Casa de Campo, DR

The 4th year of the East Islip crew's annual Ryder Cup trip sent us to Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic—a true destination trip after staying local the year before. The fellas had a chaotic 2023 filled with weddings and bachelor parties, so this edition of the Ryder Cup comes with a small asterisk: it didn’t happen in the fall like usual, but in January. Honestly, the golf gods couldn’t have scripted a better way to make it right. We traded the snow and gray skies of NYC for sunshine, ocean breezes, and high‑80s temperatures every single day. And with a lineup that included Teeth of the Dog twice, Dye Fore, and The Links, we knew from the moment we landed that this trip was going to be special.

The trip kicked off before we ever touched a golf club. We boarded our flight out of JFK, and after a quick ride into Santo Domingo, Casa de Campo had a shuttle waiting for us—stocked with ice‑cold Presidentes for the hour‑long drive to La Romana. Check‑in was effortless. Within minutes we had the keys to our transportation for the week: a fleet of four‑seater golf carts that instantly made us feel like we owned the place.

Then we saw the house. King size beds in every room. Spacious rooms. A great living space perfect for hanging out. A beautiful pool. A fruit platter waiting on the dining room table. And the fridge? Loaded with more Presidentes than any reasonable group of humans should consume. Bags hit the floor, beers cracked, and the vibes were high.

But we weren’t here just to admire the accommodations. We rushed to the course for a quick warm‑up, and a handful of hours after leaving snowy New York, we were tossing pegs into a grass range under Caribbean heat. Minor rain showers rolled through during the round, but honestly, they felt refreshing as we acclimated to the temperature swing.

We opened the trip at Teeth of the Dog, and there’s no better way to start a Casa de Campo Ryder Cup. This course is the crown jewel of the resort and one of the most famous tracks in the Caribbean. The moment you arrive, you feel it. The conditioning is pristine, the routing is pure, and the ocean holes are flat‑out ridiculous. Seven holes play right along the water, including a short par‑3 that looks like it was carved straight out of a postcard. One of the early highlights is the cart ride that winds you out toward the ocean—suddenly the horizon opens up, waves crash against the rocks, and you realize you’re playing golf in a place that doesn’t feel real.

The wind is always a factor, the greens have just enough movement to keep you honest, and the entire experience feels big‑time. As an opening round, it set the tone perfectly—sun, ocean, and a course that punches you in the mouth in the best possible way.

Dye Fore – Marina set the tone for Day 2 with a completely different vibe from Teeth of the Dog. The Marina nine feels like it was built to show off the landscape—wide fairways, big elevation changes, and views that seem to run all the way to the horizon. It’s the most “resort‑friendly” of the Dye Fore loops, but it still makes you earn it. The wind never sits still, the greens are perched in spots that force committed lines, and the visuals can bait you into taking on shots you probably shouldn’t. It’s fun, it’s playable, it’s scenic, and it drops you right back at the clubhouse to start the Chavón nine.

Then came Chavón, which is the showstopper. This nine is perched high above the Chavón River, with cliffside holes that feel like they were carved out of a movie set. It’s dramatic, demanding, and unforgettable. The carries are longer, the angles are sharper, and the wind hits differently up on the cliffs. It’s the kind of nine where you stop mid‑round just to take in the view. As a Ryder Cup venue, it’s perfect—big swings, big mistakes, big moments. If Marina is the warm‑up, Chavón is the main event.

The first 18 at Marina and Chavón was team best ball, but the final nine at Lagos—the third loop at Dye Fore—shifted gears into a 2v2 scramble with only a half‑point on the line. Lagos is tailor‑made for that kind of chaos. It’s the most water‑heavy of the Dye Fore nines, with lakes and ponds guarding fairways, squeezing landing zones, and daring you to bite off more than you should. The risk‑reward is dialed up on almost every tee box, which means you quickly find out who has the stones to pull the trigger when their partner just sent one swimming.

