GOLF A favorite golfing destination of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. Bush, the Dominican Republic has become one of the hottest spots to tee-off in the Caribbean, if not the world. Here golfers will find 21 courses with oceanfront fairways and dogleg lefts around swaying coconut palms. They'll also find courses designed by legends such as Pete Dye, P.B. Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Nick Faldo. Visitors to the Dominican Republic needn't worry about packing golf clubs or even knowing how to golf, for that matter. Each course offers affordable club rentals and internationally recognized golf pros for lessons. Regardless of handicap, the courses of the Dominican Republic promise a challenging and unique experience.   CENTRAL REGION GOLF Fees outlined are for peak season (November through April) and are subject to change. Course lengths are provided from the most challenging tee. Las Aromas Golf Club Designed by Pete Dye Also known as the Santiago Golf Club, the 18-hole course is south of the city that was once the country's capital. The par 70 course is located in a hilly area with lovely panoramic views of Santiago and the Yaque del Norte River. Las Aromas opened in 1980 and is less than one hour south of Puerto Plata. Par: 70 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,001 Green fees: $15/18 Cart: Information not available Caddy: $8/18 Club rental: $17/18; $13/9 Lessons: $8/half-hour EAST COAST GOLF Fees outlined are for peak season (November through April) and are subject to change. Course lengths are provided from the most challenging tee. Dye Fore New course designed by Pete Dye The newest course and the third by Pete Dye to open at the luxurious Casa de Campo resort in La Romana is unique with a 300-foot deep river gorge, Mediterranean village, mountains and the Caribbean Sea as backdrops. The course itself is expansive measuring a long 7,770 feet with fairways 200-feet wide. Although visually intimidating, the course is very playable and golfers have been raving about the new addition. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 7,770 yards Green fees: $205/18; $147/June 1 - August 15 yearly maintenance, only nine holes available on each of the three courses. (Discounted rates if playing after 2:30 p.m.) Cart: Included Caddy: $25/caddy for up to four players including tip Club rental: $47/person Lessons: $45/half-hour; Packages start at $2,985/person including accommodations Links Championship course designed by Pete Dye The second course designed by Pete Dye at Casa de Campo in La Romana opened in 1975 and has been compared to traditional British and Scottish courses. Several lagoons and lakes with wading birds among tall bahia grass and sand traps set the scene. There are five holes where water makes this course an exceptional challenge. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,461 Green fees: $147/18; $147/June 1 - August 15 yearly maintenance, only nine holes available on each of the three courses. Discounted rates if playing after 2:30 p.m. Cart: Included Caddy: $25/caddy for up to four players including tip Club rental: $47/person Lessons: See Dye Fore Punta Cana Resort & Club's La Cana Golf Course Championship Resort course designed by P.B. Dye Located at Punta Cana Resort & Club, every hole within this P.B. Dye-designed championship course captures the scenery of the Caribbean with 14 ocean-view and four oceanfront holes. In fact, the 18th hole has been said to resemble the infamous 18th hole at Pebble Beach. The Punta Cana Golf Academy offers private lessons with golf pro Chris Hall and his teaching staff. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 7,152 yards Green fees: (non-hotel guests) $144/18; $88/9 or (hotel guests) $100/18; $61/9 Cart: Included Caddie: Not mandatory. $12/18; $6/9 Club rental: $40/round Lessons: $50/45 minutes, $400/beginners 5-day clinic and $350/advanced 5-day clinic Teeth of the Dog - UPDATED October 2005 Championship course designed by Pete Dye Consistently ranked by golf experts as one of the top 50 courses in the world, Teeth of the Dog is located at Casa de Campo resort in La Romana. The course features several signature Dye formations along with seven oceanfront holes, four on the front nine and three on the back, and is considered extra challenging due to the sea breezes and airstrip. The course opened in 1971 and is now in the process of being updated. It will reopen in October of 2005. The Casa de Campo Golf Academy features PGA/LPGA golf pro Patti Butcher and offers 24-hours of total instruction packages. