

from November – April: 18 holes cost US $ 175.00

from April – November: 18 holes cost   US $ 140.00

Corales Golf Course Punta Cana Resort & Club

The stunning and exclusive Corales Course welcomes members of its Club and their guests with additional access available to the guests of Tortuga Bay and The Westin Punta Cana Resort & Club guests through the Resort’s golf experience plans, or those who wish to play a la carte.

You have to be prepared to book ahead of time to reserve your tee time, since it is a really popular course and availability is limited.

When purchasing a Punta Cana golf package you also get free access to the expansive practice facilities, ice water and refreshing towels are part of the overall experience.

Since playing here does not come cheap, you will get pampered with some extras.

They will provide cold apples on the 10th tee and scented iced towels at the end when you completed your round.

“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. We get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots- but you have to play the ball where it lies “

Ben Hogan

What makes it so special it’s the location, placed between rocky cliffs and coral reefs with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.

This Punta Cana golf course offers a fabulous Oceanside game with a mild and salty breeze always on your side.

Six immensely scenic and challenging oceanfront holes are waiting for the more advanced players.

The Designer Tom Fazio and Tom Marzolf take you along a diverse track along the natural cliffs, bays, ocean coves,  inland lakes and coral quarries.

The experience ends when playing the last three holes, including Devil’s Elbow, the last shot on the rocky turquoise Corales Bay.

Should you decide to play a round or two here you will undoubtedly take home an unforgettable experience for both, the experienced golfer and visitors.

Special Requirements

• 18-hole Corales Golf Club Course
• Visitors are welcome every day
• Advance booking is essential
• A valid handicap certificate or card is required

Green Fees for 18-hole Corales Golf Club Course from November – April with cart  are US $ 380.00 and from April – November  it cost US $ 280.00.

Hotel guests receive a discount.

Extra note for golfers:

Corales: Caddy mandatory – 30$

La Cana: Caddy optional – 25 $

If you plan a golf vacation in Punta Cana you should take advantage of the package deals offered.

Why Not Combining Golf With Family Vacation ?  It Is possible With These Punta Cana Golf Resorts

Catalonia Cabeza de Toro Golf

This 18-hole golf course is part of the Catalonia Bavaro Beach, Golf & Casino in Punta Cana.

The hotel and golf course are located at ​​Cabeza de Toro, a 20 minutes’ drive from the Punta Cana airport.

It is not the prettiest or newest green, but you get to experience quiet a good play with some hidden challenges.

Narrow streets will test the player accuracy and open up later for the driver with up and downhill fairways.

This 9-hole Catalonia Cabeza de Toro Golf Course welcomes guests every day.

Playing here is quiet affordable as you pay around US $ 45.00/round

“This is a game of misses. The guy who misses the best is going to win”

Ben Hogan

Lakes at Barcelo Bavaro 

This Barcelo Bavaro Golf Course offers a great variety of dense vegetation and open airy fields alongside a wonderful and tranquil lake.

The green fee is lower than on other courses in Punta Cana like the Hard Rock, Iberostar or Cocotal for example, but this doesn’t mean that the price matches what you are getting.

It is a shorter but very tricky course.

The conditions are great for experienced green lovers and beginners. The course is very interesting with its variation and combination of water, fairways and hidden bunkers where your ball easily rolls off

Watch out for the bunkers on 5 and good luck with #9.

Cocotal Golf Course in Bavaro

Cocotal Golf & Country Club is located in a gated community in Bávaro near the Shopping Mall Palma Real and includes a 27 holes course with names like Hibiscus, Benjamin and Bourganville that are available for everybody that want to relax for a while and practice their favorite sport.

The entire course is laced with a wonderful variety of indigenous tropical flora, which allows any housing to merge unobtrusively into the background.

Not a super challenging course, but nice to play.

Green Fees for the 18 holes US $ 112.00 and for 9 holes they charge $ 65.00.

“Hit the shot you know you can hit, not the one you think you should”

Dr. Bob Rotella

Iberostate Golf Course in Punta Cana

Find this 18 hole, par 72 very player friendly golf course that has been designed by P.B.Dye located in the Iberostar Bávaro hotel complex and is open every day to offer one of the top golf experiences in Bavaro.

The pace of this course is good as it plays in less than 4 hours.

If you are staying in the resort you can take advantage of the Punta Cana all-inclusive golf packages where you get offered food and drink at the Club and free equipment hire for playing golf.

Note that the rental clubs are very dated and maybe bring your own ones.

Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club is an inland course located just behind the Oceanside Iberostar Resort complex.

The naturally flat landscape has been shaped into a challenging course that incorporates undulating terrain, 105 sand bunkers, lakes and several rocky outcrops with consistent greens and many palm trees.

The service of the beverage carts are very great since the staff is very attentive even if you do not need a refill.

Hard Rock Golf Club – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

Play a round on this very nice Punta Cana golf course that is made for golfers of all skill levels.

