It is the last night of a four-night stay at Casa de Campo, and as I savor a rather potent rum drink on the balcony off my second-floor suite in the resort’s new Premier Club, I realize this is the eighth time I have visited this sun-soaked land. That prompts me to consider the many things I like about this spot.
Start with the setting on the southeastern coast of the D.R., which is the second-largest country in the Caribbean and the place where Christopher Columbus landed in 1492. The weather is warm and sunny most of the year, and the air frequently filled with sounds of crashing surf and scents of saltwater. Trade winds provide a cooling respite from the tropical heat as does the shade of the many varieties of palms that flourish on the property along with banana, mango and star fruit trees. And the pink, red and purple petals that bloom on the bougainvillea and hibiscus add a perfect amount of color to the island landscape.
I also appreciate the sense of comfort and familiarity I feel with each trip to Casa de Campo, which translates from Spanish into “country home” and features 306 hotel rooms and suites and more than 2,500 villas, some of which are available for rent. Whether I am returning to the sugar-sand beach at Minitas for a swim and a proper sunbath or the 245-acre shooting center for rounds of skeet and five-stand, I know what I am going to find. I also can be sure that the quality of the amenities and the overall experience will be quite good – and that I will be greeted warmly by members of the Casa de Campo staff, many of whom have served me in years past. Some may even remember my name.
Then, there is the golf. All told, the resort boasts 63 holes designed by the late, great Pete Dye, often with input from his dearly departed wife, Alice. And they represent some of the finest work that duo ever produced, especially Teeth of the Dog with seven holes running along the jagged coral coast of the Caribbean, the waves sometimes breaking so hard that seawater leaps into the air mere feet from tees and greens.
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