Pete Dye's resume reads like a golf junkie's bucket list: TPC Sawgrass, Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, and Whistling Straits, among others. But Dye has never shied away from naming his favorite creation: Teeth of the Dog, a stunning ocean-front track in the Dominican Republic that ranks No. 43 on Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World.
You'll understand why Dye made that call when you stand on the tee box at the 176-yard, par-3 fifth -- you'd need a sailboat to feel any closer to the Caribbean. Add the par 3s at No. 7 and No. 16, and you have the best collection of waterfront par 3s you'll ever play this side of Cypress Point.
Other courses at the Casa de Campo resort include Dye Fore, a thrill-ride alternative to Teeth of the Dog. A third course, the Links, doesn't live up to the world-class standards of its neighbors, but is a respectable track and a good place to steel your game for Dye's notoriously diabolical challenges.
THE COURSES
Teeth of the Dog
6,888 yards, par 72
Green fees: $225 ($170 for resort guests)
Dye Fore
7,770 yards, par 72
Green fees: $200 ($170 for resort guests)
The Links
6,461 yards, par 71
Green fees: $150 ($135 for resort guests)
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Where to Stay
For most visitors, Casa de Campo resort is where it's at. The casitas have a cozy tropical elegance and come with a golf cart to get you around. Rooms start at $285 per night until April 12, then drop to $178 until the Christmas season. 800-877-3643, casadecampo.com.do
Where to Go
Beach lovers should head to Bayahibe and grab a boat to the islands of Catalina and Saona. Another must-see is Altos de Chavon, a fascinating replica of a 16th-century European village.
Getting there
Three airports service the resort: Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and La Romana. Santo Domingo and Punta Cana are each a 70-minute ride (cabs should run about $125 and $180, respectively). La Romana is just a few minutes from Casa de Campo (a $12 cab ride) but fewer airlines fly there.
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