The Resort course is situated along the white sandy shores of the stunning Macao Beach.

This is another great course that Designed Jack Nicklaus has put on the map for travelers looking for a unique golf experiences in Punta Cana.

The layout’s rolling fairways and greens weave through native flora and fauna, providing golfers with a truly unique round in a tropical setting.

There are expansive lakes that come into play on several holes as well as numerous strategically placed bunkers that make it fun and interesting and challenge even the experienced ones.

Nice and unique feature: carts are equipped with GPS giving location, suggestions for shots, and accurate distances for approach shots!

If you are ar staying at the Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana it’s a must play at least once and take advantage of the all-inclusive package that comes with tasty snacks and cold beverages.

Another highlight and thumbs up from us is the free introductory program of approximately 20 minutes with one of our golf pro’s where you learn basic swing and golf etiquette an available for hotel guests every day from 10 am- 3 pm.

Here are some prices for green fees and rentals

Green Fee       $200.00 usd

Tw Fee            $130.00 usd (starting at 14.00 hrs)

Jr. Fee             $60.00 usd

Replay             $35.00 usd (same day- subject to availability)

Extra Rider      $35.00 usd

Club rental       $50.00 usd

Shoe rental      $15.00 usd

Punta Blanca Golf Club in Punta Cana

Perhaps you are looking for a golf course for beginners, where to unwind without too many challenges and traps?

This Punta Cana golf course will allow you to stretch those golfing muscles in a very pleasant, tropical parkland environment.

Punta Blanca may not be one of the toughest courses in the area, but its excellent design, absence of housing around the course or along any fairways, and easy-going tropical parkland charms ensures a rewarding outing for golfers of all skill levels.

Green Fees to play a round here is for 18 holes  US $ 150.00

Still Looking for More Options To Play Golf ? Find Exclusive Courses Near Punta Cana Here.

La Estancia Golf Club

P.B. Dye’s left his finger print all over this exciting golf course that sets nature and its surrounding in perfect scene in Dominican’s La Romana area.

Laid out on generally open and undulating terrain, the course is located on top of the immensely scenic Chavon River.

Spectacular views down into the tree-lined river valley can be enjoyed from many vantage points on the course.

Very nice, well maintained golf course, with fast greens and spectacular views!

Green Fees for 18-hole round on the course cost US $ 60.00

Casa de Campo Pro Shop – Teeth of the Dog Golf Course

Even though we mention it later down here it should be on the top of your list of golf courses to play  in the Dominican Republic since it is ranked as the number one course of the Caribbean and 82 th worldwide.

Many experienced players come back year after year and find there is no other course they would rather play every day than Teeth of the Dog of Casa de Campo.

It is the overall experience that is so charm and relaxation.

Everyone talks about the 7 ocean holes, which is well deserved.

However the other 11 are very challenging with their elevated greens and bunkers. It’s hard to beat the views you get to enjoy thanks to the world class design of Pete Dye

The Teeth is fun, frustrating, beautiful, challenging and enjoyable all at the same time.

The course routing makes maximum use of the location; the first four are inland, five through eight are along the water. After playing along the water, holes 9-14 go back inland and are decent if not great holes.

You again play alongside the ocean with the light and salty breeze on holes 15 through 17 and 18 is an uphill hole away from the water.

This course is not for beginners but for those who are looking for the best golf experiences in Dominican Republic.

Nuevo Romana Golf Course 18 Holes

La Romana Club is one of the newly opened and established golf courses near La Romana and features a wide range of well-designed golfing settings, perfectly prepared so all types of players and levels can enjoy their favorite sport.

Exclusive villas and apartments blend in perfectly with the spectacular landscape of tropical palm trees and lush vegetation.

The course provides four holes directly on the seafront, located among coconut groves.

It is the second PGA golf course developed by Grupo Piñero, bringing together the most striking elements of the area with results that no player can resist.

This Dominican golf course  stands out with its variety, diversity and modern design, even though it still lacks a bit maturity.

Customer attention and guest service are outstanding and make this an overall enjoyable and memorable day.

Organize with one of the local transport companies a ride to Nueva Autovia del Este Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macoris.

It takes about an hour and a half to get here and cost you probably around US $ 150.00 round trip for max. 4 people.

Guavaberry Golf and Country Club

The 72 par golf course is as beautiful as it is challenging.

There are a few holes that require some sharp, short iron play to avoid a big number and still others that offer birdie opportunities.

The greens are quite true for such a young course and, as is the case with courses in this environment, they should become even more consistent with time.

Potentially Guavaberry is one of the best inland courses in the Dominican Republic located close to Boca Chica and easy to get here from either La Romana, Bayahibe or Santo Domingo.

The excellent and challenging Gary Player design, weaves its way in two nine-hole loops through a natural environment of palm trees and native bushes.

Take your family to enjoy a day at the clubhouse where they will be nicely taken care of while you get to appreciate a relaxing round on Guavaberry Golf course.

