Somewhere along the line, Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic will bite you

LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic -- Perennially ranked as the top golf course in the Caribbean, Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo remains the benchmark of tropical seaside courses.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2011, this 7,500-yard, par-72 course has seven holes on the ocean, three of which rank among the most spectacular par 3s you'll ever play. The golf course was carved out without the use of heavy machinery. Instead, Dye's crew used pickaxes, sledgehammers and chisels to create the holes along the coast.

And the other 11 aren't bad either, featuring lakes, ponds, Dye's odd-shaped bunkers and a difficult finishing hole by the clubhouse. With six different tee combinations, there's a setup for every player, but somewhere along the line, the "Dog" is most likely to get you.

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 7

The par-3 seventh is one of more than a half dozen holes directly on the ocean on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 1

Pete Dye's Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo opens with a relatively easy par 4.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 3

The third hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is a 551-yard par 5 that gives golfers their first glimpse of the Caribbean.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 4

The par-4 fourth on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo plays 489 yards from the tips.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog GC - hole 5

The par-3 fifth on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is among many holes that play over the ocean.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 6

The sixth hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is a reachable par 5.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 7

At 229 yards from the tips, the seventh hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is one tough par 3.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 8

The 414-yard par-4 eighth on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is the No. 3 handicap hole.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 9

At more than 600 yards, the par-5 ninth on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is a lot of golf hole.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 10

With plenty of greenside bunkering, a precise approach is required at the par-4 10th on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 11

Another one of Pete Dye's quirky bunkers om the par-4 11th hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 12

A large tree guards the green at the 483-yard, par-4 12th hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 13

Another in a long line of difficult par 3s on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is the 201-yard 13th hole.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 14

The par-5 14th hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo can be reached in two by good players.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 15

It's not about length at the 374-yard, par-4 15th hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 16

The view is intimidating at the par-3 16th hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog golf course - hole 17

The par-4 17th on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is the last hole on the ocean.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf

Casa de Campo - Teeth of the Dog GC - hole 18

While not on the Caribbean, the par-4 finishing hole on the Teeth of the Dog Course at Casa de Campo is no pushover.

Mike Bailey/TravelGolf