Three Courses, One Architect, Three Different Favorites

Some golf resorts offer several courses that feel like variations on the same theme. Casa de Campo offers three Pete Dye designs that could hardly be more different. Laurie and I returned to the Dominican Republic with the chance to play Teeth of the Dog, The Links, and Dye Fore. We were joined by Keith and Sue, and by the end of the trip we had plenty of opinions about which course we liked best.

What struck me most was not that one course was clearly superior. It was that each asked a different question of the golfer—and each appealed to a different member of our group.

The Caribbean is never far from the action at Teeth of the Dog.

Teeth of the Dog: Golf at the Water’s Edge

Laurie and I had played Teeth of the Dog in 2023, before the Jerry Pate reconstruction, and I was curious how much of the course I would recognize. As it turned out, the only hole where I could really tell something had changed was the sixth. The tee had moved significantly inland, and the green looked slightly larger and more irregularly shaped than I remembered.

Otherwise, it still felt like the course I had enjoyed so much three years earlier: wonderful seaside golf, with the Caribbean providing a spectacular backdrop and a remarkably consistent wind. I enjoyed it immensely both times.

And both times, the silly little par-three fifth gave me fits. This year, from about 150 yards, my tee shot caught the front-right portion of the green and bounced into the small bunker short and right. I was fortunate to get up and down for par, but it boggles my mind that I cannot simply hit that green from 150 yards away. Golf has a way of keeping us humble, particularly on holes that look perfectly manageable from the tee.

It was no surprise that Teeth of the Dog was Laurie’s favorite. She loves playing close to the ocean, and few courses deliver that sensation so vividly.

The Links: A Clear Test, Even in a Monsoon

The Links was the course that left me wanting another round—not because we had ideal conditions, but precisely because we did not. We played in rain that at times felt like a monsoon. It is hard to give any course a completely fair assessment when the weather becomes part of every shot.

Yet I liked what I saw. The Links generally offered level lies and clear lines of play. The challenge was there in front of you. You could see what the hole demanded, choose a shot, and try to execute it. That sort of straightforward test appeals to me.

I would love to return on a dry, sunny day and see how the course plays without the distraction of water coming from the sky. There is something satisfying about a golf course that makes the questions clear, even when the answers are not easy.

Dye Fore: Elevation, Wind, Rock Walls—and Surprises

Dye Fore was an entirely different experience, and for me the most challenging of the three. Teeth of the Dog was breathtaking, but its wind was consistent enough to manage. The Links, despite the rain, generally gave you clear shot lines and relatively level stances. Dye Fore threw all of that out the window.

Here the wind swirled, the lies were uphill, downhill, and sidehill, and rock walls cut across fairways in ways that demanded careful navigation. Then there were the elevated greens. I counted at least seven, compared with really only one at Teeth of the Dog and barely one at The Links. A ball that failed to hold its spot could roll back down a slope, cross a ridge, or end up somewhere no sensible golfer would choose to visit.

Dye Fore trades oceanfront intimacy for dramatic views over the Chavón River valley.

The scenery was extraordinary. Sweeping views of the Chavón River, dramatic changes in elevation, and rugged rocky ground made the course feel completely unlike its two siblings. Keith loved the variety and named Dye Fore his favorite.

One of the unexpected pleasures was the outdoor artwork decorating the yards of homes along the course. Brightly colored abstract sculptures, polished stainless-steel creations, and unusual figurative pieces appeared as we drove from hole to hole. At times it felt as if we were playing through an outdoor sculpture gallery.

One of the striking modern sculptures along Dye Fore.

A Dinner Worth Remembering

The golf was only part of the experience. After our round at Teeth of the Dog, we attended an extraordinary pairing dinner featuring eight of the top chefs from Invited clubs, competing for Chef of the Year. Each course was paired with a Duckhorn wine, and the food was every bit as impressive as the setting.

We enjoyed dishes ranging from hamachi crudo and crispy rice salad to aged Wagyu striploin and a popcorn crème brûlée. We also had the chance to meet Mark Samson, executive chef at Mission Hills Country Club in the Palm Springs area, who was named Invited Chef of the Year. Laurie and I posed for a photograph with him—a terrific souvenir of an exceptional evening.

Three Courses, Three Favorites—and a Tie-Breaker

One of the things I have learned after playing hundreds of courses is that the best course is not necessarily everyone’s favorite. Casa de Campo gave us another perfect example.

Laurie picked Teeth of the Dog for its magnificent oceanfront setting. Keith chose Dye Fore for the varied terrain and constant challenge. I was particularly intrigued by The Links, although I reserve the right to reassess it after a round that does not require rain gear.

That left Sue as the tie-breaker. She also chose Dye Fore, giving it two of our four votes. She loved the variety of terrain, but I suspect another factor influenced her decision: she shot her best round of the trip there. And, perhaps more importantly, she beat Keith.

As any golfer knows, a course where you play well—and beat your husband—has a distinct advantage in the rankings.

So Dye Fore won our informal popularity contest, but all three courses earned their admirers. Teeth of the Dog dazzled us with the ocean. The Links offered the kind of clear, honest test I enjoy. Dye Fore challenged our imagination, our ball-striking, and sometimes our ability to predict where the ball would finish.

Four golfers, three Pete Dye courses, and three different answers to the question: Which would you play again tomorrow? That may be the best endorsement of Casa de Campo I can offer.

After all, golf is not just about the course. It is about the experience, the company, and occasionally having bragging rights over your spouse.