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,888 Green fees: $205/18; $147/June 1 - August 15 yearly maintenance, only nine holes available on each of the three courses. (Discounted rates if playing after 2:30 p.m.) Cart: Included Caddy: $25/caddy for up to four players including tip Club rental: $47/person Lessons: See Dye Fore Cocotal Golf and Country Club Pepe Gancedo-designed course The 18-hole course, designed by six-time Spanish champion Jose Pepe Gancedo, uses the natural terrain of an old coconut plantation and includes serene lakes and palm trees in its landscape. In 2002, an additional nine-hole course opened. Located close to Sol Melia Caribe and Sol Melia Tropical resorts in Punta Cana, the club offers lessons at its International Golf Academy with Douglas Falconer, a British PGA-award winning professional instructor. Par: 72 Holes: 27 Length of course: 7,183 yards Green fees: $89/18; $58/9. Guests of Sol Melia resorts receive discounted fees Cart: Mandatory. $35/person Caddy: Information not available Club rental: $40/18; $30/9 Lessons: $50/hour; $30/half-hour Golf de Bavaro Resort course designed by Juan Manuel Gordillo Located at the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort in Punta Cana, this par 72 18-hole course was designed by Juan Manuel Gordillo in 1991. The course is situated alongside the Bavaro lagoon and is considered excellent for beginners. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it was built specifically to accommodate tourists. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,106 yards Green fees: $60/18; $48/9 plus an approximate $35 day pass. Guests of the resort receive discounted rates Cart: $40/18; $30/9 Caddy: Information not available Club rental: $30/18; $20/9 Lessons: $50/hour; $35/half-hour Corales Golf Course - Opening August 2006 Resort course designed by Tom Fazio With construction beginning in 2005, the second oceanfront course at Punta Cana Resort & Club will feature holes perched on cliffs along the north shore of the resort's luxury enclave called Corales. Oscar de la Renta, Julio Iglesias and Mikhail Baryshnikov all have beachfront residences in the enclave and visit often. Famed golf architect Tom Fazio is designing Corales to be very distinctive and promises it will be one of the Dominican Republic's must see and play courses. Las Iguanas Golf Course - Just announced Resort course designed by Jack Nicklaus Promising to be one of the most luxurious and largest resorts in the Caribbean, Cap Cana is scheduled to open the majority of its facilities in 2006. Just south of Punta Cana, it will be home to three Jack Nicklaus Signature courses. The second of these courses to open will be Las Iguanas with construction beginning in early 2006. In addition, the resort will house Golden Bear Lodge, the world's first Nicklaus-designed luxury condominium village located between Las Iguanas and Punta Espada, the first course scheduled to open at Cap Cana. Punta Cana Resort & Club's Second Golf Course - Just Announced Resort course designed by P.B. Dye Just announced: P.B. Dye will be designing his second golf course at Punta Cana Resort - Club. The third course for the resort will be adjacent to Dye's world famous La Cana course. Additional information will be available soon. Punta Espada Golf Course - Opening 2006 Resort course designed by Jack Nicklaus The initial golf course to open at luxurious Cap Cana will be Punta Espada, the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in the Dominican Republic. World renowned golf course management team Troon Golf will staff the 7,382 yard-long 18-hole course. The architecture utilizes the area's bluffs, beach, waterways and jungle foliage with eight of the holes directly on the ocean. Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort - OPENING 2006 Resort course designed by Nick Faldo One of the newest projects announced for the Punta Cana area, the Roco Ki Resort by Westin will feature an 18-hole Nick Faldo-designed course with six of its holes stretching across the headlands. Troon Golf will also manage this course. Additional information will be available soon. Catalonia Cabeza de Toro Golf Club - NEW 18-HOLE COURSE ANNOUNCED Nine-hole resort course designed by Alberto Sola Designed by Alberto Sola, the nine-hole course located at the Catalonia Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana is short but challenging. It opened in 2000 and features five lakes and numerous shade trees. The resort is now in the process of constructing a new 18-hole course. (The name, opening date and additional details are unavailable at this time.) Par: 35 and 3 Holes: 9 Length of course: 2,600 yards Green fees: $65/18; $45/9 or $20/par 3 18; $12/par 3 9. Guests of Catalonia Bavaro receive discounted fees Cart: $25/18 per person; $20/9 per person Club rental: $10   NORTH EAST COAST GOLF Canyon Signature Golf Course -- Opening 2006 Resort course designed by Jim Fazio The north coast will soon have a luxury complex called Atlantica. The resort is located in Luperon, an area near where Christopher Columbus discovered America. With a canyon, a protected national mangrove monument and one of two identified Caribbean hurricane holes for safe harbor, this is sure to be a favorite destination. One of its prized features will be a Jim Fazio-designed golf course with four holes along the oceanfront and the remaining located within the lush and tropical canyons of Luperon's Colina. This