ABOVE, THE CHAVON NINE OF CASA DE CAMPO’S DYE FORE FACILITY (ABOVE) WILL SOON HAVE A NEW COURSE FOR COMPANY
***This story is exclusive here and at Cybergolf***
LA ROMANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Casa de Campo officials confirmed tonight that six million dollars U.S. has been approved for the building of a new Pete Dye golf course at the resort. The new 18 holes, with the working title of “Six” may be paired with the newest nine holes of the “Dye Fore” facility opened last season called “The Lakes,” but affectionately called “Five” by Pete Dye, his team, and Casa insiders, or may be a stand alone facility on their own. The new course would join the original Dye Fore layout, (with its “Chavon” and “Marina” nines), the world renowned Teeth of the Dog, the sporty “Links” course, and the private 27 hole facility at La Romana Country Club for a whopping 108 holes of golf in total.
“Dye Six is coming!” beamed a rightfully proud Peter Bonell, the resort’s Chief Marketing Officer. “It will be located across the Chavon River, so players will take a ferry to get there,” he explained, referring to the stunning riverside site 225 feet above the water, which was also where such movies as Apocalypse Now and Rambo 3 were filmed.
“We are proud and delighted to increase our Pete Dye footprint,” added the resort’s National Grouping Golf Sales Manager. “Golfers from around the world love to come and test their game against his designs because you have to think all the way around his golf courses. You can’t try to bully his golf courses or they will bully you, but you never had as much fun or saw anything like them anywhere in the world.”
In a recent interview with Cybergolf, Dye confided that a new course might be in the offing.
“Here’s the thing about Casa de Campo….you’re playing all along those cliff-tops overlooking the ocean or the marina or the river. It’s like Pebble Beach or Turnberry out there! At Pebble Beach, the next golf course that’s in bounds is in Japan. At Casa, the next golf course that’s in bounds is in Venezuela.”
In fact, when asked if some holes were modeled after holes at Pebble, in particular No. 11 (or Number 2 on the “Chavon” nine), which seem strikingly similar to number eight at Pebble Beach, Dye responded, “Absolutely. I love the holes along the [Chavon] River and the new work I did at Five is a nice compliment. That may be the best work I’ve done down there since Teeth. I may be braggin’, but it’s different, it’s pretty, and it’s pretty wide, so you can play it, and you can see the mountains. It really ties in with the other work there. I hope to have thirty-six holes there soon.”
Now he will…in fact, he may have 45.
Indeed, many magazines have called Casa de Campo the “greatest” and “most complete” resort in the world, not only for the phenomenal golf, but for its myriad other diversions, including polo and equestrian events, shooting, tennis, nature hikes, biking, swimming spa, a marina designed to resemble Portofino, and restaurants by Le Cirque and Il Circo, among others.
“Our resort has been a favored escape for heads of state, financial entrepreneurs, Hollywood elite, sports professionals and top entertainers,” added P.R. coordinator Giselle Gonzalvo. Recent guests included Michael Jordan, actor Hugh Grant, and several active and retired major league baseball stars.
“This is enormous news,” stated golf architecture expert Bruce Moulton “Dye is the greatest and certainly most prolific designer of our generation, and for him to add to his already astounding portfolio at Casa de Campo further solidifies their place as one of the greatest places on the planet to play golf.”
“Pete just keeps getting better with age,” added Bonell.
Though the “Lakes” nine – i.e. “Five” – is new, golf architecture experts agree that it will certainly help catapult the Dye Fore facility into the highest echelon of the world rankings.
“It’s puzzling why it isn’t more highly regarded as it combines incomparable beauty, strategic design, and a sterling pedigree,” Moulton explained. “But now with the addition of Five, there’s no question it will skyrocket up the rankings, perhaps even rivaling Teeth of the Dog.” Many architecture experts, including several members of La Romana Country Club agree.
“I actually think it’s better than Teeth, and that’s saying something because Teeth is one of the 20 best courses in the world,” confided two members. “No place in the world has a better mix of golf and resort facilities than Casa de Campo. It’s Bandon Dunes or Scotland, but with much better weather year round. Come down and join us!”
