Playa Grande Golf And Ocean Club

Fully Renovated Playa Grande Golf Course Unveiled At Amanera Resort

Oceanside golf course at Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic, integrated within Aman’s newest property, Amanera, features what is arguably one of the finest finishes in the game of golf

Playa Grande Golf Course in the Dominican Republic hole number 16 par 4 in foreground and hole number 17 green par 3 in the far right on the point.

Leading residential resort developer, Dolphin Capital, today announces the opening of its latest project, the Amanera resort, to include the fully renovated Playa Grande Golf Course and the latest Aman hotel, Amanera. As the centerpiece of the new resort, the exclusive 18-hole, par-72 course will make Amanera the first fully integrated Aman resort -- with both golf and residences -- in the world.

Overlooking the crescent-shaped Playa Grande Beach, regarded as one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the Caribbean, the Playa Grande Golf Course is distinctly characterized by long vistas, cliff-side fairways and meticulously contoured greens. Ten holes play directly on the ocean, the most of any golf course in the Western Hemisphere, giving it an elite distinction within the international golfing community.

Spanning more than 180 acres (approximately 73 hectares) along the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, part of what is widely known as the ‘Green Coast,’ the course features a total of six sets of tees, allowing guests to play from 5,230 yards on forward tees to 7,259 yards from championship tees. Originally designed in 1995 by golf legend Robert Trent Jones, Sr., it has since been extensively revived by his son, famed golf course architect Rees Jones. It was the last golf course Jones ever created outside the United States before Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s passing in 2000.

“With Rees Jones and his renowned team behind the redesign, coupled with its unique ocean-side location and challenging holes, this course is going to be a natural draw for international golf enthusiasts,” said Katerina Katopis, Director at Dolphin Capital.

“There is rich history behind the foundation of this golf course, thanks to my father’s vision and the legacy he built beneath it,” says Rees Jones, who has designed or redesigned more than 170 courses throughout the span of his career so far. “It has been an honor to work meticulously in tandem with Dolphin Capital to essentially revive and enhance what was originally a dramatically routed course by my father. We were given a unique opportunity to create an even more dramatic routing and breathe life into a design that will ultimately be enjoyed for generations to come on an international scale.”

The Playa Grande Golf Course has been designed to offer players a balanced experience, with both the front and back nine featuring a mix of holes running along the cliffs. The gently rolling landscape – providing natural undulations, ideal for golf – are accented by wide fairways, meticulously contoured greens and Rees Jones’ signature wind swept coastal style bunkers. Adding to its distinctive qualities, the course features what is being labeled as one of the finest finishes in the game of golf – which includes the dog-leg right par-5 on the 14th hole that allows golfers to finish on the cliff’s edge overlooking the beach, resort and ocean. From there, the final four holes play along the rocky cliffs -- high above the ocean. The final hole is a risk/reward par-5 – which requires the player to choose a shot from one cliff to another and over a cove of water in order to reach the green in two or take the safer three shot route around the ocean.

Led by PGA professional Julio Santos -- who was born in the Dominican Republic and is known today as one of the country’s most respected golf professionals and teachers -- the staff at Playa Grande Golf Course will offer a full program of instruction for all ages and levels of play, honoring the traditions and decorum of golf while making the game accessible to new and young players. Instruction includes large on-practice putting greens, a practice fairway and short game area.

Amanera, designed by award-winning architect John Heah, stretches over more than 2,000 acres (810 hectares) of virtually untouched land and Atlantic seacoast, comprising verdant peaks and a lush jungle terrain with centuries-old trees and royal palms. A limited number of branded residences are available for purchase, the Amanera Villas, and range from two to six bedrooms. Tucked away within their own private enclave along the Playa Grande Golf Course and with magnificent ocean views, the amenity-rich homes are adjacent to the resort and managed by Aman. Here, residents will benefit from all resort amenities, including the golf course and informal beach club, Club de Playa.

The Dominican Republic is accessible from major international cities, including Miami, New York, Puerto Rico, London and Frankfurt, among others.