will be the second course scheduled to open at Atlantica. (The first will be “The Ocean” and will follow with a third in the Colina Canyons.) Costa Azul Golf Course Nine-hole course designed by Ramón Pérez Bras The flat, 45-acre sprawling nine-hole course is located in Cabarete between the beach and lagoon. Windsurfers and kiteboarders who flock to the area can find relaxation on land just down the way. Par: 3 Holes: 9 Length of course: 2,650 yards Green fees: $17/18; $10/9 Cart: Information not available Caddy: $5/28; $3 9 Club rental: $10/round Lessons: Information not available Ocean Signature Golf Course - Opening 2006 Resort course designed by Arnold Palmer The first course to open at the new luxury Atlantica in Luperon, The Ocean Signature will be designed by none other than golf great, Arnold Palmer. At a length of 7,440 yards, the course is being laid out on a cliff setting on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and Palmer promises it will be one of the most beautiful oceanfront courses in the world. Playa Dorado Golf Club Robert Trend Jones-designed golf course Located in the Playa Dorado Resort Complex in Puerto Plata, the course is situated amongst 14 hotels providing easy accessibility and many accommodation and package options. The 18-hole course is designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1976. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,730 yards Green fees: $75/18; $50/9 Cart: $20/18; $15/9 Caddy: Mandatory. $14/18; $7/9 Club rental: $25/18; $20/9 Lessons: $50/half-hour Playa Grande Golf Course Robert Trent Jones-designed course Playa Grande is considered by many to be the “Pebble Beach of the Caribbean but with more cliffs and vistas. The course opened in 1997 and features 10 of its holes along the sea cliffs of the Atlantic Ocean. This is Jones's last course and is considered to be his best. About an hour's drive from Sosua, those who have made the journey say it is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 7,046 Green fees: $90/18; $50/9 Cart: $23/18 Caddy: Mandatory. $10/18; $6/9 Club rental: $20/round Lessons: $40/hour; $20/half-hour   NORTH COAST GOLF Loma de Chivo Country Club Nine-hole course designed by Enrique Serrano Samana's only golf course opened in 1993 and has been described as a fun course to play for those who enjoy tough holes. The small course is challenging with rolling hillsides, water and sand traps and steep climbs. The Samana area is rapidly growing in popularity and the country has extensive plans for its development. Par: 3 Holes: 9 Length of course: 693 yards Green fees: $10/18; $7/9 Cart: Information not available Caddy: $3/9 Club rental: $7/9 Lessons: $20/hour   SOUTH CENTRAL COAST GOLF Guavaberry Golf & Country Club Gary Player-designed championship course Located 20 minutes east of Santo Domingo's airport near the resort town of Juan Dolio, Guavaberry Golf & Country Club opened in 2002 and has quickly become known worldwide as a challenging course. Designed by Gary Player, its holes include unique features such as a 15-foot waterfall and indigenous coral rock formations that rise up from the fairways. The Golf Academy is led by golf pro Mark Clouse who offers clinics and private instruction from beginner to advanced levels. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 7,156 yards Green fees: $99/18; $65/9 Cart: Included Caddy: $10/18; $5/9 Club rental: $20/round Lessons: $50/hour Las Lagunas Country Club Pete Dye-inspired course Located 15-minutes outside of Santo Domingo, the Las Lagunas Country Club features 18 holes that were originally designed by Pete Dye but have been modified by Jack Corrie. The course opened in 1989 and is spread over hilly terrain offering scenic views of lakes and exuberant vegetation. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,800 yards Green fees: $50/18 Cart: $20/18 Caddy: $10/18 Club rental: $10/18 Lessons: $20/hour Los Marlins Golf Course Designed by international award-winning architect Charles Ankrom Located in Juan Dolio, approximately 25 minutes east of Santo Domingo's airport, the championship 18-hole course is located at the Metro Country Club. Numerous artistic sand traps, lakes and mounds play well with the surrounding beauty of the Caribbean. The course opened in 1995 and is very popular with Dominican golfers. The club's Academy of Golf is run by Paul Dionne. Par: 72 Holes: 18 Length of course: 6,396 yards Green fees: $55/18; $35/9 Cart: $25/18; $16/9 Caddy: $10/18; $6/9 Club rental: $20/18; $12/9 Lessons: $50/hour or $30/half-hour San Andres Caribe Golf Club Nine-hole course designed by Ricardo Orellana The course opened in 1993 and is located near the Boca Chica beach, approximately 20 minutes from Santo Domingo. The nine-hole course designed by Ricardo Orellana features four tee positions. Caribe Golf Course has been recommended by many for those just starting to get into the game. Par: 36 Holes: 9 Length of course: 3,281 Green fees: $17/9 Cart: $10/9 Caddy: $6/9 Club rental: $8/18 Lessons: $10/hour