Golf in the Dominican Republic
The number one golf island in the Caribbean, home to Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog and a string of spectacular oceanside championship courses. The courses that matter, the regions, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo, via Google
Why golf in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the leading golf destination in the Caribbean, and it has been since 1971, when Pete Dye carved Teeth of the Dog out of the coral rock at Casa de Campo and gave the region its first truly great course. With seven holes hard against the Caribbean, it remains the number one course in the Caribbean and the reason most golfers come, but it is far from alone. Dye returned to build Dye Fore high above the Chavon river, and the east coast added two of the most photographed oceanside courses anywhere, Jack Nicklaus's Punta Espada at Cap Cana and Tom Fazio's Corales, host of a PGA Tour event.
For a traveling golfer the appeal is the combination of world class oceanside golf and a true Caribbean resort holiday, with warm winter sun while the north freezes, direct flights from North America and Europe, and the easy luxury of resorts like Casa de Campo and Puntacana. The golf is expensive at the very top, but the quality and the settings justify it, and the north coast's Playa Grande offers ten clifftop holes at a fraction of the price.
The regions
La Romana and Casa de Campo
The historic heart of Dominican golf, home to Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links, all within one of the great resorts in the Caribbean on the south east coast.
Punta Cana and Cap Cana
The east coast resort strip, with Nicklaus's Punta Espada and Fazio's Corales among the most spectacular oceanside courses in the region, and a wide choice of all inclusive hotels.
The North Coast
Around Rio San Juan and Puerto Plata, anchored by Playa Grande and its ten clifftop holes above the Atlantic, a quieter, better value alternative to the busy south and east.
The courses that matter
Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo
The course that made the Caribbean a golf destination, a Pete Dye masterpiece with seven holes hard against the sea, routinely ranked the number one course in the Caribbean and freshly renovated in 2025.
Punta Espada Golf Club
A Jack Nicklaus Signature par 72 at Cap Cana with eight holes playing along the Caribbean and ocean views from all eighteen, a former PGA Tour Champions host and one of the most beautiful courses in the region.
Corales Golf Club
A Tom Fazio design at Puntacana Resort, host of the PGA Tour's Corales Puntacana Championship, with six oceanside holes and the Devil's Elbow finish around a cliff edged bay, one of the great closing stretches in golf.
Dye Fore, Casa de Campo
Pete Dye's second course at Casa de Campo, perched on cliffs three hundred feet above the Chavon river and the marina, twenty seven dramatic holes with vertigo inducing tee shots and big views.
Playa Grande Golf Club
A Robert Trent Jones Sr design at Rio San Juan, renovated by Rees Jones, with ten clifftop holes above the Atlantic, more oceanfront holes than Pebble Beach and outstanding value on the quieter north coast.
La Cana Golf Club
A P.B. Dye design at Puntacana Resort with twenty seven holes, fourteen with sea views and four directly on the water, an easier, holiday spirited round and a fine base for the east coast.
The Links, Casa de Campo
The inland links style course at Casa de Campo, a Pete Dye layout of rolling fairways and lakes that complements Teeth of the Dog and gives a society plenty of golf in one resort.
Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay
A Jack Nicklaus design near Bavaro, a long, modern resort course attached to the Hard Rock Hotel, popular with all inclusive groups for its conditioning and value.
Iberostar Bavaro Golf Club
A P.B. Dye parkland threaded through tropical forest and lakes at Bavaro, a well kept resort course and a dependable extra round on a Punta Cana week.
Playa Dorada Golf Course
A Robert Trent Jones Sr resort course on the north coast at Puerto Plata, a relaxed, mature layout that pairs with Playa Grande for a quieter, better value northern trip.
Designers, opening years and host history verified June 2026 where stated. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| December to April | Warm, dry, sunny, the lowest rainfall | Prime dry season, also the peak for fees and resorts |
| May to July | Hotter and more humid, short afternoon showers | Good value shoulder, play in the morning |
| August to November | Hot, humid, Atlantic hurricane season | Cheapest of the year, watch the forecast |
The trade winds blow for much of the year and are part of the test on the oceanside courses. Book the marquee tee times and the best resorts well ahead for the December to April peak.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee green fee | Around US$450 to US$495 | Punta Espada, Corales and Teeth of the Dog in peak |
| North coast green fee | Around US$175 to US$250 | Playa Grande, excellent value for the setting |
| A week, all in | Around US$2,500 to US$4,500 per person | Marquee courses, resort, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
The Dominican Republic is well served for golf. Punta Cana International is the busiest airport in the Caribbean, with direct flights from across North America and Europe and the east coast courses a short transfer away, so a Punta Cana or Cap Cana trip needs little more than resort transfers and the occasional taxi. La Romana has its own airport beside Casa de Campo, the easiest arrival for Teeth of the Dog, while Puerto Plata serves the north coast for a Playa Grande trip. The resorts are self contained, so within them everything is close, and a private transfer links the regions if you want to combine the south, east and north.
Where to stay
Match the resort to the golf. Casa de Campo at La Romana is a destination in itself, with Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links on the estate and a marina and villas to match. On the east coast, the Puntacana Resort owns Corales and La Cana, while Cap Cana pairs luxury hotels with Punta Espada, and the Bavaro strip offers all inclusive value near Hard Rock and Iberostar. On the north coast, the hotels around Rio San Juan and Puerto Plata put you near Playa Grande and Playa Dorada. Book the resort hotels well ahead for the winter peak, and let one planner line up the right base for each leg.
Plan your Dominican Republic golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Dominican Republic golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in the Dominican Republic?
December to April is the prime dry season, warm and sunny with the lowest chance of rain, which is also the peak for green fees and resorts. May to November is hotter and more humid with afternoon showers and the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October, but it brings the best value.
Which region has the best golf?
Casa de Campo at La Romana is the historic heart, home to Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog plus Dye Fore and The Links. Punta Cana and Cap Cana on the east coast hold Punta Espada and Corales, two of the most spectacular oceanside courses in the region, while Playa Grande on the north coast has ten clifftop holes above the Atlantic.
How much does a golf trip to the Dominican Republic cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 peak green fees run to around US$495 at Punta Espada and Corales and toward similar numbers at Teeth of the Dog, while Playa Grande is roughly US$175 to US$250. A week of marquee courses with a resort and transfers typically lands between US$2,500 and US$4,500 per head. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Caribbean course openings, the trips our concierge is quietly building and the booking windows worth moving on early. Every other week.