I had the chance to play all three of the Pete Dye courses at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic last week.
Unfortunately, due to a moderate amount of rain, I only took photos of Teeth of the Dog.
The other two courses, The Links and Dye Fore, although not apparently as heralded, round out the very excellent golf at Casa de Campo. All the courses are walkable and caddies are available (and required even for riders at Teeth of the Dog). Nonetheless, I saw only one foursome walking over my stay. Even in mid February, the heat and humidity are relatively high (mid 80s), and the clientele in general don’t have the look of walking golfers. Unfortunately, I was playing in a business situation which really forced me too ride as well….but would have enjoyed the walk.
As far as a review of Teeth of the Dog….Bryan Izatt wrote a very nice review several years ago so I will not needlessly duplicate other than a few additional comments where it seems appropriate or a couple of places where I disagree. It does appear that the course has undergone some changes, one of which is to increase the length from just under 7000 yards to almost 7500. Some other changes have also been made from comparing photographs,
As far as the highlight of all three courses, it’s hard not to love the fabulous ocean holes on the Teeth course. But a second and surprising highlight is the bold Back 9 of Dye Fore. Aside from these stretches much of the rest of the 54 holes wind through Golf Villas and Condos … although as development / resort golf goes, these stretches of the routing were given enough space not to feel oppressively hemmed in and only wildly off target shots end up in backyards.
Dye Fore is built a bit inland and probably about 200-300 feet above sea level. The Front nine plays a bit like the inland holes of Teeth but with more elevation changes. But the Back 9 is a treat. It is contiguous, mostly away from the development (at least at the moment), and built over heaving terrain with few trees that sits perched on the canyon of the Chavon River (apparently where the jungle / river scenes of Apocalypse Now were filmed). There are blind shots, canted fairways, it is open to the wind, and it is a delight to play.
Now to the photo’s….but first my summary of impressions of TOTD. The high’s….the 4 par threes, three on the water and one inland, are as fun as any I’ve played, a great mix of long and short Par 4’s, and great greens. The low’s; the Par 5’s; especially, at least for me, 3 and 11. However, this is a great course and as Bryan noted one that “offers fine strategic challenges with tropical weather and beautiful vistas that can’t be beat.”
The yardages:
Black - 7471
Gold - 7077
Blue - 6485
White – 6015
Red – 4906
From the blues the course is rated 73.2 / 137.
Hole 1 - Par 4
HC 11
Gold - 393
Blue - 366
White – 350
A relatively easy starting hole. Grass furrows and sand bunkers guard the right, but the left is open and wide, and with a decent drive you get a downhill kick and should be left with a wedge or short iron in. In Bryan’s review one confusing comment was that this green and most of the greens were relatively small. I felt while playing that most of the greens were average size.
Hole 2 – Par 4
HC 7
Gold - 384
Blue - 358
White - 340
A Par 4 with trouble, a rock and coral waste area, on the left. Much tighter than the first hole. The green has a collection are back left for long approaches coming from the right.
Hole 3 – Par 5
HC 5
Gold - 498
Blue - 457
White - 445
Again, I felt the weakness of TOTD to be the Par 5’s. This one, very short, has an extremely elevated and very small green. The green seemed to be a bit contrived to me and out of place after a pretty flat hole. It made me wonder if the routing only left enough room for a short 5 and so the severe green was the defense….or just an effort at producing a interesting reachable 5. It appears from the photo’s in Bryan’s essay that a fronting bunker has been removed from the green…not that anything but an extremely well hit and lucky shot could reach by ground. I felt this green was the low point of the course.
Hole 4 – Par 4
HC 17
Gold - 443
Blue - 364
White – 328
Probably my only other disagreement with Bryan…I liked this hole and felt this hole and the short Par 4’s in general (at least from the Blues in this case) were a highlight of TOTD. It also kicks off a stretch of outstanding holes. This tempts you to the right side but a safe drive is to the left. The first of a number of really fun greens perches out over terrain dropping down to the sea.
Hole 5 – Par 3
HC 15
Gold – 157
Blue - 137
White - 122
Of the Par 3’s, this hole is the simplest by far. A fun, short carry to a small semi circle green. Tee shots to the right have a chance of funneling back in although a deep grass bunker guards the middle right. Since Bryan’s review the small tree replacing one apparently taken out by a hurricane appears to have doubled in size.
