Casa de Campo has long been near the top end of many a YGT employee’s bucket lists and recently one very lucky member of staff got “the call” and was invited out to Los Altos at Casa de Campo. Golf Courses were played, far too much Dominican food was scoffed and the odd Presidente (the local beer of choice) was necked, all from the comfort of accommodation which ranks among the very finest YGT have experienced. All in all, Los Altos was like heaven for the discerning golfer. Here we walk you through what makes this place so damn good!

Arriving in Punta Cana Airport immediately gets you into the mood for a few days of the island life as the terminal buildings are open air and thatched with palm fronds; an immediate reminder of exactly where you are and what’s in store for the next few days…no need for windows and central heating when you’re in the tropics!


punta-cana-airport

Punta Cana International Airport


After a relatively painless trip through arrivals I scooped up my bag and was met by my transport to the resort, organised by Los Altos of course! 30 or so minutes later I was living the life of luxury and impressed with the speed at which I had arrived on resort. I had heard it was a good hour and a half drive to Casa de Campo from Punta Cana but thanks to a new highway the journey is now over before you know it.

Arriving in Casa de Campo fills you with excitement as everywhere you look screams tropical luxury. This has long been one of the finest golf resorts in the whole of the Caribbean but with the recent addition of the Los Altos Club it has taken a leap into the upper echelons of worldwide golf resorts and now offers an enhanced, all encompassing experience that will leave you wanting to return to the Dominican Republic time and time again.

The resort itself is almost a country within a country. The resort governs itself, is well secured along its perimeter, and boasts just about every facility and amenity you could possibly dream of. It even has its own Fire Department; although rest assured, it has yet to be called into action!


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Los Altos at Casa de Campo


Los Altos Club consists of 116 luxurious apartments, fronting alongside the 17th and 18th fairways of the mighty Dye Fore Course, that range in size from 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom, all of which boast an individual style, are comfortable and extremely well furnished living and kitchen areas and a wealth of amenities designed to maximise your comfort throughout your stay. Amenities include infinity pools, exotic gardens and cover everything down to the smallest detail – for example, each guest is provided with a mobile phone to be used to stay in touch with staff members, each other while out and about on the resort and with loved ones at home – meaning these apartments are the very pinnacle of the accommodation on offer at Casa de Campo.


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The apartments at Los Altos offer unrivalled levels of luxury, space and style and thanks to a number of different sized apartments they are ideal for a variety of group sizes.


Conveniently adjacent to the charming surrounds of Altos De Chavón Village, which is popular for its architecture, collection of shops, nightlife, restaurants – which serve delicious Dominican cuisine such as gumbo, pork and mango and plantains – and cultural attractions, Los Altos offers the perfect base from which to explore the golfing riches of Casa de Campo. And speaking of golfing riches…

Casa de Campo boasts no less than 81 holes of championship golf and as such can surely lay claim to offering one of the most in depth golfing experiences in the world.

The most famous of its layouts is the Pete Dye designed Teeth of the Dog Course which was first up for me. This is the course that first put the Dominican Republic firmly on the golfing map back in 1973 and I have to admit I have wanted to play it since I first laid eyes on photos of the holes along the coastline. These “seven holes created by God” are enhanced by signature Dye obstacles and excellent conditioning meaning this course can, for the most part, be enjoyed by one and all thanks to a series of tee positions that allow you to find your own comfort zone. The seven holes that track the craggy Dominican coastline represent an unforgettable golfing experience, where the margins for error are barely visible, but where the views are truly mind-blowing…these holes are worth the trip alone…a good start to my time in Los Altos!


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The par 3 5th on the Teeth of the Dog course is the first of the spectacular holes that straddle the rocky shoreline on this remarkable course. As you can see there isn’t a lot to aim at on this devilish little par 3!


The second course to be created at Casa de Campo was the Links Course which sits further inland than its more dramatic siblings. Thought by some to be reminiscent of the classic links courses of the UK and Ireland – in truth it isn’t as Old Tom Morris and co would be turning in their graves at the thought of inland water hazards and the like! – the Links is a gently undulating track on which the fairways are bordered by tall Bahia and guinea grass, meaning precision and course management are a must. There are distinct links accents and although this course is by no means the marquee course on the resort, it is well worth a knock for those who fancy a change of pace from the other two courses.

Onto the Dye Fore Course, which in my opinion is by far the best on the resort, where the numbers are staggering: 27 holes, 7,740 yards from the tips, 7 holes perched on the edge of a 300 foot cliff that plunges into the Chavón River and stunning 360 degree panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, the Dominican Mountains and the Casa de Campo Marina. Throw in occasional 30 mph trade winds from the East and you have a course that can take just as big of a chunk out of your rear as the devilish Teeth of the Dog Course! This course is not just all about strength and ignorance though as mind boggling undulations, changes in elevation and a never ending series of holes that wind both left to right and right to left mean every facet of a golfer’s game must be razor sharp from start to finish.


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The Dye Fore Course enjoys a spectacular cliff top location above the Chavon River.


During the front nine (actually holes 10-18 as we played the course back to front) of my first round here – I played a second lone ranger style with only a caddie for company –  the course certainly got the better of me as I struggled to come to terms with the grainy greens. However after a little tip from the caddie on how to read the pace of the greens depending on the dark and light patches of grass (light patches are growing away from you and will be slick while dark patches are growing toward you and will be slow) I was firing on all cylinders on the back nine and fully able to enjoy the test that was laid out in front of me. It’s easy to say when on holiday as you tend to enjoy things more when away from the stresses and strains of everyday life but on reflection I would put the Dye Fore Course up there with the best I have played…it’s that good!

Visually the course is intimidating and the par 3s are among the most dramatic on the course. Sneak off here with a few 3s on your card and you will have done well! In my opinion the highlight of the course is the monstrous par 5 18th which, for the average player, requires two well struck shots just to get the green in range for your third. From here it is all uphill to a relatively small green that is well guarded by enormous bunkers. Match my birdie four here – sorry had to drop that in there! – and you will walk off the course grinning like the Cheshire Cat.


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The 18th Green on Dye Fore as viewed from the balcony of my apartment.


While primarily a haven for golfers, Casa de Campo also caters extensively for non golfers as well meaning that as well as groups of golfers, families and couples with non golfers in tow will also delight at the endless fun to be had on resort; fun which the extremely attentive staff are more than happy to arrange upon request. From excursions to private islands on luxurious catamarans – if only I had time during my stay! – and deep sea sport fishing to horse riding, polo and sports facilities including tennis courts, shooting ranges and more, the wealth of activities on offer at Casa de Campo know no bounds and simply serve to make this place the jewel of the Caribbean. In terms of a golf holiday in the tropics it simply can’t be beaten.


For more information on Los Altos at Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic Golf Holidays and other Caribbean Golf Tours please visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call free on 0800 043 6644.


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Rory

Rory

The resident golf geek at Your Golf Travel. Have been lucky enough to have travelled far and wide playing golf and if I’m not writing about it at work, you will probably find me hacking it around my local course. Owner of 2 holes in one and some of the most crooked drives you have ever seen!

What's in my bag?
Srixon ZX5 Driver
Srixon ZX7 irons
Srixon ZX 2 iron
Cleveland RTX Zipcore 52 & 56
Cleveland Fullface 60
Odyssey O Works Red #7 putter

www.yourgolftravel.com/ygt-rory

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