Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic, A Must Play!

Well that is correct but not specific enough. Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, A Must Play! That's specific but not completely true. Pete Dye's five golf courses at Casa de Campo, including Teeth of the Dog, All Must Be Played. Casa de Campo is truly a golf resort with 90 Pete Dye-designed golf holes, seven of which are on the Caribbean Sea expertly contained within the Dog's 18 Teeth. Did you know the average adult dog has 42 teeth? I wish Dye's most beautiful golf course had as many holes as a dog has teeth to be honest with you. It is a round that no golfer, no matter how they are playing or scoring, ever wants to end. 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. There are four golf course locations—‘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. I see the recently completed Pete Dye Course at French Lick as his final masterpiece. Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo was his first masterpiece. 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. But he didn't bite me or attack. Rather the beauty of the sea and the beauty of the design made me grateful to be alive and having this golfing experience. 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 BEAUTY VIDEO of Casa de Campo's Teeth of the Dog. The golf course starts off gently and then swings you around to play Nos. 5,6,7 & 8 with the ocean on your left. Then it quickly brings you back to the clubhouse for the turn and maybe a bite to eat to just have a few moments to reflect on the recent experience. The first five holes on the second nine are solid. The last, No. 14 being a reachable par-5 with a lake guarding the front right of the green. You don't have to force a carry but if you do like I did from the right side of the fairway, then it is a 2-putt birdie. Then as if taken though a tunnel of bamboo trees, the cart path quickly whisks you back out to the sea. Almost like a dosey-doe there you are confronted with another three ocean front holes, this time with the ocean on the right. Good thing you figured out how to correct that slice on the inland holes. The 484-yard par-4 18th, a strong finishing hole, takes you back to the safety of the clubhouse to ponder one of the best, if not the best round of golf in your lifetime. In adult dogs, approximate age can be determined by checking the wear on their incisors. In adult golfers, our love of the game and commitment to seek its full understanding and relationship to life itself, can be deepened and strengthened by a golf trip to Casa de Campo. There is no bite, or even a bark, just the roar of the wind and the sea waiting for you at Teeth of the Dog! CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Gilles Gagnon, Director of Golf Operations. CLICK here for Andy's feature article on Casa de Campo.