Bahia Principe’s La Romana Golf Club an oceanside beauty
By TIM BAINES
In a country that has some eye-popping beauty in its wonderful golf courses, the La Romana Golf Club is a rising star.
Fully opened in 2017, La Romana Golf Club has a bit of everything, including the awesomeness of oceanside holes that has elevated it to one of the best in the Dominican Republic. If you have ever played in the DR you will know that ocean holes have made it one of the top golf destinations in the world.
Executive Course at La Romana Golf Club
Located on property that has both the all-inclusive Grand Bahia Principe La Romana and its sister property Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville (an adults-only option), La Romana Golf Club is winning the hearts of people who tee it up there. Running alongside the Caribbean Sea, it’s a terrific test of golf, though not too difficult, generous fairways and large greens guide you through a beautiful and changing landscape.
“Every hole is different, because of the design itself,” said the golf course’s general manager Carlos de Linares Saez. “There’s parkland, desert, links and ocean holes.”
It is the ocean holes that elevate it to spectacular status. The seventh hole is a big ‘Welcome to the Caribbean’, with the ocean on the right side. On the Par 5 eighth hole, the waves crash into the rocks, playing an oceanic symphony. On the next hole, the ninth, the course converts to links golf. On 16, you are hitting into a Par 3 with the ocean as a postcard background. No. 18 is a wonderful hole, with a dogleg right as you stare down the clubhouse.
“In this region of the Dominican, there are five golf courses with sea holes,” said de Linares Saez. “There’s Corales, Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada, La Cana and ours.”
16th hole at La Romana
The resort isn’t just about golf. Once you get through the gate and into paradise, you’re treated with a huge helping of hospitality. Sometimes the way you’re treated is as important as the delicious food or the soothing powers of a sandy beach with waves crashing beneath your feet or a fun-filled foam party in the swimming pool.
The Grand Bahia Principe La Romana and the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville have everything in place to make sure you can have fun or just relax and shake off the winter blues with a huge dose of sunshine, but another thing they’ve got going for them: The people.
It’s hard to walk anywhere without being greeted with a smile and a “Hola.” It’s exactly what makes you feel at home, the kind of thing that makes you want to return – again and again.
A huge bonus for Canadians – the resort’s bars have Clamato in stock, and the bartenders are very good at making Bloody Caesars.
Unwind by the pool
The resort has plenty going for it along with the golf. A spa, an updated gym, a casino (with blackjack tables offering player’s $5 minimum bets) and a disco are among the crowd pleasers.
There are plenty of bar options, including in the pool, at the beach and in the lobby. There are buffets in the lobby or at the beach. In the Grand Bahia Principe, there are Italian, gourmet and Mediterranean a-la-cartes. In the adult-only side, there’s the Don Pablo Gourmet, the Brazilian (with grilled meat served tableside) and the Oriental – all serving up delicious food.
There are plenty of daytime activities, by the beach and pools – stuff like Spanish lessons, zumba, beach volleyball, cross fit, and salsa dancing.
And there’s a nightly entertainment calendar that includes a beach party and a Michael Jackson show that gets rave reviews.
The hotel is outside of La Romana, a bit more than an hour away from the airport in Punta Cana and about 100 km or just over 60 miles from Santa Domingo. So you have choices of where to fly in and out of. The popular city of La Romana is also just 30 km to the west of the resort.
Have some fun on the beach
While here make sure that you leave some time to check out the charming Mediterranean village Altos de Chavon, small, historic, founded in the 16th century.
The Bahia Principe group which includes the Riviera Maya Golf Club on the Mayan Riviera (Cancun area) has some sweet deals on golf valid through the end of April.
- 7 Days Unlimited Golf – $488.00 US
- 5 Rounds – $372.00 US
- 3Rounds – $237.00
Complete details can be found at www.bahiaprincipegolf.com.
