The Caribbean’s most famous stretch of fairway — and the signature course of the Dominican Republic — is back.
At Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana, the legendary Teeth of the Dog golf course has officially reopened following the most extensive restoration in its history. The unveiling came on March 13 in a ceremony that underscored just how significant this moment is—not just for the resort, but for the Dominican Republic’s position in global luxury travel.
More than 50 years after it first opened in 1971, the course has undergone a full-scale, $15 million restoration designed to bring it back to its original form while preparing it for the decades ahead.
And for travelers, it means one thing: one of the Caribbean’s defining golf experiences is once again at its peak.
Preserving One of the World’s Great Courses
Teeth of the Dog has long held a singular place in Caribbean golf. Designed by Pete Dye, the course is known for its dramatic layout along the Caribbean Sea, with holes that run tight to the coastline and play directly into the elements.
The restoration project was led by Jerry Pate Design, with a clear directive: return the course as closely as possible to Dye’s original vision.
That meant a complete rebuild, not a surface refresh.
Every green, bunker, tee, and fairway was reconstructed. Drainage and irrigation systems were replaced with modern infrastructure. The course was entirely re-grassed using Dynasty Paspalum, a variety selected specifically for coastal conditions, ensuring durability against salt air and wind.
The goal was precision, not reinvention.
“We celebrate the preservation of a legend,” said Andrés Pichardo Rosenberg, President of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas. “This project ensures that future generations of golfers can experience the course exactly as it was originally conceived.”
The “Heaven 7” and the Edge of the Caribbean
The defining feature of Teeth of the Dog remains its oceanfront holes, known collectively as the “Heaven 7.”
These seven holes run directly along the Caribbean Sea, where waves crash against rock just yards from the fairways. Wind becomes a constant factor. Shot selection shifts with every change in conditions.
The restoration placed particular focus on protecting these holes.
Advanced coastal engineering techniques were applied to reinforce the shoreline and preserve the integrity of the layout against long-term environmental exposure. After decades of direct impact from the marine environment, the work ensures that the most recognizable stretch of golf in the Caribbean remains intact.
For players, the experience remains what it has always been: demanding, exposed, and defined by the elements.
Government leaders echoed that sentiment, pointing to projects like this as key drivers of the country’s continued growth in luxury travel.
Why This Reopening Matters Now
For travelers, especially golfers, the timing is significant.
Demand for high-end golf travel across the Caribbean has been rising, with players seeking destinations that combine world-class courses with full-service resort experiences. Casa de Campo has long been one of the region’s anchors in that category.
The restoration of Teeth of the Dog reinforces that position.
This is not a new course trying to establish itself. It is an established global name returning to full form after a comprehensive rebuild.
That distinction carries weight. Travelers who may have played the course years ago now have a reason to return. Those who have never experienced it can do so knowing they are seeing it as it was originally intended.
Beyond the Course: What’s Next at Casa de Campo
The investment in Teeth of the Dog is part of a broader expansion at the resort.
Casa de Campo is preparing to launch the second phase of its Premier Suites project beginning in May. The next stage includes the addition of a new pool and an expansion of the resort’s spa.
The spa already holds a Four-Star rating from Forbes, the only one in the Dominican Republic with that distinction, and the expansion is designed to build on that positioning.
The resort continues to operate as a multi-layered destination, with a marina, equestrian center, shooting facilities, and multiple dining venues alongside its golf offerings.
That means the experience extends well beyond the fairways.
Getting There and Planning Your Trip
Casa de Campo is located in La Romana, on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
The resort is easily accessible via La Romana International Airport, which is just minutes away, as well as from Punta Cana International Airport, about an hour’s drive.
Guests can stay in hotel rooms, suites, or private villas, with golf packages that include access to Teeth of the Dog along with the resort’s other courses, including Dye Fore and The Links.
Advance booking is recommended, particularly following the reopening, as demand is expected to increase.
A Legacy Course, Rebuilt for the Future
Few courses carry the recognition of Teeth of the Dog. Fewer still maintain that standing over decades.
What this restoration delivers is continuity.
The same routing. The same oceanfront exposure. The same defining stretch of holes along the Caribbean. Now supported by modern infrastructure designed to protect it against time and environment.
At the close of the ceremony, the ribbon was cut in a moment that also honored Pete Dye himself. His ashes rest at the course, at the eighth hole, a permanent link between the designer and the landscape he shaped.
The course he created remains intact.
Now, it’s ready again.
Jose Antonio
2026-03-24 22:38:00