Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1971, Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo has been ranked the number one golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico for more than two decades. Its seven oceanside holes — cut directly into the coral rock of the southern Dominican coast — make it one of the most visually spectacular courses in the world.
The Design Philosophy
Pete Dye flew over the site in a small plane in 1969, looked down at the jagged coral coastline, and reportedly said: “I don’t have to design anything — it’s already there.” The name itself comes from the sharp coral teeth visible in the bluffs along the water’s edge. Dye moved 200 local laborers and a single bulldozer onto the site, and over 18 months shaped what would become his magnum opus.
The Seven Ocean Holes
Holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, and 18 run directly along the Caribbean, offering the kind of risk-reward calculation that defines great golf. The wind off the water changes every hour, turning a straightforward approach into a genuine test of course management. Hole 7 — a 175-yard par 3 played entirely over ocean — has been photographed more than any other hole in the Caribbean and remains one of the sport’s most beautiful short holes.
Course Conditions and Access
Teeth of the Dog is maintained to tour standard year-round. The resort employs an agronomist and a full grounds crew dedicated exclusively to course conditioning. For guests of Casa de Campo villas and residents, preferred tee times are available through the resort concierge. The course accommodates a limited number of outside visitors each day, keeping pace of play consistently excellent.
The Three-Course Experience
Casa de Campo is home to three Pete Dye-designed courses: Teeth of the Dog, The Links (a links-style layout modeled after British courses), and Dye Fore (set above the Chavón River with dramatic elevation changes). The combination makes Casa de Campo arguably the finest single destination for golf in the entire Caribbean basin.