Green Fees for a 18 holes game are US $95.00 and for a round of 9 holes you pay US $ 73.00

Quick Introduction To Learn The Secret Language Of Golf

Have I told you that the only experience I ever had golfing, was on a Mini Golf course close to Disneyland?

For newcomers like me, I felt I needed a lexicon to understand what everybody was talking about on the golf course.

I did my best to make sure I get it right and interviewing real golf enthusiast, like one of our founders, Phil Hodgkinson and some of my friends to learn the basics on golfer language.

I thought I would share this here with you to save you some embarrassment.

Par : is the average of hits a player takes to finish a hole. So when you read it is a par 3 hole, means usually it takes 3 hits to get the ball in the hole.

If you stay one above its -1 , if you need one more its marked as +1 and  at the end of your round you add up your score and you keep track of your improvements on the course

Handicap: After a while you will fill your score book and this is a representation of your playing ability.

Birdie: A score of one less than par.

Bogey: A score of one over par.

Double bogey: A score of two over par. Generally shortened to “a double.”

Eagle: A score of two under par.

Albatross: A score of three under par—as you can imagine, this doesn’t happen that often.

You’ll also hear “double eagle.” It’s the same thing as an albatross.

Ace: A hole-in-one. It is called like this when you managed to hit the ball into the hole in one stroke

Beach: Slang term for a bunker.

Bunker: A concave area containing sand or the like, considered a hazard.

Bite: A ball with lots of backspin is said to “bite,” since it stays pretty close to where it landed or even spins back toward the player. This is a really humorous way of saying “Grow teeth and stay where you are!”

Chipping: A low-short curve shot that is typically made from just off the green.

Cup: This is how you call the four-inch deep, 4.5-inch wide hole on the green.

Divot: The small chunk of turf that you see flying off the ground when a club head strikes the ground as a player hits the ball.

As good golfer etiquette you suppose to repair them, putting them back in place.

Drive: The first shot taken at the teeing ground at each hole — even if you don’t hit it with a driver.

Driver: The longest club and the one with the biggest head, used for tee shots as it’s designed to hit the ball the farthest.

Experts can hear from the sound of it hitting the ball if it was a good hit or not.

Fairway: The center, short-mown portion of a golf hole in between the teeing ground and the green.

Nineteenth (19th) hole: A golf course’s restaurant or lounge and my favorite spot to cool off after a day on the course watching all those ball swooshing by

Pin: The flagstick standing inside the cup on the green. Also known as “the stick.”

Putting: The golf stroke used to roll the ball on the green.

Tees: Pieces of golf equipment used to raise the ball on the teeing ground for a player’s first stroke on the hole.

Usually made of wood, plastic or earth-friendly composite material.

I think you understand now that for newcomer it can be really confusing, but with a little bit of guidance of a friend that is playing already of a golf lesson with a professional golf teacher you will get the hang of it and maybe, hopefully discover a new hobby, one that makes you come back to play a few rounds on one of the golf courses in the Dominican Republic.

Did You Know That Playing Golf  Actually Benefits Your Health – 10 Reasons You Should Start With This Sport Today

• Exposure to the outdoors – studies have shown that constant exposure green areas relaxes the body, reduces stress and can aid in alleviating anxiety. Exposure to sunlight allows the body to soak up vitamin D from the sun, promoting bone growth in youth and reducing the risk of depression, heart disease and certain cancers

• Fosters relationships – golf is a very socially enjoyable sport. It can be a great way to keep in touch with friends, provide opportunities to meet new people and help connect a community. Studies have even shown that a great number of business deals are closed on the golf course!

• Strengthens the bladder – this one is a bit surprising but it certainly deserves noting. Those frequent visits to your friendly course beer-cart girl can give your bladder a run for time. The longer you learn to hold it, the more you strengthen the capacity of your bladder.

• Burns calories – covering 30 to 200 acres means a lot of walking! Skipping out on the golf cart and walking the average course can cover a distance between five to seven kilometers. If you opt to carry your own clubs, you’ll burn even more calories, too! With all the walking, carrying and swinging involved, golfers can burn up to 1000 calories in a single game.

• Keeps your heart rate up – playing golf can lead to quite a bit of exercise for your heart. As is the case with burning calories, the walking, carrying and swinging will increase your heart rate, keeping it pumping and increasing blood flow.

• Good for your brain – as your heart rate increase, so will blood flow to the brain, which can stimulate and improve nerve cell connections. This can delay mental illnesses such as dementia. While competing against others, golfers will also compete with themselves for personal best scores. This type of challenging boosts confidence and self-esteem.

• Improves vision – it requires pretty good vision to zoom in on that round, little white ball that may be yards away. Golfers learn to hone in on small targets from long distances and even when the ball is on the tee, prior to their swing, golfers are presented with the opportunity to evaluate the keenness of their vision while improving hand-eye coordination.