Dominican Republic Golf Courses

Whether you are playing off the reds, whites, greens or blues, this article can help you to make decisions on the course, and come up with a score under par. This review however is based upon playing off the green tees.

Once you've paid the green fees, warmed up on the putting green and hit a few balls on the range, there's only one thing to do, make a birdie on the first hole, a long par 5.

Hole 1 - Par 5 - 490 yards
Perhaps the easiest hole on the course to go under par, the only difficulty being that it is the first hole. Therefore a proper warm up is the key to attaining a birdie here. A straight drive down the middle of the fairway, avoiding the sand traps to the right is the key here. On a dry day, a decent handicap golfer will get easily 300 yards off the tee, leaving you with the option of laying up to the green or going for it with a straight 5 iron towards the pin. Either way you need to avoid the water to the left of the hole and behind. Once on the green, a good read and you're in for birdie or par.

Hole 2 - Par 3 - 175 yards
The wind can play havoc with your tee shot here, so be sure to compensate for any breeze specially in the afternoon. Mind out for the water on the left hand side of the hole and the bunkers at the front right of the green.

Hole 3 - Par 4 - 395 yards
Depending on how hard you hit and how dry the day is, a long hitter should opt for a 3 wood or 3 iron off the tee here as there is a water hazard some 120 yards from the hole. Ideally a nice 3 wood could leave you 150 yards from the green, given that you miss the bunker on the left of the fairway and a huge tree that could block your approach on the right.

Hole 4 - Par 4 - 405 yards
If you're a straight hitter, there should be no problems here, those who play hook or slice shots can come into trouble with the trees to the left of the tee box and bunkers at the right of the fairway. A good straight drive can leave you with an approach of between 100 and 150 yards. Bunkers behind and in front of the green are the challenge on this hole.

Hole 5 - Par 5 - 510 yards
This hole is probably the easiest of all to make a birdie on. From the tee box, look for your drive to follow the hole, dog-leg right and you will leave yourself a distance of between 200-250 yards. There is a water hazard some 70 yards from the green, avoid that with your 2nd shot, either laying up or hitting over. If your 2nd shot gets you onto the green, well done, if not be exact with your approach as there is water to the left and sand to the right.

Hole 6 - Par 4 - 340 yards
On a dry day, a straight drive could carry out of bounds, on this dog-leg right. Also the wind plays a big part here, as the hole looks onto the beach. Providing your tee shot goes well (avoid trees to the right of the fairway) you'll be left with an approach of 90-130 yards, this is where you have to pay attention as the breeze can sometimes be hard to judge. Look to overcompensate your approach due to the breeze. Also fallen leaves from an almond tree can sometimes interfere with the bounce of the ball.

Hole 7 - Par 3 - 160 yards
Again the wind plays a big part depending on the time of day you play. Avoid the "Miami Beach" bunker to the right of the green, otherwise a very makeable par.

Hole 8 - Par 4 - 365 yards
This hole is quite straight forward, a nice drive will leave you with between 90-140 depending on the dryness of the day. Not much wind here, so a nice high approach will leave you with a birdie put, that is if you avoid the sand to the front, left and back of the green.

Hole 9 - Par 4 - 350 yards
Beware the lake that borders the whole left side of this hole and the trees to the right, if your drive isn't spot on, or short then you could be in trouble on the right. If you play well off the tee, then your approach should be simple.

Hole 10 - Par 4 - 364 yards
Trees to the left, surrounded by fairway bunkers, be careful! This hole is somewhat frustrating as it looks easier than it is. As long as you avoid the trees, there shouldn't be any problem with making par.

Hole 11 - Par 4 - 370 yards
This hole screams "rip it", smack your drive straight down the park and you'll be left with a tantalizing approach, leaving you feeling that you have to make a birdie here. As long as you avoid the sand on the fairway and at the front right of the green, you'll be ok.

Hole 12 - Par 3 - 150 yards
The wind is the only real issue on this hole, straightforward, large green, not much movement. If you come up short a decent chip will leave you in good shape for a par.

Hole 13 - Par 5 - 465 yards
Another makeable birdie hole, as long as you're long enough to avoid the first fairway bunker on the left, you can either approach with a long iron or lay up to avoid the bunker before the green. This green is actually well protected by sand, so be careful to avoid those nasty sand traps.

Hole 14 - Par 4 - 400 yards
Dog-leg left, try to follow the hole around or your drive could end up under a group of trees straight ahead. If you follow the hole, your 2nd shot will be a lot easier than going straight, a few bunkers to beware of, and depending on the flag location on the day you play, this can be one of the trickier holes.

Hole 15 - Par 4 - 390 yards
Once you avoid the trees to the left, you can pretty much open up and let loose on this hole. As long as you don't under-club yourself, you should be on in 2.

Hole 16 - Par 4 - 350 yards
A straight forward drive will leave you with the bunkers on the left and right front of the green to contend with, this hole usually plays as one of the easier holes due to a forgiving green.

Hole 17 - Par 3 - 150 yards
My favorite hole, go over the water to avoid embarrassment, if you go long, you'll be playing out of the sand. This is the hole where most hole-in-ones have been recorded on the course.

Hole 18 - Par 5 - 480 yards
Your tee shot here needs to be controlled, on the last hole, as there is a water hazard between the 280-300 mark from the tee. Given you avoid that, then you are faced with 2 scenarios, if you went over the water, then you'll be left with about 160 to the hole, go for it! If you stayed this side of the water, then lay up and get on the green in 3.

All in all an enjoyable course, I would rank it number 3 on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, behind Playa Grande and Las Aromas.

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