Developing Golf Courses
Resorts and Vacation Homes
As this comprehensive Guide demonstrates, there are over 30 courses in the DR now in operation or in the planning stages, designed by golf 's preeminent course architects: Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Nick Price, Pepe Gancedo and P. B. Dye.
Golf courses, resorts and vacation home properties (estate lots, villas, condos and apartments) are popping up in Juan Dolio (Norman at Metro CC and another Player at Guavaberry CC); a new Pete Dye nine-holer at the estimable and elegant Casa de Campo resort; a fabulous, oceanside Fazio confection, Corales, at the granddaddy of them all on the East End, Punta Cana Resort- and a second P. B. Dye course, Hacienda, coming in 2009; more P. B. Dye at La Estancia (east of La Romana and a dozen monster tee-shots from Casa de Campo) and Iberostar resort in Bavaro; and a Ricardo Orellano re-design at San Andres GC, near the Cyber Park and airport, which was bought by Club Naco in Santo Domingo and is being converted into an upscale 18-hole club.
Cap Cana is busy building its second Nicklaus masterpiece, Las Iguanas, accompanied by the first Nicklaus-designed luxury condominium village, Golden Bear Lodge, and is planning its Mountain course, and a fourth-a Donald Trump venture; and Jack is at work near Roco Ki at the Moon Palace building another track for 2008; a new Albert Sola course opened at Catalonia Bavaro months ago; and rumblings about Punta Perla beginning construction on two golf courses by Colin Montgomerie and Ernie Els; and the irrepressible Pepe Gancedo officially opens White Sands GC next month.
"It's dazzling. It is the new Golf Mecca of the Caribbean. This is Golf-dom."
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Read notes on the emerging golf courses in the Dominican Republic here.