Surprised this thread received no replies, although I suspect it has more to do with the remoteness of the Dominican Republic than a lack of merit. Let's run it back.
I played both courses last week. Teeth of the Dog was incredible, and Punta Espada was stunning. Both make my top 10 personally.
Teeth of the DogThe tiny but terrifying 5th. That's my brother-in-law with his ass sticking out on the tee.
The mid-length par 4 6th.
7 is another gorgeous par 3 across a rocky cove, this time a short-to-mid iron to a wide green with plenty of slope and surrounding trouble.
I think 8 is the toughest hole on the course. Not pictured here is the gigantic toilet-bowl swale on the back right of the green that's about 10 feet deep and 30 feet in diameter. Not a place you want to end up.
The final stretch of seaside golf starts with the short and sporty 15th, which plays across a rocky ledge jutting out into the Caribbean.
One last tremendous par 3 at the 16th.
The 17th is one stout final seaside test (especially for my father-in-law who just took up the game a year or so ago, but he stuck an approach to 10 feet from 150 for a chance to save his par).
Punta EspadaThe staggering view from the second tee sets the stage for what's to come, as this par 5 plays out toward the sea and rewards a player who challenges the inside bunker with a chance to reach in two. The water on the right up ahead is one of the tidal pools that form several of the course's inland hazards.
Greenside at 2.
Hole 3 is a fairly short par 4 that plays along fairly flat coastal ground.
The short 4th is a beautiful par 3 across another tidal cove. My caddie stopped me after my tee shot to watch the birds hovering in the cove as they dive-bombed deep underwater for fish.
Among Punta Espada's tremendous set of par 5s, the approach to 12 plays to an infinity green perched on a ledge above the sea.
13, then plays from cliff to cliff over another rocky cove with waves crashing all around. This tee plays from 250(!) yards to the green on the cliff in the distance. I played it from a little closer...
Reminiscent of 15 at Teeth of the Dog, 17 at Punta Espada plays as a cape tee shot across the craggy shoreline. It's a shortish par 4 (driveable for big hitters even), but into the wind it was still a hard 3 wood followed by a 6 iron on my play.
Looking back 18.
I loved both courses, and I'd go with a 6-4 split in favor of Teeth of the Dog. Punta Espada is the most beautiful place I've ever played golf, but Teeth wins on pure golfing interest. There's never a dull golf shot on Teeth of the Dog, even if some of the views aren't panoramic ocean spectacles. There's never a moment at Punta Espada that isn't beautiful, but there are a few holes that are a little less exciting in terms of pure golf strategy. You wouldn't be crazy if you preferred Punta Espada, though.