Bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Dominican Republic has become one of the flagship destinations for all lovers of the little white ball, not just North Americans. Nearly 150 amateur putters now visit this island as large as one and a half times Belgium each year, which has 000 courses (with 32 holes bordering the sea!) And many others under construction. Most are located in Punta Cana and its surroundings, on the eastern tip of the island. “Golf campos” designed by the most prestigious architects (Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones Sr, Tom Fazio) or game legends (Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman). If we add a tropical climate with annual temperatures oscillating between 86 and 25 degrees, the idea of ​​taking out the driver necessarily titillates you. So take your sunscreen and fasten your seatbelts, we're flying away to Punta Cana!

Located west of Punta Cana, about an hour away, La Romana is home to a quartet of courses, one of which stands out: the Dye Fore. Anchored in the splendid Chavon valley, this natural site will amaze you for 18 holes. The drive runs along the Caribbean and plunges to a Mediterranean-style village. For a moment, it almost feels like Corsica. The return is breathtaking as it borders the cliffs overlooking the Altos de Chavon river, at the very spot where Coppola once shot Apocalypse Now ! On pars 3 of holes 12 and 15, the ghost of Marlon Brando lies in wait for the least of your three-putts… or more if affinities, the ultra-rolling greens and gusts of wind constituting the biggest difficulty of the course.

South of Punta Cana, 25 minutes away, is another gem: Punta Espada, voted best golf course in Latin America and the West Indies three years in a row by "Golfweek" magazine. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and his 18 Grand Slam tournaments, all holes of the course offer a view of the ocean! Some of them even span the Caribbean Sea, like the spectacular 17^e hole, where your drive (if successful) flies over a bay. The dream comes at a price, however: $ 395 in high season (November 22 to April 22) and $ 295 in low season.

Direction north of Punta Cana now, 20 minutes drive, with The Lakes Bavaro. The course is varied and “challenging” (122 bunkers), sometimes surrounded by water features (25 lakes in all), sometimes surrounded by lush vegetation. Long par 4s succeeding par 4 drivables in one… at least for the best of our readers. The golf course adjoins a large hotel complex, the Barcelo Bavaro resort, temple of all-inclusive, which is the hallmark of hotels on the island. Advantage: hotel guests benefit from a free green fee for two nights of stay. For others, it will cost $ 145 in high season ($ 110 in low season).

Still north of Punta Cana, 25 minutes, the golf courseIberostate is also drawn by Pete Dye. The lakes and rock gardens embellish a lush landscape and an overall easy course: the fairways are wide and the greens moderately rolling. In short, the ideal place not to lose your balls and get a good score. The signature hole is # 8, a pretty par 3 with a star-shaped green surrounded by a sea of ​​sand. We just regret that the design is mostly visible from the sky and much less from the departures, iron in hand.

Finally, very close to the international airport of Punta Cana, it would be a shame to miss the magnificent golf course of La Cana. Strangely, no plane disturbs your putting routine. Only a few helicopters fly sporadically including, perhaps, that of Julio Iglésias. Who had the rich idea of ​​investing in the region twenty years ago and lives nearby. So it is with " I did not change " in your head as you approach the spectacular 18^e hole, a par 5 that is played almost on the beach. Bogey guaranteed. Another particularity of golf: the caddy is compulsory and you should not always listen to it. Like on hole 10, where he advises you to aim 10 meters behind the flag so that the slope brings the ball back to you towards the mast. Except that the ball gets stuck at the top of the slope, which does not bring back anything at all. Three putts guaranteed. Or at hole 15, a short par 5 in a right dodleg that Edouardo advises you to aim very to the right at the drive. Lack of pot, barely 15 meters further to the right, it's out of bounds. Double bogey guaranteed… at best.

Located an eight-hour flight from Paris, the Dominican Republic finally offers some similarities with Mauritius, which also relies heavily on golf tourism. Starting with the beauty and the quality of its courses or its beaches and a sun that is rarely absent for long. The 4 or 5 * hotels, often on an all-inclusive basis, offer many activities: shows, casino, water park, etc. Ideal for golfers traveling as a family, although the catering is of lesser quality than on the island in the Indian Ocean.

Main downside: green fees - even if they include the cart - are not cheap ($ 295 for Dye Fore in high season), no doubt due to the geographical proximity of the wealthy North American clientele. Also note that many courses require the presence of a caddy (minimum $ 20 per person), like Dye Fore, Punta Espada or Cana. This increases the note, especially when you come to play as a couple. A bit unfortunate when you already have a cart and most of your caddy's job is to hold the flag or give you the line of putts. But the dream obviously has a price.

Frank Crudo

Pratical information

Example of golf stays in the Dominican Republic with "Parcours Voyages"

• PUNTA CANA airport transfers to hotel
• 7 nights at the WESTIN PUNTACANA RESORT hotel
• Breakfast at ANANI restaurant included
• Lunch and dinner of your choice in one of the 4 restaurants
• 2 Green Fee on the CORALES course considered one of the most beautiful courses in the Caribbean
• 1 Green Fee on the LA CANA course
• 1 Green Fee on the LAKES BAVARO course
• 1 souvenir from the CORALES Golf Club
• Taxes included

EXCEPTIONAL RATE “TRAVEL ROUTE”; 2950 euros per person.

For more information : golf@parcours-voyages.fr