DESTINATION GUIDE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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WELCOME TO
PARADISE D
ominican Republic, the undisputed “it” destination for golf, is widely known as having the most magnificent golf courses in the Caribbean and Latin America. The country boasts a growing list of world-class golf courses designed by some of the game’s most acclaimed course architects, including Pete Dye, P.B. Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Nick Price and Greg Norman. The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean and
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also one of the most ecologically diverse nations in the world. Stunning vistas – including waves crashing over dramatic coastlines, coconut palm groves, lush sun-kissed fairways, gentle mountains and exotic nature – set the scene for uniquely designed and distinct golf courses. Experienced and novice golfers alike cannot resist playing the island’s challenging courses blessed with clear blue skies, azure seas and constant beautiful weather. The country has a wide variety of both inland and coastal courses, including 86
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TRAVEL GUIDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
stunning sea-view holes and 39 oceanside holes – more than any comparable destination – making it a perfect spot for golf travelers of all experience levels. Whether you are a professional golfer or a beginner, playing golf here is a unique experience. Most clubs in the country provide clinics and lessons with some of the sport’s most elite players. These packages cater to both the serious and recreational player, offering affordable club rentals and often including meals and drinks, as well as green fees and cart rentals.
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TRAVEL GUIDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ENJOY THE LUXURY OF
PUNTA CANA T
he sophisticated East Coast of Dominican Republic attracts visitors from around the world who come to explore and savor the luxuries of Punta Cana. Nestled across 100 miles of the world’s top beaches lapped by turquoise waters and dotted with swaying palm trees, Punta Cana is Dominican Republic’s most lavish and popular destination. Your inspiration begins at touchdown, where the picture-perfect coastline beckons
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with a seemingly endless strip of frostwhite sand shelving into reef-protected lagoons of irresistible peacock blues and greens. These silvery sands stretch virtually unbroken for 40 miles and are the reason for Dominican Republic’s astonishing assemblage of all-inclusive hotels and convention centers. Punta Cana’s beaches and resorts may be its biggest draw, but its world-renowned golf courses and entertainment, like swimming
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TRAVEL TIPS LOCATION & CLIMATE Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the large island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Republic of Haiti, and is the second largest country in the Caribbean. The country has a population of 10 million and enjoys sunny tropical weather all year. The average year-round temperatures are 78°F to 88°F (25°C to 31°C). The cooler season is November through April, while it is warmest from May through October. TIME: The local time zone is Eastern Caribbean Time (GMT-0400). Dominican Republic does not observe daylight savings time. CAPITAL CITY: Dominican Republic’s historic and sophisticated capital city, Santo Domingo, is the oldest city of the New World. Santo Domingo’s Colonial City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. LANGUAGE: Spanish is the official language; however, the majority of employees in hotels and tourist destinations speak relatively good English, French, German and Italian, among other languages. CURRENCY: The Dominican peso (RD$) is the official currency.
with dolphins and zip lining through the exotic vegetation, promise to capture your imagination and refresh your soul. To the north of Punta Cana is the equally luxe resort area of Bávaro. Together, Bávaro and Punta Cana feature Dominican Republic’s largest hotel and resort infrastructure. Year after year, this region, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea, has been the venue for international fishing competitions and has also become the number one golf destination in the Caribbean.
GETTING THERE: Dominican Republic currently has eight international airports throughout the country, including: Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, La Romana International Airport (LRM), Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata, El Cibao International Airport (STI) in Santiago, and El Catey International Airport (AZS) in Samaná. The destinations that regularly receive cruises are Santo Domingo (terminals of Sansoucí and Don Diego), La Romana (Casa de Campo and Isla Catalina), Punta Cana (Cap Cana Marina), Puerto Plata (Amber Cove) and Samaná (Cayo Levantado and Samaná Bay).
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TRAVEL GUIDE MEXICO
CARIBBEAN
GOLFING MECCA The Dominican Republic is the most popular destination in the Caribbean and it is plain to see why, with its beautiful white sandy beaches, lush indigenous forest and of course the quality all-inclusive golf resorts with luxury accommodation available. Golf is available to play here year round, where the wonderful Caribbean climate lends itself to a luxury golf holiday. The glittering east coast boasts 189 holes of golf all easily accessible from a wide range of luxe ocean-front resorts spread across some of the world’s top beaches. This enchanting region continues to be the premier destination for travelers who seek challenging upscale golf on the world’s most memorable courses desgined by Nick Price, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, P.B. Dye and José-Pepe-Gancedo.
