Teeth of the Dog Golf Course, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas — Attraction in La Romana

Some golf courses are played with clubs. Others are lived and remembered long after the final putt. Teeth of the Dog, the legendary Pete Dye design at Casa de Campo in La Romana, belongs firmly in that second category. It is not just the top-ranked course in the Caribbean. It is an experience that demands respect and rewards precision, offering one of the most memorable rounds of golf anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Carved out of coral rock and Dominican coastline in 1971, this course was Pete Dye’s personal favorite. Seven of its holes run so close to the Caribbean Sea that ocean spray sometimes reaches the green. But it is not just about the scenery. Teeth of the Dog is a test of strategy, discipline, and creativity. The layout moves effortlessly between coastal spectacle and quieter inland moments, creating a rhythm that keeps players alert and engaged from the first tee to the eighteenth green.

From holes 5 to 8, the course bares its teeth. Hole 5, a par 3 perched beside the waves, punishes indecision. Hole 7 dares players to cut the corner of a dogleg wrapped around the sea. Later in the round, hole 16 presents one of the toughest challenges. It is a long par 4 framed by the ocean on the left and wind that shifts direction without warning. On a breezy afternoon, a par here feels like a small triumph.

Course conditions are superb. Fairways are tightly mown and offer excellent roll. Greens are quick, true, and subtly contoured. The bunkers are sharp-edged, clean, and never placed randomly. Every hazard matters. The rough is playable but penal enough to encourage discipline off the tee. Drainage is excellent, even after heavy tropical rain, and signage throughout the course is discreet and clear.

Support facilities meet the standards of elite private clubs. The clubhouse has sea views and a relaxed but refined setting for lunch or a drink after the round. The pro shop is well-stocked with top-tier brands and offers excellent service. Practice facilities include a full driving range with natural grass, short-game area, and large putting greens that accurately reflect the speed and texture of the course. Locker rooms are spacious and well-appointed. Caddies are knowledgeable and offer the right balance between guidance and discretion.

Currently, the course is undergoing a full restoration led by Jerry Pate Design, scheduled from January through December 2025. The work includes re-grassing the entire course with Dynasty Paspalum, rebuilding bunkers, restoring original green contours, improving drainage with sand-capping, and renewing cart paths with concrete curbing. The project honors Pete Dye’s original design while enhancing long-term playability. Though closed for play as of July 2025, the anticipation for its reopening is high, and deserved.

Teeth of the Dog has hosted the Latin America Amateur Championship and other major regional tournaments. Green fees for resort guests are approximately $395, including cart and practice balls. Early tee times are recommended to enjoy calmer winds and a quieter atmosphere. Non-golfers can relax at the Beach Club or explore nearby Altos de Chavón, a replica Mediterranean village offering panoramic views and cultural experiences.

The course suits low to mid-handicap players best, though forward tees provide access to the design’s beauty without overwhelming less experienced golfers. From December to April, conditions are ideal. Year-round play is viable thanks to excellent maintenance and thoughtful course engineering.

Once your round ends, stop by the 19th Hole Bar for something light and refreshing. It’s the perfect closing ritual, quiet, shaded, and steps from the final green.

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Played in March of 2024. Here’s an honest review from someone who loves golf and was so excited to play here: This course being rated top 25 in the world is CRAZY. It’s known to be expensive, but here’s a breakdown per person, $600/round, $100 rental clubs, and $50 minimum for caddie. For that price, please DO NOT waste your money. Course: The only reason for the 1 star is the beautiful 7 ocean holes. 4 holes on the front 9, 3 holes on the back 9. They are really cool and remind me of Pebble Beach, definitely get some pictures. Other than that, for $600 you’re essentially paying to play your local public course. The non-ocean holes are fine, but really nothing special at all, sand bunkers are horribly maintained (they’re basically packed down dirt), caddie was okay, he was nice enough, but it honestly felt like he was more worried about rushing us through our round than anything else. Service & Amenities: Im pretty easy going, but wow the service was so awful, the locker room is used as a storage area with no air conditioning, the bathrooms are dirty and musty, there’s only one working bathroom on the course, no one gives you any guidance of where to go, you don’t feel welcomed AT ALL, for the price you’re paying it would be nice for someone to at least acknowledge you. Of the hundreds of courses I’ve played around the world it was BY FAR the worst service experience I’ve ever had - ironic that it was also one of the most expensive I’ve played. Food & Drinks: The clubhouse is just a pro shop with no food or drinks. I understand a price markup, but $180 plus 18% tax for a polo shirt is INSANE. There is one beverage area after hole 12 and a “beverage cart” at the turn, but $24 for a Bloody Mary, $16 for a mixed drink, again INSANE. There is nowhere to get actual food other than pringles, nuts, and fruit. Overall, paying over $700 to play this course feels like $500 too much. Some holes are super cool, but other than that this place needs a serious overhaul. I have a much better experience at local public courses in America. I never take the time to leave reviews, but people need to be aware that this is ABSOLUTELY NOT what you expect or deserve from the “#1 Course in...

Played last Wednesday, having travelled on a buddy trip.

It started off bizarrely, we were staying in cap Cana and booking the course through the hotel and company recommended by casa de Campo, we were unable to pay through their online payment system, so found ourselves counting cash out in the back of the transportation in route. For such a famous course, this was truly weird and almost felt shady.

However, having arrived and eventually playing I would give 5 stars to the course and conditioning, have dreamt about playing it for years, it didn't disappoint and knocked punta espada for 6. Photos and videos just don't do it justice. It was in a completely different league. Has to be the best set of par 3s I've played and the finishing holes don't get any better.

Ive been fortunate to play some of the world's best courses, including Sawgrass and it was immediately obvious it had been designed by the same architect and has made me want to start playing more Pete dye courses as they have a very distinct fun feel to them.

Only one of us played to their handicap but as seasoned hackers just being able to experience the beauty was almost worth the ridiculous green fee and actually the course wasn't overly difficult, we just don't know how to play consistent golf lol.

I've knocked 1 star off, as unlike Sawgrass there was no welcome pack and no effort made to make you feel special for the day and it took over 5 hours to get around and regularly waiting on the back 9 for groups in front, which when paying $650, it's simply unacceptable.

That said, this is in my top 5, didn't quite knock wolf creek from top spot but would put it on an equal setting to Sawgrass.

Was it worth the money? No, no golf course is (well maybe Augusta, if anyone knows someone lol) but as a one off, part of a buddy trip it had to be done.

If I returned I would just stay at casa de Campo and play all the courses there and blow out the cap Cana courses, that said the Hyatt ziva/zilara was the best all inclusive hotel I've ever stayed at and couldn't recommend it enough.

Either/or you can't go wrong, what a trip and what a...