I hit to 12 inches. As close as I have come to an ace.
Hole 6 – Par 4
HC 1
Gold - 474
Blue - 400
White - 377
A great Par 4. The tee box sits right on the water. We had a decent wait so I couldn’t help but fire one ball into the ocean. This hole is a cape (or reverse cape?) and a strong ball will leave a nice look into a green heavily guarded on the left. Again from photo’s, it appears in fact that the bunkering on the left has been expanded into a larger waste area and is more severe at the green.
Hole 7 – Par 3
HC 13
Gold - 224
Blue - 188
White - 168
A great hole again right along the ocean.
Hole 8 – Par 4
HC 3
Gold - 414
Blue - 397
White – 329
A tough, yet fun hole with a very narrow landing area and obscured views off the tee. The hole plays out right with the approach back left to a green with great contouring tucked back against the Atlantic.
Hole 9 – Par 5
HC 9
Gold - 545
Blue - 529
White – 516
Finally away from the sea and back in. This hole is a bit of a let down after the 4-8 stretch but the better of the two fives on the front.
Hole 10 – Par 4
HC 16
Gold - 396
Blue - 387
White – 351
The first few holes of the Back 9 route the player through the flattest and least interesting terrain of the routing before the Back turns back along the ocean. The 10th, with some elevation changes is one of the best of these holes, plays out to the right with the left flanked again by a large sand expanse. The fairway ends with an interesting but probably rarely in play hazard, a narrow and shallow stone and coral aqueduct/”burn” that crosses from front left to back right.
Hole 11 – Par 5
HC 8
Gold - 575
Blue - 555
White – 540
The next three holes play across the flattest part of the course. The 11th I felt was probably the least interesting on the course. This hole is beyond reach for most and the hazards don’t really interfere if planning to reach in 3.
Hole 12 – Par 4
HC 12
Gold - 451
Blue - 402
White – 362
A tougher hole with a challenging green, but the flatness of the course through 11 and 12 and the routing through housing make this one of the lower points of the round.
Hole 13 – Par 3
HC 18
Gold - 180
Blue - 170
White – 143
A hole that has been changed significantly. In Bryan’s review, the green is truly an island green in a sea of sand. Grass collection areas have been added giving the green a softer look and some options to play a miss. But the green is no bargain, I left mine short right and played a chip to the center rather than test the ridge that ran from my ball to the flag. The chip landed soft and center and then slowly rolled off the green into another collection area back right.
Hole 14 – Par 5
HC 10
Gold - 497
Blue - 487
White – 452
This hole, with waste area right followed by water is reachable in two good shots. I’m not long but hit a good drive and gave it some thought. It appears that some front bunkering has been added to give some color to what Bryan described as an uninspiring green.
Hole 15 – Par 4
HC 4
Gold - 374
Blue - 334
White – 311
Back to the ocean and I think the best three hole stretch of the course. The first is a short 4 that requires you to either tempt the ocean right, drive through the fairway left, or leave the driver in the bag. The green is guarded short by the ocean, well bunkered and tiered. My favorite hole on the course.
Hole 16 – Par 3
HC 14
Gold - 194
Blue - 181
White – 151
An all world three with a large green that can be pinned safely on the left, or heroically to the back right. My guess is from the tips to the extreme back right pin position is 205-215 yards and all carry over the ocean.
Hole 17 – Par 4
HC 2
Gold - 433
Blue - 377
White – 360
The final ocean hole is the stouter of the two Par 4s and probably plays closer to 400 from the blues if playing to the center of the fairway.
Hole 18 – Par 4
HC 6
Gold - 445
Blue - 396
White - 370
A good finishing hole even if a let down after 15, 16, and 17. It is interesting that the fairway bunkering has been significantly changed since Bryan’s review. The trap which guarded the right has been removed and a larger crossing bunker blocks longer drives except those to the far right. This changes the strategy of the hole to either a shorter center shot (requiring a longer carry to the green), a well placed drive to the right, or a big carry over the bunker.
If just looking for golf not sure Casa de Campo would be my first choice, but a great place to escape winter, enjoy the sun and surf, and play some very fine golf.