No news on the Samana Airport, it will be handed to a private company, but when they will start operation is uncertain because their contract needs to be passed by the National Congress.
There is a hotel in the Punta Cana area called the Meli? Tropical. Yes, it has a golf course that is slated for a November opening. This is some information we have compiled on the Cocotal course. This information was compiled some months ago and may have changed, though.
NAME: Cocotal Golf & Country Club LOCATION: Complejo Palma Real, B?varo, La Altagracia Province (close to Sol Meli? Caribe and Sol Meli? Tropical resorts) TEL/FAX: Tel: (809) 221-2311 Fax: (809) 686-5427 EMAIL: melia.bavaro@codetel.net.do OPENING: First 18 holes, November 1999. Nine additional holes, May 2000. NUMBER OF HOLES: 18 holes COURSE DESCRIPTION: Serene lakes and swaying coconut trees surround this challenging 27 hole golf course in the Palma Real residential community DESIGN CONSULTANT: Pepe Gancedo, six times champion of Spain and designer of several leading Spanish golf courses. COURSE OWNER: Sol Meli? PLAYING HOURS: 7 am ? 2:30 pm (18 hole players), 7 am to 4 pm (nine hole players) NON-HOTEL GUESTS PLAYING GREEN FEES: US$85 (18 holes) and US$50 (9 holes) per person, including the use of the golf cart. HOTEL GREEN FEES: Guests staying at the Sol Meli? hotels will have unlimited green fees included in their packages. GOLF LESSONS COST: 30 minutes US$30 per person/day. One hour US$50 per person/day. Five classes US$200 per person/day. CART FEES: US$30 per person?day (minimum two persons). Pull cart 18 holes US$10 per person/day; 9 holes US$8 per person/day) IS THE GOLF CART MANDATORY? Yes OTHER FEATURES: Clubhouse, pro shop, bar cafeteria, lockers, rest areas with view of the driving range and putting green and the hole 1 tee, free transportaton from Sol Meli? hotels. GOLF PACKAGES AVAILABLE: Sol Meli? Bavaro, Paradisus, Tropical and Caribe hotels.
