The Caribbean's Golf Capital
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean's undisputed golf capital — an island nation with a roster of course designers that reads like a Hall of Fame roll call. Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Greg Norman, Gary Player, P.B. Dye, and Nick Price have all left signatures here. The result: 26 celebrated courses across the country, more than 125 sea-view holes, and a golf scene voted IAGTO's Golf Destination of the Year for Latin America & the Caribbean four times.
It all started in 1971 when Pete Dye carved Teeth of the Dog out of the coral rock at Casa de Campo — the course that put Dominican golf on the map and still, more than fifty years later, ranks as the #1 course in the Caribbean. Thirty years later, Jack Nicklaus answered with Punta Espada at Cap Cana, and Tom Fazio added Corales — home of the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Championship since 2016.
Geography makes this the Caribbean's easiest golf trip: Miami is two hours, New York four, and with eight international airports the Dominican is rarely more than a gate-to-tee transfer from anywhere in North America. The main bases are Punta Cana on the east coast, La Romana to the south-west, and Puerto Plata / Rio San Juan on the North Coast — three very different experiences on the same island.
Dominican Republic Itineraries
Our signature Dominican itineraries — each a distinct way to experience Caribbean golf. Every trip is fully customizable.
The Dominican's Greatest Courses
The most concentrated collection of world-ranked courses in the Caribbean — from Pete Dye's original oceanside masterpiece to the PGA Tour's regular Caribbean stop.
Three Distinct Regions
Each Dominican golf region has its own character, courses, and cultural treasures. Explore them below.
Punta Cana — The Caribbean's Golf Mecca
Thirty miles of white-sand coastline on the island's easternmost tip, Punta Cana packs more than 180 holes across 10 superb courses — the most concentrated luxury golf cluster in the Caribbean. The heavy hitters are Punta Espada (Jack Nicklaus, Cap Cana), Corales (Tom Fazio, PGA Tour venue), and La Cana (Pete Dye, 27 oceanfront holes at Puntacana Resort).
With Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) just minutes from the courses, many clients literally play the day they fly in and the day they fly out. Between rounds: the Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, rum distillery tours, swimming with dolphins, catamaran cruises to Saona Island, and dinners at beachfront resorts that never seem to end.
Top Attractions
- Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
- Ojos Indígenas Ecological Park
- Don Lucas Cigar Factory
- Saona Island Catamaran
- Hoyo Azul Cenote
- Dominican Rum Tasting
- Swim with Dolphins
- Playa Juanillo beach
La Romana — The Birthplace of Dominican Golf
La Romana is where it all started. The Casa de Campo resort, opened by the owners of the island's largest sugar mill in 1974, is still a celebrity hideaway and the proud home of three Pete Dye courses — the 1971 world-changer Teeth of the Dog, the links-style The Links, and the cliff-top Dye Fore.
Adjacent to the resort sits Altos de Chavón, a stunning replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village built on a bluff above the Chavón River. Its Grecian amphitheater hosts Grammy-winning artists every year. Offshore, the islands of Saona, Catalina, and Catalinita front pristine reefs and turtle-nesting beaches, and the Cotubanamá National Park hides fresh-water springs and Taíno rock art.
Top Attractions
- Altos de Chavón village
- Chavón Amphitheater
- Casa de Campo Marina
- Bayahíbe fishing village
- Catalina Island snorkeling
- Cotubanamá National Park
- Cueva del Puente
- Tabacalera García (cigars)
North Coast — Playa Grande & the Amber Coast
The quieter third option. Rio San Juan and Puerto Plata — the "Amber Coast" on the Atlantic side — are home to the Robert Trent Jones Sr. masterpiece Playa Grande, routed along 170 acres of coastal bluff and sometimes called the "Pebble Beach of the Caribbean." Alongside, the Aman-branded Amanera resort sits on the same property — a Relais & Châteaux cliff-top retreat with 2,170 acres of pristine jungle.
This is the region for travellers who want space, dramatic coastal scenery, and a quieter counterpoint to the all-inclusive resorts of Punta Cana. Add a boat trip out to the humpback whale breeding grounds at Samaná (January–March), hikes through the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua, and day trips to Puerto Plata's Victorian centre and the fortified town of Santiago.
Top Attractions
- 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua
- Samaná Bay humpback whales
- Playa Rincón
- Puerto Plata Cable Car
- Fortaleza San Felipe
- Amber Museum
- Cayo Arena
- Cabarete kite-surfing
Featured Accommodations
From the Relais & Châteaux Eden Roc to the iconic Casa de Campo — Dominican resorts set a Caribbean luxury standard.
Best Time to Play the Dominican
Peak Season: November – April
The Caribbean's "winter dry season" is the sweet spot — 75-85°F, low humidity, minimal rain. Resorts at Casa de Campo and Cap Cana sell out 6-9 months ahead; lock tee times early for Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada, and Corales.
Shoulder Season: May & October–November
Less crowded, lower rates, warmer water for swimming. Short afternoon showers are common but rarely disrupt play. Great value if you're willing to accept the chance of a quick squall on the 14th.
Hurricane Awareness
June through November is the Atlantic hurricane season, with peak activity in September. Direct hits on the DR are uncommon but possible. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any summer trip — ask us for our preferred providers.
What to Pack
Sun protection is non-negotiable. Tropical-weight polos, light pants for evening, reef-safe sunscreen, and a hat. Rain gear is worth having in shoulder months. Courses enforce standard golf dress; collared shirts required at most resorts.