Where Is Latin America and the Caribbean’s Best Golf Destination?

The Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana is among the many top golf courses in the DR.

News Americas, SANTO DOMINGO, DR, Thurs. Oct. 15, 2015: Take a wild guess where the best destination to golf in the Caribbean and Latin America is?

The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) recently awarded the title to a top Caribbean tourism destination.

The IAGTO “Best Golf Destination of Latin America and the Caribbean 2016,” award went to the Dominican Republic in recognition of the 28 internationally renowned courses that the country calls its own.

Dominican Republic is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular golf courses in the world designed by legends such as Pete Dye, PB Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio and Nick Faldo. It boasts 28 courses of the highest standards of design and friendly services of five-star quality. Among these are Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana, La Cana at Puntacana Resort & Club, Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore at Casa de Campo, each featuring stunning views and unique challenges carefully crafted by the best designers in the golf world.

Golf tourism’s contribution to the Dominican economy is estimated at over $200 million annually – a figure that is projected to increase over the next year, according to a study by IAGTO North America. In 2014, this same study revealed the growth of this niche market was 10 percent – an arrival of more than 140,000 golfers who visited the Dominican Republic only to play golf.

This is the third time that the Dominican Republic has been recognized by IAGTO as an exceptional destination for the sport, with its magnificent golf courses bordering the Caribbean Sea where golfers can enjoy both facilities of the highest caliber and a warm climate that allows for a unique and challenging play experience.

“Dominican Republic is delighted to receive this award once again from such a prestigious organization,” said Isabel Vasquez, director of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) for the Iberian Peninsula. “This award speaks to our unrelenting commitment to provide both the infrastructure and first class services in our hotels and golf courses in order to maintain the loyalty and happiness of those who choose to visit us, allowing us to reinforce our position as the Golf Capital of the Caribbean with 28 internationally-recognized courses – the largest offerings in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.”