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Dye Fore, Casa de Campo |
Course Information
More Reviews
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Name: Bo (DR1) Handicap: 12 Review Date: April 3rd 2007 Tee Time: 09:40 |
General:
Fairways are surrounded by a 1st cut of rough from which the ball is easily played. If the ball goes beyond the 1st cut of rough there's mostly only guinea grass left and finding a ball there is almost impossible much less playing it from there if you should find it. The Chavon River is formidable hazard and has the lives of several balls on the conscience.
Tourist season will determine how crowded the course is.
No practicing facilities available yet but they are under construction. Practicing can be done at the driving range by Teeth of the Dog and a free bus will take you to Dye Fore.
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Course layout:
A Pete Dye design. Large changes in elevation makes for some blind shots and the sloping fairways may not give you a preferred stance.
Not many trees to block the view (or your ball) and it's a question of temperament if you miss trees or not.
You can get away with a bad drive. Fairways are very generous.
The greens are large but many have slopes, bumps and several tiers. Putts roll true.
Bunkers are uniform throughout the course and the density of the sand isn't too loose or too hard, just right.
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Maintenance:
Paspalum grass all over gives the course a very lush green color even if it's
late in the season. It's very well manicured considering how many guests pass
through the gate. However the end of the tourist season is coming and the course
needs a deserved break. I've seen it in better condition before today.
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Service:
Professional and attentive staff in pro shop, reception and caddy shack.
Nice, clean bathrooms. We didn't use the club house changing facilities. The
water supplied from the canteens on the course tasted like water out of a
swimming pool. Sales carts roam the grounds so you can buy something that tastes
better but it will cost you.
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Price:
Not a huge discount for those that hold a FEDO-golf card. They even cut the annual free round of golf. Caddie tip as advised by the pro shop staff,
US$25 plus tip. We thought that was way too much for the service he delivered (or should I say didn't deliver: He didn't clean the ball, repair ball makes, replace divots, rake bunkers and we caught him several times reading the putt as wrong as the opposite side of the hole. I'm
not taking a caddie next time). Come as a tourist on a golf package and you'll save $$$.
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19th hole:
Nice terrace bar in beautiful surroundings with the view over the Chavon River. If you're hungry go to any of the restaurants in Altos de Chavon. There wasn't much of a selection in the bar.
Again; come as a tourist on an all-inclusive package and it will seem the reasonable thing to do.
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Value for money rating:
 - if you come in from the street
 - if you're on a golf package
Dye Fore is as well kept a golf course as any. It's expensive if you're a green fee golfer coming for one round only, just as expensive as Teeth of the Dog. It has stunning views over the Chavon River, Casa de Campo Marina and Altos de Chavon and even if you're not house hunting, the villas built along the course are worth a sneak peek.
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Hole Descriptions & Photos:
Click a camera icon
 to see larger images and descriptions. |
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1st hole, par 5, 430 yds:
Slight dogleg left. A nice looking opening hole with a wide fairway and only bunkers to the right. There are deep bunkers short right of the green so miss left or long if you have to miss. |
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2nd hole, par 4, 335 yds:
The tee shot should avoid the tree on the left and the bunker on the right. If you miss the green on the approach make sure it's to the left or short as steep slopes and deep bunkers guard the left and back of the green. |
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3rd hole, par 3, 160 yds:
A huge green is there to hold your shot. So are bunkers down a slope if you miss to the right. |
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4th hole, par 4, 385 yds:
Slight dogleg left along the Chavon River. Don't let the spectacular view to the ocean and Casa de Campo Marina break your concentration. There are bunkers on the right side of the wide fairway and the downhill approach to the green should rather be too short than too long. Bunkers left and right of the green. |
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5th hole, par 4, 365 yds:
Somewhat like the 4th but there are large bunkers with tall front lips in the right center of the fairway. There's even a little room to miss the green left on this one. |
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6th hole, par 3, 135 yds:
Almost a links-like look to this hole with the deep pot bunker with a build up front wall in front of the shallow green. Two small bunkers back right of the green. |
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7th hole, par 4, 320 yds:
A huge waste bunker with small horse shoe shaped islands of rough take up the entire right side of the fairway. The green is elevated and guarded by large bunkers front left and back right. |
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8th hole, par 5, 495 yds:
The wide fairway will narrow in as you get closer to the green. However there's still ample space for your lay up. The green is narrow and protected by tall mounds and numerous bunkers all around. |
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9th hole, par 4, 350 yds:
Slight dogleg right. There's a large waste bunker down the right side of the fairway so keep it left and get the best angle to the green. Mounds and bunkers to the left of the green and a slope down to the right. |
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10th hole, par 5, 500 yds:
A somewhat blind driving hole. The fairway is wide but slopes from left to right and a large waste bunker will catch balls rolling off the fairway to the right. That's good news otherwise it would have rolled into the Chavon river. Be careful and make sure you add enough length to your lay up as the fairway narrows in on the cliffs above the Chavon River. The river is of more concern on the approach than the few bunkers to the short right. |
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11th hole, par 4, 400 yds:
The drive has to carry another ravine while another waste bunker may catch any drives going right before they roll into the river. A large bunker guards the left side while 4 smaller bunkers protects the front right. |
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12th hole, par 3, 170 yds:
Short is the best place to be if you miss this green as bunkers are ready to catch the errant shot left and right. Especially slicers will feel the presence of the Chavon River to the right but also the steep drop in front of the tee may disturb someone's concentration. |
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13th hole, par 4, 340 yds:
Another wide fairway should take the three fairway bunkers on the right out of play. Your second shot can easily run up to the green but there are bunkers and mounds left and behind the green. |
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14th hole, par 4, 330 yds:
Now the Chavon River is on the left and there's a fantastic view of Altos de Chavon on the remaining holes. Two large high lipped fairway bunkers are located in the right center of the fairway. Two small bunkers guard the front left and right of the green. |
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15th hole, par 3, 175 yds:
Like the 12th but opposite direction and a longer carry is needed to clear the
ravine. Numerous small pot bunkers along the river edge and to the right and
back of the green. |
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16th hole, par 4, 375 yds:
You can't see the green from the tee but there's enough fairway to get started with before you look for the green. A good distance before and all the way to the green and around it numerous bunkers will make it necessary to fly the ball onto the green. |
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17th hole, par 4, 275 yds:
Uphill to a large green with only one large bunker to the front left of the green makes this the easiest hole. |
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18th hole, par 5, 530 yds:
The widest fairway I ever saw and no bunkers or other obstacles until you get to the green calls for you to grip it and rip it. The drive goes a little uphill which may take the chance to reach the green in two away despite the predominant tail wind. When (if) you lay up use the right side of the fairway as it slopes to the left towards an area of guinea grass. From the right side of the fairway it's slightly uphill to the green which is guarded by a bunker to the left, one in front and one to the right. |
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