The scramble format fits Lagos perfectly. It loosens everyone up, encourages aggressive lines, and turns every hole into a mini‑drama. And speaking of loosening up—this is the ideal time to load up at Chilango Taqueria before heading out. A couple Presidentes and some to dye fore tacos go a long way toward keeping morale high when the water starts claiming golf balls.

After two days of heavy hitters, The Links was a welcome breather. It’s a gentler layout with traditional parkland vibes—rolling fairways, less wind exposure, and fewer forced carries. It’s the kind of course where you can finally exhale, hit some comfortable shots, and enjoy a more relaxed pace. And despite the name, let’s be honest: there’s nothing “links” about it. No Scottish dunes, no pot bunkers, no firm‑and‑fast ground game.

If you do play it, this is the round to mix up the format. A scramble or alternate shot adds the extra spark The Links needs and turns a more subdued layout into something memorable. And no matter which course you’re playing, earlier tee times are the move. The afternoon heat gets real, and finishing early lets you take full advantage of Las Minitas Beach—a beautiful stretch of sand with great drinks, solid food, and the kind of water you can’t justify flying to the Dominican Republic and not jumping into.

We closed the trip by returning to Teeth of the Dog, and it was absolutely the right call. Coming back to those ocean holes after seeing the rest of the resort made them feel even more unreal. The wind had changed, the light was different, and the stakes were cranked all the way up with singles matches on the line. Every swing along the water felt like it carried the weight of the entire trip. It was the perfect finale—iconic, dramatic, and exactly the kind of stage you want when a Ryder Cup is hanging in the balance.

After all the battling, the chirping, and the stress‑inducing matches, the Ryder Cup ended in a draw. The final match came down to 18, with both players staring down long, nerve‑shredding two‑putts on an undulating green with a crowd watching from the clubhouse bar that only added to the theater. And yeah, a tie might feel a little like kissing your sister, but out there—on one of the most majestic pieces of golf property on the planet—everyone walked off feeling like a winner.

Casa de Campo isn’t a budget trip, but for what you get, it delivers serious value. A four‑day stay with rounds at Teeth of the Dog (twice), Dye Fore’s Marina and Chavón nines, and The Links typically lands in the $2,000–$2,500 per person range depending on room type, season, and flight costs. The resort’s all‑inclusive package is a huge part of what makes the price feel justified—unlimited drinks, great dinners, and the freedom to bounce between restaurants without thinking about the bill adds a level of ease you don’t get on most golf trips. They even had chefs over to the villa to make breakfast before we got up.

Getting around the property is effortless thanks to the golf carts every villa comes with. They turn the entire resort into your playground—beach runs, dinner rides, practice sessions, whatever you need. Speaking of beaches, Minitas Beach is a massive bonus. White sand, calm water, and a perfect spot to unwind after getting punched in the mouth by Dye Fore.

The practice facility is another highlight. It’s enormous, beautifully maintained, and feels like a tour‑level setup. Combine that with the villa experience—private pools, spacious rooms, and outdoor areas that make post‑round hangs elite—and the trip starts to feel like a full vacation layered on top of world‑class golf. Everywhere you go, the service is dialed in. Staff members remember you, take care of you, and make the whole experience feel elevated.

Casa de Campo also offers a ton of non‑golf activities: clay shooting, tennis, the marina, Altos de Chavón, boat excursions, and more. You could spend a week here without touching a club and still have a great time.

One thing to be mindful of: the water. A few guys got sick during the trip, likely a mix of drinking water we shouldn’t have and getting dehydrated in the heat and unlimited booze. It’s something to take seriously—stick to bottled water and stay ahead on hydration.

All in, Casa de Campo is one of those rare golf destinations where the cost feels justified the moment you arrive. Between the ocean holes, the cliffside views, the food, the service, the beach, and the villa life, it’s a trip that hits every category.

Price: $$$