It is easy to get to Casa de Campo. Once there you will jump for joy like I did!
Jet Blue, American Airlines, United, Delta, Spirit, Frontier, US Airways and others all fly straight from the United States to three international airports in the Dominican Republic, all within a convenient shuttle ride to Casa de Campo. In fact there are 15 or so flights directly from the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area. Golfers and tourists from other parts of the world are flying direct to the Dominican Republic from places like Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the Caribbean. Maybe the opening line on Saturday Night Live needs to be rewritten—LIVE & DIRECT FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE: Casa de Campo in the Domincan Republic is not too far and not too hard to get to. For me it was an easy ‘island hop’ over from San Juan, Puerto Rico after covering the Puerto Rico Open.
The long 229-yard par 3 7th hole of Teeth of the Dog, one of seven ocean front holes. PHOTO CREDIT: Casa de Campo
I, of course, came for the golf, more specifically the Pete Dye designed golf. Surely you have heard of the ‘Teeth of the Dog’? Or ‘Dye Fore’? My trip is Casa de Campo was an extension of the ‘Journey to Olympic Golf,’ the 100-day, 14-country, 18,471-mile odyssey that sort of became the Americas’ Pete Dye Golf Trail. Starting with meeting son Perry Dye in San Salvador, El Salvador and playing El Encanto before it even opened, adding La Reunion in Guatemala, Black Pearl in Honduras, and Buzios Golf Club in Brazil, the trip to the Olympic Course in Rio de Janeiro was transformed into a Dye-Designed Journey! Based on my experience at Casa de Campo I will be seeking, finding and hopefully playing all Dye-designed golf courses between St. Louis, where Olympic Golf was last played at Glen Echo CC in 1904, and Rio before the golf-rich Summer Olympics begin on August 5th, 2016.
CLICK here for a tour of the Sporting Life at Casa de Campo with Giselle Gonzalvo.
Aerial view of Altos de Chavon with Amphitheater in the foreground and Dye Fore golf course above the river. PHOTO CREDIT: Casa de Campo
As I confessed above, I came for the golf but what I found was an enchanting and complete community that I did not want to leave. I could spend ‘the rest of my life’ at Casa de Campo discovering the sporting life, wining and dining and being entertained in Altos de Chavon, a 16th century replica of a Mediterranean village perched high above the Chavón River, and of course golfing on a total of 90 superior Pete Dye-designed golf holes displayed beautifully at four courses— ‘Teeth of the Dog,’ ‘Dye Fore,’ ‘The Links,’ and the private La Romana CC. Dye Fore and La Romana have 27 holes to make the equivalent of five Pete Dye golf courses in one thrilling location. Another confession—the video below is better than the one I did above. Confession is good for the soul, so is a vacation at Casa de Campo!
CLICK here for Casa de Campo’s “Discover the Sporting Life” VIDEO.
Pete Dye showing me the long view and his unmatched and insightful golf course architecture perspectives at the golf course that bears his name in French Lick, Indiana.
To put it mildly, the golf at Casa de Campo is exceptional. This is vintage ‘Pete Dye,’ both in design and up close and personal. I see the Pete Dye Course at French Lick as his final masterpiece and Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo as his first one. Dye came to the Dominican Republic in the late ‘60s and helped Gulf and Western find this perfect location close to the sea, same as the great Scottish courses the young Dye had toured just a few years before. When finished with the first course in 1971, Dye named it the name he had heard the workers use referring to the sharp coral rock underfoot as “diente del perro,” or “Teeth of the Dog.” While the coral rock is neutralized by the wearing of golf shoes, the wind and design, certainly made me fearful as though I was looking at the teeth of an angry dog. Casa de Campo is the Caribbean’s leading resort and Teeth of the Dog is the Number One golf course in Latin America. It is that simple. You have to come and experience this original and vintage Pete Dye designed golf course!
CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Gilles Gagnon, Director of Golf Operations.
With Giles Gagnon, ‘Mr. Casa de Campo Himself.’
Another name that is synonymous with golf at Casa de Campo is Gilles Gagnon, who has been at the resort for more than 30 years. If you have visited and played golf then you know Gilles, it’s that simple. A professional hockey player turned golf professional via an opportunity to coach golf as well as hockey at Colgate University in upstate New York, Pete Dye personally brought Gilles to Casa de Campo to take care of the golf courses. When he first arrived in 1981 there were two golf courses and few homes. Now there are five golf courses and over 1600 homes. He is an event creator and there are four golfers that have not missed a Casa de Campo Open in 33 years! Like his career, his schedule of events is long, year-round. One of the most popular tournaments is the Casa de Campo Open, which he began his second year at the resort: A number of golfers have attended every single one. His favorite course is Teeth of the Dog and in a way, Gagnon and “The Dog” have grown up together. Working tirelessly to promote the resort, when asked about retirement his stock answer is, “Where do people want to go when they retire? The Caribbean. Heck…I’m already here!”
CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Peter Bonell, Chief Marketing Officer.
With Peter Bonell, a seasoned veteran in the golf resort and real estate business.
When the marketing guy is the marketing message you know the vacation experience will be real and as advertised. One can’t meet a nicer man than Peter Bonell and there is no one else that exemplifies ‘the sporting life’ at Casa de Campo as he does. Fit to a ‘Tee,’ an avid tennis player and golfer, he is also a sharp business man delivering a superior resort experience at a competitive price. I know this because he missed a ‘tee’ time to play golf with me on Saturday at Dye Fore. But I bet he did play tennis with his wife in the evening after taking care of business. A New Yorker, who started as a valet parking cars and then found the golf resort real estate business at places like The Broadmoor and Pinehurst, Pete is a seasoned change agent that is taking Casa de Campo to even greater heights. A lot higher than I jumped in my joyful Casa de Campo picture!
Casa de Campo is a magical place, with its golf and multitude of other sports and Altos de Chavon. Built by Paramount Pictures in the late 70s as a set for movies and to entertain clients, there is no other place of earth quite like it, not even the sixteenth-century Mediterranean village which inspired its construction. It is a world class and in a class all by itself and most fortunately one is able to get there on a relatively short direct flight from all over the Western Hemisphere.
My recommendation is to ‘discover the sporting life’ at Casa de Campo with friends and family as soon as you can!
Live & Direct from New York; it’s Casa de Campo!
Photo Opp, Teeth of the Dog, playing this golf course is on most golfers’ bucket list.
With Pete Dye’s statue outside the Teeth of the Dog clubhouse.
Fifth green on TOD, only golf course with seven holes on the Caribbean, said to be made by God, not Pete Dye.
The rooms at Casa De Campo are spacious and comfortable, very comfortable!
The food at Casa de Campo is exceptional, especially the seafood!
The views of Altos de Chavon and the river gorge on Dye Fore are to die for!
I was joyful being at Casa de Campo!
