Casa de Campo Resort & Villas - Teeth of The Dog, Links and Dye Fore

The timing of our visit to Casa De Campo was brilliant, being only two months after the gala reopening of Teeth of the Dog following an intensive 11-month restoration. Former US Open champion Jerry Pate and his partner Steve Dana had cleaned up a layout affected by decades of coastal erosion and turf changes, whilst remaining very protective of Pete Dye's original design. The tees, fairways, and greens were stripped and replanted with Pure Dynasty Paspalum grass, which is salt-tolerant, and all 14 fairways were sand-capped before seeding. This has drastically improved drainage and created much firmer, faster, and more predictable playing surfaces year-round. Over the last 50 years, the greens had lost their original shapes due to routine maintenance and wind. By studying historic photographs and old documentation, theteam expanded them back to their original profiles, successfully reinstating the classic, interesting pin placements that had been lost over time. The course's 127 bunkers had been severely degraded by the fierce coastal environment, so each was rebuilt with steep, grassed faces. All 70 tee boxes were completely dug up, levelled, and rebuilt, while concrete paths were renovated and rerouted to improve the flow of player traffic and maintenance efficiency. The result is a course that will surely find its way back into the world’s top 100 after a short hiatus. Fiendish run-offs are a hallmark of Teeth of the Dog, and navigating them is where the expertise of the resort's legendary local caddies becomes invaluable. Several times Mrs W and I thought we had struck fine approaches, only to see them disappear over the edge of the green. Then fifth is one of the most photographed holes on the planet – it is a wonderful par-three. Never have I played a hole so close to the lapping sea. It is only about 120 yards, but nothing but a sand moat and jagged rock protect the green from the water. A tree on the right adds to the complexity. It is followed by a stunning par-four featuring a drive over the ocean to the left, where the best alternative is to flirt with bunkers down the right. This leaves a very tricky approach to a raised green. When I first played the par-four eighth, where the ball needs to be nursed in from the right to avoid dropping short towards a bunker in front of the green, or worse, into the sea to its left. However, anyone who is too aggressive will find themselves in a grassed bunker at the back right of the green where the ashes of Pete Dye are buried. I was with Pete during my second round. Playing the course twice allowed time for wreck and redemption. The holes I played well the first time, I tended to mess up on the second attempt, and vice versa. There are three coastal holes on the back nine, beginning at the 15th: a left-to-right curving par-four with a waste area and rocks providing the only protection from the sea on the right. The Director of Golf claims that playing the 16th at sunset makes it his favourite golf hole. The par-three has the shore at the front and right of a large target that features trees to its left. Teeth of the Dog has a reputation for being tough to crack, but I suspect that a calm head will achieve success. Its backdrops are so exotic that it almost pleads for theplayer to have a go. We found that doing so can result in success and failure in almost equal measure. Parring those coastal holes is one of the great thrills in golf. If only I had been able to grab a birdie.

2025 wurden alle 18 Greens & 82 Bunker des "Teeth of the Dog" komplett saniert. Der Platz bleibt also eine Ikone in der Karibik und schlägt derzeit mit beachtlichen $ 400 für Hotelgäste und $ 550. für Auswärtige zu buche. Die Preise des noch interessanteren "Dye Fore" mit 27 Löchern ist derzeit bei $ 325.-- Greenfee dazu fast ein Schnäppchen. Dazu kommen auf beiden Plätzen noch die obligatorischen Caddys dazu. die 18 Löcher des "Links" welche ebenfalls saniert und aufgewertet wurden, steht aktuell mit $ 250.00 zu buche und hier kann man auch ohne Caddys spielen. Casa de Campo ist und bleibt das Nr. 1 Golfresort in der Dominikanischen Republik, denn alle Plätze und Übungsanlagen sind derzeit in einem absoluten Top Zustand und lassen die Herzen aller Golffreunde höher schlagen. In 2025, all 18 greens and 82 bunkers of the “Teeth of the Dog” were completely renovated. The course remains an icon in the Caribbean and currently costs a considerable $400 for hotel guests and $550 for non-guests. The prices for the even more interesting 27-hole “Dye Fore” are currently $325, which is almost a bargain. In addition, there are the mandatory caddies on both courses. The 18 holes of the “Links,” which have also been renovated and upgraded, currently cost $250, and you can play here without caddies. Casa de Campo is and remains the No. 1 golf resort in the Dominican Republic, as all courses and practice facilities are currently in absolutely top condition and make the hearts of all golf enthusiasts beat faster.

Ho giocato in agosto 2025 nel percorso Dye Fore perché Teeh of the Dog purtroppo è chiuso per manutenzione fino a dicembre. Percorso difficile, scenografico con molti tee su cliffs, e con alcuni green a strapiombo sulle rive del rio Chavon. Più difficili le 9 buche del percorso Altos, meno quelle di La Marina. Campo tenuto in modo magnifico, molto curato. Il campo è troppo costoso (295 $ come ospite dell’hotel di Casa de Campo), rispetto agli standard europei, ed è obbligatorio il caddy (50 $ mancia compresa). In reception mi hanno detto che i courses di Casa de Campo sono aperti solo piu agli ospiti di Casa de Campo. Aspetto da verificare prima di prenotare.

Le TEETH OF THE DOG est un parcours meetic. Classe numéro 1 en République Dominicaine, numéro 1 dans les Caraïbes et numéro 77 au niveau mondial, ce parcours est un MUST. Les trous en bord de mer sont époustouflants. À faire absolument.

BUCKET LIST!

Diese Platz sollte man einfach spielen, mit Sicherheit überlegt man aufgrund des Greenfeepreises, aber ich kann sagen wer ihn nicht spielt wird sich ärgern - gerne als Tipp die Pakete anschauen welche die Anlage anbietet.

Bei Ankunft im Resort wird erstmal der Ausweis geprüft ob man auch angemeldet ist.

Angekommen im Pro Shop möchte man erstmal alles kaufen, so tolles Merchandise vor Ort. Direkt dahinter befindet sich das Puttinggrün und die Caddies warten bereits auf einen. Hier kann man auch sagen, die Caddies hier sind mit die besten in der ganzen Karibik. Rangebälle sind natürlich auch inklusive, mit dem Cart einige Minuten fahrt dorthin.

Dann geht es los, am ersten Loch natürlich das obligatorische Foto vor dem Schild nicht vergessen. Es ist ein entspannt Start bevor man Loch 4 den ersten Blick auf das Meer wirft und dann Loch 5 der Start der wahnsinnigen Löcher. Es ist einfach schwer zu beschreiben aber die Löcher am Meer sind einfach alle atemberaubend, die Bälle werden wohl auch magisch angezogen.

Nach dem neunten Loch kommt man wieder am Clubhause vorbei und auf den zweiten Neun folgt dann nochmal eine Comfort Station, wohl kaum zu erwähnen aber natürlich findet man im Cart auch kostenfreies Wasser vor.

Auch nicht zu erwähnen dass die letzten Löcher auch wieder am Meer sind, bevor man an Loch 18 wieder zurück zum Clubhaus kommt. Übrigens am 18. Abschlag sieht man noch Teile der Landebahn des ehemaligen Rollfeldes des La Romana Internationals.

Übrigens perfekt wenn man mit dem Kreuzfahrtschiff kommt, denn Teeth of the Dog liegt direkt neben dem Kreuzfahrtterminal.

Also definitiv die Empfehlung DIESEN Platz zu spielen!