Fore Golf The DR is a premier golf destination with more than 25 courses, many of them famous for dramatic oceanside fairways designed by such masters as Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones. Overall, the collection ranges from world-class luxury resort courses to country club-style tracks. Generally rated the No. 1 course in the Caribbean is the iconic Teeth of the Dog, featuring seven stunning holes running alongside the edge of the southern coast. Designer, Pete Dye claims that he had help designing the course when he said, “I created 11 holes and God, the other seven.” Dye did not stop with Teeth of the Dog. In fact, he went on to design another DR masterpiece named the Dye Fore Golf Course. This time, he veered away from the ocean creating a 27-hole mountainside track set high on the cliffs west of Punta Cana with sweeping views of the Caribbean. In total, the island’s remarkable golf collection is often called the “Golf Mecca” of the Caribbean. With courses spread across the island, golf is never far away. Moreover, the cost to play them ranges from moderate to high end. Puerto Plata Known as the birthplace of DR tourism, this vibrant town on the north coast of the island blends colonial history with miles of golden sand beaches dotted with all-inclusive resorts and oceanfront hotels. Flanked by a lush mountain range, the city offers an endless variety of entertainment options both on land and sea: water sports, mountain hiking, cultural tours, authentic Dominican dining and a vibrant nightlife. In addition, the city’s historical centre is renowned for its late 19th-century architecture characterized by more than 150 pastel-coloured buildings, creating a unique Caribbean-Victorian vibe. Nevertheless, its Spanish colonial past remains a continuous presence. Of particular note is the city’s San Felipe Fortress, a 16th-century battlement originally built to protect the island’s northern coast from pirates and privateers. Overall, Puerto Plata tends to be more budget-friendly than Punta Cana and tends to offer visitors a more authentic Dominican experience. 20 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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