Some courses whisper their greatness, others shout it. Teeth of the Dog roars—and rightly so. Set on the sun-drenched southern coast of the Dominican Republic within the Casa de Campo resort, this Pete Dye masterpiece is one of those rare layouts that lives up to its legend. This is a course design and location that bites in all the best ways.

From the moment you arrive at Casa de Campo, you get the sense that everything revolves around golf—and specifically, around this course. Opened in 1971 and consistently ranked as the top course in the Caribbean, Teeth of the Dog is carved straight out of the coral rock and hugs the Caribbean Sea for a spectacular stretch of holes that make your heart race and your head spin.

The first few holes ease you in gently, winding through palm trees and lush terrain, but then you reach the 5th—and everything changes. From there to the 8th, you're right on the edge of the water, with waves crashing against the rocks and the breeze playing tricks on your ball. The 5th is a standout: a par 3 that demands your full attention, with the Caribbean as both backdrop and hazard. There’s nowhere to hide here, just you, the elements, and a green that feels a long way away when the wind picks up.

That stretch of oceanfront golf is dramatic, beautiful, and punishing in equal measure. Pete Dye himself famously said that God created seven of these holes and he just had to stay out of the way—and you believe him. The routing is inspired, the risk-reward balance is spot-on, and the visual drama is off the charts.

Inland, the course doesn’t let up. Dye’s signature use of angles, sightlines, and strategic bunkering keeps you thinking on every tee. The greens are firm, fast, and subtly contoured—get on the wrong side of the hole and you’ll be battling to avoid three-putt territory. And then, just when you’ve settled into a rhythm, the sea reappears on the back nine for another show-stopping run from 15 through 17. The par-3 16th, in particular, is world-class: just 170 yards or so from the tips, but framed so dramatically by the ocean and cliffside that it feels like a shot you'll remember forever.

What sets Teeth of the Dog apart isn’t just its setting (though it’s hard to think of many more striking), it’s how intelligently it’s been laid over the land. Every hole asks something different of you. It’s playable, yes, but it punishes lazy shots. It’s scenic, absolutely, but it’s never just about the views. It’s pure golf, distilled with Pete Dye’s unmistakable fingerprint—quirky, strategic, bold.

The facilities at Casa de Campo are, as you'd expect, top tier. The caddies know every inch of the course, the conditioning is immaculate, and the overall experience is as polished as any I’ve found anywhere in the world. There are other courses on the property too—Dye Fore and The Links—but Teeth is the crown jewel, the reason you come, and the reason you’ll want to return.

You’ll likely leave Teeth of the Dog with a few bruises on your card and a deep sense of respect. It’s a course that tests every part of your game but rewards courage and precision, which makes for a truly unforgettable experience.

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Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo - Spotlight

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