Golf in Punta Cana
Golf in La Romana
The golfing in Punta Cana is the most impressive available in the country if not the whole of the Caribbean island area.
The third largest city in the country, with a population of approximately 130,000.
There are a number of top quality courses, most noteworthy would be The Lakes Barceló Golf Course which is a breath taking series of holes with a large amount of water hazards to avoid. The Punta Espada Golf Club provides golfers with fantastic views along the coastline while playing a course which was developed by Jack Nicklaus. The close proximity to the nearest airport only aids to increase the popularity of this breath taking course.
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This region is home to the premier course on the island. The must play course at the Casa De Campo resort (pictured right), which is called the ‘Teeth of the Dog’ is considered the top course on the island and the whole of the Caribbean itself. The resort at Casa De Campo has a total of 3 championship level courses, including the Teeth of the Dog, Links & Dye Fore along with some of the most luxurious accommodation on the planet, the spa and rooms are without a doubt deserving of their 5* rating.
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THE PLAYLIST
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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THE PLAYLIST: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PUNTA ESPADA GOLF CLUB Punta Espada Golf Club, Nicklaus’s first signature course in Dominican Republic and now one of two in the region, opened in November 2006 and continues to make top golf course lists. Nicklaus’s gem boasts eight holes playing either alongside or over the Caribbean Sea –including the stunning par-4 17th, which requires a tee- shot carry over a bay. The Golden Bear superbly utilizes and incorporates the area’s bluffs, beaches, lagoons and tropical foliage into the course’s design. Location: Cap Cana Holes: 18 Par: 72; Yardage: 7,396 Designer: Jack Nicklaus www.puntaespadagolf.com
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THE PLAYLIST: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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CASA DE CAMPO Teeth of the Dog As Pete Dye’s first Casa de Campo creation, this course first put Dominican Republic on the world golf stage in 1971. Teeth of the Dog continues to amaze golfers with pristine playing conditions 45 years later. It consistently ranks as the best course in the Caribbean and as one of the top courses in the world, making it a mustplay destination for both serious and recreational golfers. Seven of its 18 holes are directly on the ocean front – four on the front nine and three on the back – making it extra tough to play due to tenacious Caribbean winds. Location: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana Holes: 18 Par: 72; Yardage: 7,471 Designer: Pete Dye www.casadecampo.com.do
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THE PLAYLIST: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CASA DE CAMPO Dye Fore Pete Dye completed his hat trick of perfection at Casa de Campo when this course opened in 2005. Nestled right in the breathtaking Chavón River valley – where scenes from Apocalypse Now were filmed – golfers enjoy cliff-side holes dropping 300 feet to the valley below. The course also boasts 13 holes overviewing the Caribbean Sea, as well as breathtaking views of Altos de Chavón, a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village, and the Dominican mountains, which challenge players with 40 mile-perhour gusting winds. Location: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana Holes: 27 Par: 72; Yardage: 7,714 Designer: Pete Dye www.casadecampo.com.do
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CASA DE CAMPO The Links Pete Dye designed this course only a few years after Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog. It first greeted golfers in 1975 and has drawn comparisons to traditional British and Scottish links courses thanks to its fairways and open putting surfaces that invite golfers to play shots along the ground. This moderately hilly course has several lagoons and lakes that are popular with wading birds and features tall, dense bay and guinea jungle-grass rough, as well as numerous bunkers. Most of its holes dogleg either right or left over the undulating landscape. The Links was completely overhauled in 2012 to make it as challenging as its sister courses. Location: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana Holes: 18 Par: 71; Yardage: 7,003 Designer: Pete Dye www.casadecampo.com.do
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THE PLAYLIST: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
LA CANA GOLF CLUB Location: Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana Holes: 27 Arrecife: Par 36; Yardage: 3,676 Hacienda: Par 36; Yardage: 3,768 Tortuga: Par 36; Yardage: 3,483 Designer: P.B. Dye www.puntacana.com
The P.B. Dye-designed La Cana Golf Club was established in 2001 as an 18hole course, with the new nine-hole Hacienda added in 2012. The Tortuga and Arrecife nines capture the stunning Caribbean scenery with 14 ocean-view holes and four memorable holes that play right on the beach. Arrecife’s nine culminates in two spectacular fairways that skirt the azure waters and greens where you feel to reach out and touch the sea. Hacienda is both challenging and beautiful in its design as it takes the golfer inland through dense, colorful tropical vegetation. La Cana’s well- guarded putting surfaces provide a stern test for even the lowest handicappers. La Cana is a course that’s perfect for golfers of all skill levels and greets all with a relaxing atmosphere complemented by wide, mostly at fairways.
