Crossing Teeth of Dog at Casa de Campo off golf bucket list

The par-3 11th on the Dye Fore Course (Mike Bailey/TravelGolf)

LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic – One of my bucket list golf courses has always been the Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo. My chance finally came this week, and despite all the hype over the years, I can honestly say I wasn’t disappointed.

With half the holes on the ocean, it’s one special place. And in typical Pete Dye fashion, there’s all kinds of trouble, including those quirky Scottish-style bunkers he likes to put in your way.

One of the reasons I came here, though, was to check out the new nine on the Dye Fore Course, which isn’t on the ocean, but is impressive in its own right.

Dye incorporated the new nine within the existing North nine holes to create the new Dye Fore North Course. Many of the holes run along the Chavon River, which is some 300 feet below the course. The course took five years to build and sort of bring everything together.

Together with the Links Course and the Dye Fore South Course, Casa de Campo remains one of the very best golf resorts in the Caribbean

Then you add all the other stuff you can do here – clay shooting, polo and equestrian center, world-class tennis, the beach club and marina, spa, really good dining and great accommodations – and it’s easy to see why people don’t mind spending a little extra to come here.