The Best Golf Courses to Play in The Dominican Republic

A jewel in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has become a hugely popular holiday destination, drawing in thousands of people each year worldwide, many of whom are there to play some of the 26 golf courses that you will find here.

Following his visit to the country in May 2024, Golfshake's Travel Editor Andy Waple describes some of the best.

Corales

• Par 72, 7,650 Yards, Slope 140

This Tom Fazio design that opened in 2010 at the Puntacana Resort has established itself as among the very top courses in the Caribbean. It has six stunning ocean front holes running along a rocky cliff face which buffer the rollers below created by the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. With not a weak hole to be found, it weaves inland before heading to its terrific finale known as the Devil’s Elbow; the long 16th, par 3 17th and fabulous 18th that juts into the bay. The PGA Tour event, the Corales Puntacana Championship has been staged there since 2018.

La Cana

• 27 Holes - Arrecife, Par 36, 3,676 Yards, Hacienda, Par 36, 3,768 Yards & Tortuga, Par 36, 3,483 Yards

In 2001 Pete Dye sprinkled his magic dust on this 27 hole layout, regarded as the second best course of the Puntacana Resort. The preferred loops are Arrecife and Tortuga which provide 14 ocean view holes with four running virtually on the beach. Hacienda, which was added in 2012, routes slightly inland through dense tropical vegetation. While less demanding than its sibling, it is certainly a good test and there are some memorable holes, particularly on the Tortuga loop. The 7th hole here is the most talked about. It’s a visually stunning short dogleg left where your caddie might tempt you to take off the corner and thread one through the palms. Not a good idea in my experience! It is however a fantastic hole, although there are plenty to rival its appeal.

Teeth of the Dog

• Par 72, 7,471 Yards, Slope 145

The best-known course in the Dominican Republic and regularly mentioned as the best in the Caribbean. It was Pete Dye’s first venture in the country, completed in 1971, with subsequent upgrading in 2005 to add length and restore greens and bunkers. Seven holes run along the sea front including the memorable and much photographed par 3 5th where the only grass is on the tees and green.

Conditioning throughout was good during my visit, despite a tropical downpour and it is a joy on the eye.

Its pristine beauty comes at a hefty price. You will need in excess of $600 to play a round here on the jewel of the Casa de Campo resort unless you are a property owner or guest.

Those with the cash and desire to spend it may have to wait, however. Jerry Pate Design has been commissioned to carry out major renovation over 2025 with the tees, greens and fairways reseeded with salt spray resistant grass, tons of sand will be applied to the fairways, greens and bunkers reworked.

Pete Dye obviously had a fondness for the course. His ashes were buried in a grassy hollow by the side of the 8th green.

Dye Fore

• Par 72, 7,714 Yards, Slope 134 

Visitors to Casa Campo missing out of Teeth of The Dog during the 2025 renovation can still play this course and its sister, The Links.

It’s another Pete Dye creation which opened in 2005 now featuring three loops of nine since the Lakes holes were added in 2011.

The preferred 18 are the original course, now named the Chavon and Marina loops.

The Chavon has a distinctive feel; it’s quite unlike other courses being set slightly inland and elevated with the first overlooking a deep valley cut by the waters of the Chavon River. It can be a pretty tough challenge when the wind blows but conditioning is considered to be very good, and the greens are challenging yet true.

All change on the Marina loop, with its views across the shimmering sea and to the Casa Campo marina and the berth of crafts that wouldn’t be out of place in a Bond movie.

No fewer than 13 holes of the Dye Fore have views of the Caribbean so there is really no reason to get upset if your game is off.

Punta Espada

• Par 72, 7,396 Yards, Slope 137

A Jack Nicklaus signature course favoured by many as the best in the Republic. It opened in 2006 and is the pride and joy of the Cap Cana Resort.

After a dramatic easy going opening hole from an elevated tee comes a moment of reckoning where you will quickly need your thinking head.

The beautiful dogleg right 2nd hole is 610 yards off the tips and there is trouble all the way, culminating in an island green jutting into the glorious Caribbean Sea. No going for glory here, it needs careful thought and precise plotting.

It is one of eight holes playing either alongside or over the Caribbean Sea - including the stunning par 4 17th, which requires a tee shot carry over a bay. A further five have ocean views

What a great place to immerse yourself in a game of golf in a setting which could be straight from paradise.

PGA Ocean’s 4

• Par 72, 7,334 Yards, Slope 75

A relative newcomer, this course opened in 2017, although its youthfulness isn’t evident. 

Four is the magic number at this club which prides itself on offering an unusual course featuring a quartet of styles - parkland, links, Caribbean and desert characteristics all make an appearance within its 18 holes. 

The parkland holes, notably found on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th are surrounded by water in typical fashion, while the four on the seashore, in addition to holes 9 and 18, are reminiscent of a links layout. Large rocks and sandy waste on holes 11, 14 and 15 are in tune with desert style, completing a magical mystery tour within a single round of golf.

*All yardages are shown from the tips. A range of teeing options are available on all courses.

For more information on golf in the Dominican Republic, please visit our travel partners Golfbreaks.

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