LA RAMONA, Dominican Republic – Since opening in 1971, the oceanside Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo Resort and Villas in La Romana, Dominican Republic, has consistently been rated as one of the top 50 golf courses in the world for its breathtaking views and white-knuckle challenges. But now, as part of the resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, the iconic Pete Dye design is being modernized under the direction of Jerry Pate Design in an extensive restoration that will take nearly one year.
I had the opportunity to visit Teeth of the Dog seven years ago and saw it in all its glory, playing holes that back up tight against the ocean, staddle alongside cliffs and are carved from the rugged rock and coral of the Dominican coastline. Seven of the holes have come to be known as the “Heaven 7,” because Dye used to say, “I created 11 holes and God created seven.”
But when I was there in April, I saw a course that was entirely under restoration, with the grass gone from all the tees, fairways and greens and only sandy brown soil in its place. The work, which began in January, with a scheduled reopening of the course next December, will be primarily cosmetic, featuring a complete reseeding with Pure Dynasty paspalum, considered ideal for a coastal course. In addition, three inches of sand will be added to the fairways before planting, the surrounding edges of the greens will be returned to their original size, and greenside bunkers will be expanded with enhanced faces for a more dramatic appearance.
Gilles Gagnon, the senior director of golf sales as Casa de Campo, said the course was overdue for a restoration.
“It got rundown a little bit and was not in the condition the ownership wanted,” he said. “It was time to go back and put down grass that would grow easily in the Caribbean. It was very difficult to keep the fairways in good shape and still have a little bit of cushion under them, the bunkers were settled in and took away the framing of the holes, and the greens got smaller. But in terms of the course itself, we’re not doing anything to change it. It will still be iconic; it’s just going to be in good shape.”
Gagnon, a longtime friend of Dye, has no doubt that the legendary golf course designer would be pleased with the changes.
“He definitely would be happy about putting down the paspalum,” he said. “I think he would also be very happy that the ownership is willing to spend all this money to make sure this iconic golf course gets back up in the rankings a little bit, because we’ve been slipping over the past few years.
“Pete was always for trying to improve stuff. I’m sure he would love to have his hands on it. But his ashes are on No. 8, so I’m sure he’s checking it out.”
Even though Teeth of the Dog is currently unavailable, Casa de Campo still has plenty to offer, including two other championship courses and a multitude of non-golf activities throughout its sprawling 7,000-acre resort, from horseback riding, skeet shooting and water sports to tennis, fishing, polo and a luxurious spa.
Located about one hour from Punta Cana, the resort is known as a celebrity destination, and that feeling of being pampered is evident from the moment you walk onto the property when you’re offered a glass of Champagne before even reaching the check-in desk. Your baggage is then transported to a golf villa, and you’re handed the keys to a golf cart, which you use to motor around to the golf courses, the private beach with an infinity pool, a marina and the many bars and restaurants.
Most guests book the all-inclusive package, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, with some exceptions for high-end spirits. On our first night, my girlfriend, Barbara, and I settled in at an outside balcony overlooking two swimming pools at La Cana and feasted on scallops, rack of lamb, filet mignon and a caramelized onion tarte dessert.
The following morning brought the sumptuous breakfast buffet at Lagos, which overlooks the Teeth of the Dog. Choices included fresh mango, papaya and passion fruit, an omelet and crepe station, freshly made smoothies, sausage, bacon and dozens of pastries. At lunch, offerings included octopus, sea bass, steak, mussels, lamb or shrimp, followed by a make-your-own ice cream sundae.
Travel tip: Don’t get on a scale when you’re there.
On Day 2, it was time for a golf lesson at the resort’s Golf Teaching Academy. Our golf professional, Athol Stronach, is a Scotsman who came to Casa de Campo after working at the famed Gleneagles Resort. Stronach utilized video and Trackman analysis to break down our golf swings and offered realistic tips to make solid contact and improve distance.
Buoyed by his help, it was off to Dye Fore, a course that has taken a backseat to Teeth of the Dog but now is stepping into the limelight to make its claim as a spectacular layout in its own right. Don’t sleep on Dye Fore, which offers three distinct nine-hole layouts, all set on dramatically elevated terrain.
One nine, called Chavon, features cliffside holes rising 300 feet above the Chavon River, with panoramic views in every direction. Every hole is a roller-coaster, as fairways descend into deep valleys, leaving steep uphill approach shots to crowned greens. The 12th and 15th holes are two of the greatest, most-challenging par 3s in the world thanks to their length and stunning, cliffside beauty.
The second nine, called Marina, provides eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea, while the third nine, called Lagos, demands the utmost precision in shot execution.
“Dye Fore has become so popular in recent years that it stands alongside Teeth of the Dog as another Dye masterpiece,” Gagnon maintains.
The third course at Casa de Campo is the underrated Links, also a Dye creation. With wide fairways, it is the least penal of the three courses, but the green complexes are challenging and if you play it from the back tees, at more than 7,000 yards, you’ll be plenty tested. Reminiscent of a traditional links course in the British Isles, a lake winds its way through the back nine and is a significant factor on five holes.
“If you take the scenery out of everything, I think the Links is as good of a golf course as we have,” Gagnon said. “Pete could never understand why more people didn’t play it. There are so many really great holes. If it were a links anywhere else, people would be in love with it. But if you’ve got the best-looking girl at the party [in Teeth of the Dog], the second or third best is not going to be looked at as much.”
As for what to do when the final putts are made, Casa de Campo’s options are virtually endless. On our second night, we dined outside at Causa, located at a bustling marina dotted with restaurants and retail shops just steps from the dock. If you’re a sushi lover, the Peruvian-influenced Causa is the place to go. The sushi menu is playful and creative, and those not so inclined for raw fish can choose from steaks, shrimp and grilled chicken options. Order a variety of items and don’t be shy about sharing.
Our third day brought a seven-minute golf cart ride to Minitas Beach, where we relaxed in beach chairs on the white, soft sand before taking a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the ocean and then settling in at the beach bar with Pina Coladas. It is one of the island’s best spots to savor the sunset.
The sleek, contemporary Minitas Beach Club & Restaurant is also here, and the cuisine blends Mediterranean and Latin American traditions, with the emphasis on fresh seafood. On my first trip here in 2018, I ordered the Seafood Mixed Grille, a fabulous combination of octopus, lobster, scallops, shrimp and calamari that I still savor in my mind. But there’s also pizza on the menu and a 32-ounce ribeye.
Nighttime brought a visit to La Piazzetta in beautiful Altos de Chavon, which is a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean medieval village in the heart of the countryside. A stroll down cobblestone streets and terracotta tile brought us to the brick-framed restaurant, where Italian-inspired dishes and homemade pastas dot the menu. It was the perfect ending to a short three-day stay that went by far too quickly.
https://www.casadecampo.com.do/