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HARD ROCK GOLF CLUB AT CANA BAY Location: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Macao Holes: 18 Par: 72; Yardage: 7,253 Designer: Jack Nicklaus www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com
The Nicklaus-designed golf course, which opened in March 2010, presents golfers with a challenge at each hole and is playable by golfers of any skill level. The first golf course to carry the iconic Hard Rock brand, and located just inland from the beachfront, Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana, winds through beautiful native tropical vegetation that extends right up to the edge of the fairways, with no rough so that straight-hitting is at a premium. The course lives up to its rock ‘n’ roll branding; each hole is named after a famous rock song and putts roll pretty fast on the slick but small, sloping greens. There are also several blind shots that add to the challenge of this 7,253-yard layout.
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THE PLAYLIST: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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CORALES GOLF CLUB This Tom Fazio creation, the second oceanfront course at Puntacana Resort & Club, opened in 2010. Featuring six oceanfront holes set on rocky cliffs next to the Caribbean Sea, Fazio’s breathtaking and distinctive design has quickly established as one of Dominican Republic’s must-play courses. Corales boasts one of golf’s most magni cent nishes; the last three holes, called the Devil’s Elbow, culminate in a striking, U-shaped 18th that plays around a narrow, bluff-edged bay. The course hosts the Web.com Tour’s rst tournament in Dominican Republic – the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship – in June each year in a deal set to run until at least 2018. Location: Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana Holes: 18 Par: 72 Yardage: 7,650 Designer: Tom Fazio www.puntacana.com
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TRAVELDEALS In association with Chaka Travel – Providing an expert service for 23 years
CASA DE CAMPO GOLFING HOLIDAY
ALL INCLUSIVE
Experience unlimited golf on 3 championship Caribbean courses with this 7 night All Inclusive golfing holiday to the Dominican Republic. This stunning 7,000-acre resort in La Romana in the Dominican Republic features impressive hotel rooms and suites, as well as spectacular villas with private pools in lavish settings – ideal for group gatherings and celebrations. All hotel and villa guests can explore the lush, tropical grounds on personal, complimentary golf carts included with their stay. And just beyond the shores, the secluded Catalina and Saona Islands await with even more hidden beaches and lush surroundings to discover.
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PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Flights from the UK with British Airways • Return airport transfers • 7 nights All Inclusive in a Pete Dye Golf Lodge Room • Unlimited golf at: Teeth of The Dog, Dye Fore & The Links • Shared cart & range balls included with the rounds
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GOLF PACKAGES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PACKAGE INCLUDES: Flights from Gatwick with British Airways Private Airport & Golf Transfers 7 nights on an all inclusive basis 4 rounds of golf with cart at La Cana, Corales, Punta Espada & Teeth of the Dog.
SANCTUARY CAP CANA ALL INCLUSIVE GOLF HOLIDAY This Caribbean golf holiday takes you to the Dominican Republic’s All Inclusive adults-only resort, Sanctuary Cap Cana. Stay 7 nights & enjoy 4 rounds of golf on 4 exotic & exciting golf courses
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PACKAGE INCLUDES: Premium Economy Flights with British Airways from London
TORTUGA BAY HOTEL PUNTACANA A Dominican Republic golf holiday at Tortuga Bay Hotel Punta Cana Resort & Club offers luxury, impeccable service & access to incredible golf courses. Being the only AAA Five Diamond Awarded property in the Dominican Republic, expect to be fully taken care of from the moment you touch down at Punta Cana international airport. 22
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Full Board with selected alcoholic beverages inc
Return private airport transfers
2 Rounds of golf at La Cana golf course
Junior Suite Ocean View room
2 Rounds of golf at Corales golf course
Golf Cart for use inside Resort
Bar service on the golf courses
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GOLF PACKAGES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana ALL INCLUSIVE WithFREE unlimited golf over 45-holes a vast selection restaurants and enjoyand UNLIMITED GOLF atof Cana Bay Golf Club WITH GOLF
and bars to choose from the Moon Palace has it all!
HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO PUNTA CANA
Thrilling gaming action in the biggest and best casino in the Caribbean, exhilarating nightlife, tantalizing culinary options, stateof-the-art facilities and rooms worth tweeting about, all infused with the legendary rock and roll vibe Hard Rock are famous for. Spacious. Indulgent. Decadent. From the moment you enter, you’ll immediately notice rock star touches like private balconies, Hydro Spa Tub, dual showers, plush bathrobes and slippers, and even your own liquor dispenser. From the music playing when you arrive until the evening turn-down service before you call it a night, major attention has been put into every minor detail to ensure your Hard Rock Hotel, Punta Cana vacation is worthy of a superstar.
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PACKAGE INCLUDES: Direct flights from London Private return airport transfers Unlimited golf at Cana Bay Golf Course Caribbean King Room Private return airport transfers
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TOURNAMENTS & ESCORTED HOLIDAYS WITH
JAQUES GOUS I
f you enjoy travelling as part of a group then look no further than our escorted golf tours or our fun and sociable golf tournaments.
Many of our amateur golf tournaments include tuition and are ideal for single golfers, couples and groups of friends. Nongolfers are also welcome and we will make sure they have an equally good time! Here are a number of good reasons to go on one of our tours or join one of our tournaments.
Jacques Gous Chaka Travel’s PGA Professional
South African born Jacques moved to the UK in 2000 and since then has worked as a PGA Professional in England. Since his path crossed with Chaka Travel in 2013 he has not looked back, in his own words “The guys at Chaka Travel has made my dream come true. They made it possible for me to take groups of golfers to some of the most beautiful locations and whilst playing golf with them and improving their golf through professional tuition”. Obviously South Africa was his first country to visit with a group and since then he has added more countries with groups joining him to Turkey, Mauritius and Spain 26
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Meet like-minded people and make lifelong friends Escorted golf holidays are suitable for everyone from solo travellers to couples, and because you’re joining a group of like-minded people with similar interests you’re very likely to make new friends and acquaintances. Benefit from having your own tour guide and improve your game Our guides are extremely knowledgeable about the areas where you’ll be staying, and will also be on hand to offer expert tuition and advice on improving your game during your stay. This means you’ll get a highly enjoyable social and cultural experience combined,
really providing the best of everything in a holiday whether you’re a golfer or not. Play stunning courses and visit exotic locations Our escorted group holidays take place in some of the most beautiful and intoxicating destinations in the world, so this could be the ideal opportunity to play some courses on your bucket list. Total flexibility Many people incorrectly assume that joining an escorted golf holiday means that their days and night are planned out in advance and that it takes more of a ‘school trip’ feel than a relaxing and luxurious holiday. This really couldn’t be further from the truth. ISSUE 7
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At Chaka Travel we pride ourselves on our open and friendly way of doing business, and we find that this attracts clients who share our values to create a group of people who want to travel, enjoy good food and wine and play on some of the best golf courses around the world. Sound like your kind of people? We thought so. Why not call us today to find out more on 028 9023 2112 ISSUE 7
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worldwide golf holiday experts for 24 years www.chakatravel.com
MEXICO
from £2,295 PP
MEXICO
from £1,545 PP
5* Fairmont Mayakoba & El Camaleón Golf
5* Moon Palace Resort
Complimentary golf club carriage Flights & transfers, play the El Camaleón Golf Course!
Unlimited golf at Moon Palace & Riviera Cancun Courses Flights, transfers & Children 17 & under stay and eat free!
10 nights All Inclusive
MAURITIUS
from £3,055 PP
5* Constance Belle Mare Plage
7 nights All Inclusive
SOUTH AFRICA
from £2,295 PP Fancourt & Capetown Classic Garden Route
12 nights Full Board Flights & transfers, green fess included on Links & Legend
10 nights Bed & Breakfast with 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses
RAS AL KHAIMAH
THAILAND
5* Waldorf Astoria
from £1,895 PP
7 nights Half Board with Unlimited Golf on Al Hamra Course Flights, transfers & driving range balls
Flights, transfers & hire car
Hua Hin Golf Holiday
from £2,695 PP
14 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf Flights, transfers & caddie included per golfer
ESCORTED GOLF TOURS
WITH OUR PGA PRO JACQUES GOUS If you enjoy travelling as part of a group then look no further than our fun and sociable escorted golf tours and tournaments. South Africa, Amazing golf courses, golf tuition from our Oman, Mauritius, PGA Pro Jacques and Brazil, Italy, incredible locations.
Bulgaria...
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