Caso de Campo: an exclusive invitation to luxury

DISCOVER ONE OF THE CARIBBEAN’S MOST SPECTACULAR AND LUXURIOUS RETREATS

Situated on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic in La Romana, the sprawling, 7,000-acre grounds of Casa de Campo are dotted with luxuries that include world-class golf, gourmet restaurants and a beach perched beside the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps the most indulgent of the attractions your clients will find here are a variety of private villas offered up as accommodations to truly discerning travelers.

The epitome of luxury and exclusivity, these are Casa de Campo’s finest villas. Exceptional locations include everything from lots beside the gorgeous Caribbean Sea, to marina or golf course views, to an estate tucked away in an exclusive enclave. Expect fine linens, luxury bath amenities, additional kitchen conveniences and extra touches, which might include a whirlpool and pool, children’s playground, waterfall, marble baths, built-in barbecue, gazebo, home theater, billiard table or lavish entertainment areas.

Villas designed to offer guests the sanctuary and exclusivity suitable for royalty. In fact, the inspiration behind the villas are derived from early Roman times. For those fortunate enough to afford a lifestyle of luxury. Each residence has its own unique personality, style and feel, offering impeccably designed interiors and exteriors, along with a private housekeeper and butler.

It’s your first morning at CASO de CAMPO and you awaken to a gorgeous view of the ocean that surrounds you, filling each day with the serenity and peace that only the sea can bring. If a workout is what is on deck as you begin your day, your very own complete gym is waiting. This gym has it all, including a treadmill, lifecycle and free weights.

The resort offers 50 private villa home accommodations, each fully staffed with patio, pool and gardens.

All Garden and Classic Villas feature:
• Living room, dining room and full kitchen
• Air-conditioned bedrooms with cable television and safe deposit box, private bath and hair dryer
• King bed in the master bedroom and two double beds in additional bedrooms
• Daily maid service and concierge service
• Two four-passenger golf carts
• Exclusive oceanfront villas feature
• Exclusive and Oceanfront Villas also feature all features of the Classic Villa, plus…
• The Resort’s finest villas with exceptional settings and additional conveniences
• Assigned maid service for 15 hours each day
• Excel Concierge service for all sports and restaurant reservations or other assistance
• Two golf carts and one intermediate size car

Once up and out the door, if a round of golf is what you are longing for, this is the golfers paradise! CASE de CAMPO features three Pete Dye Championship resort courses, including Teeth Of The Dog. The Sporting Life at Casa de Campo features world-class golf courses designed by internationally- renowned golf course architect and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Pete Dye, as well as the Casa de Campo Golf Academy. With 90 holes of awe-inspiring golf for hotel guests, including the legendary Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore courses, Casa de Campo offers a mix of play that is challenging for the highly skilled golfer, as well as the casual weekend player.

Ranked the No. 1 course in Latin America and No. 42 worldwide by Golf Magazine, Teeth of the Dog (7,471 yards) is the only course in the world with seven Caribbean-edged holes, also known as the “seven holes created by God,” says Dye. With a dream of transforming the jagged Dominican coastline into a course worthy of “The Caribbean’s Most Complete Resort” and the aide of 300 local laborers, he spent two years creating the masterpiece, which was completed in 1971. According to Dye, without heavy machinery to crack the coral along the Caribbean, the tireless Dominican crew used machetes, sledgehammers, pickaxes and chisels, all by hand, and were often cut when working on the course. They referred to the area as Dientes del Perro, or “Teeth of the Dog.”

Devilish doglegs, signature Dye obstacles, trade winds courtesy of Mother Nature and breathtaking Caribbean views captivate guests. The legendary course utilizes a unique mix of topsoil – a combination of sand, dirt and cachaza (an organic residue from the sugar refineries in the Dominican mountains) and fresh Bermuda grass on its 18 memorable holes.

Dye’s second creation at Casa de Campo in 1976 was Links, an authentic links-style course hauntingly reminiscent of the British Isles, which Dye originally referred as La Barranca or “the little hill.” The 7,003-yard Links course was recently revamped and re-opened for play in spring 2012, offering golfers a fresh experience with renovations ranging from new tees and added length on several existing ones, to redesigned holes, nearly 60 new or re-shaped bunkers and freshly planted paspalum greens. Situated inland and surrounded by the resort’s native mango and vibrant red flamboyant trees, Links requires accurate tee and approach shots, as tight fairways and small greens punctuate the challenging course. Water comes into play on five holes, and its undulating greens, tall Bahia and Guinea grass roughs and multiple sand traps keeps players on their toes.

The visually intimidating Dye Fore is Dye’s third resort course, which opened in 2002 with seven cliff- side holes dropping a staggering 300 feet to the Chavón River below, challenging players with up to 40 mph gusting winds. The 7,740-yard course is the first in the world from its conception to use saltwater irrigation, utilizing the readily available Caribbean to keep the manicured course in pristine shape. Many professionals and golf publications have deemed holes #12 and #15 as two of the greatest par-3s in the world. A total of 27 holes, Dye Fore consists of the Chavón Nine, overlooking the Chavón river, Dominican mountains (the highest peaks in the Caribbean) and Altos de Chavón artists’ village, Marina Nine, offering spectacular views of the sparkling Caribbean Sea and Casa de Campo Marina & Yacht Club and Lagos Nine, Dye’s newest nine holes which opened in July 2011.

Dye Fore Lagos spans the northwest side of Dye Fore with five holes sitting adjacent to four massive lakes, including the two par-3 holes, leaving only a sliver of saving greens running along the lake border. A flatter course than Dye Fore’s Chavón and Marina Nines, this nine-hole addition brings a different and fun dynamic to the resort rotation.

While experiencing the legendary Dye courses, players can also improve their game with lessons at the Casa de Campo Golf Academy. Through private and group lessons, Director of Golf Robert Birtel guarantees the highest level of service as he oversees all golf operations, activities and services, with a priority on enhancing the golf experience for all members and guests.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas – a member of The Leading Hotels of the World – attracts affluent travelers with the offering of spacious hotel rooms, suites and luxury villas. Expect gourmet cuisine and fine wines and spirits throughout the destination’s restaurants and bars, a 370-slip Marina & Yacht Club, Polo & Equestrian Club, Jim Courier Tennis Center and 245-acre Shooting Club. Spanning 7,000 tropical acres on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, this luxury Caribbean destination is also home to three of the game’s most difficult courses all designed by Pete Dye, including Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and The Links. Casa de Campo is also home to Altos de Chavón – an artisan’s village modeled after a 16 th century Mediterranean city with boutique shops, museums and a 5,000-seat Grecian-style amphitheater inaugurated by Frank Sinatra in August of 1982.

If Golfing is not on the itinerary and exploration is the theme for today, venture to ALTOS DE CHAVO’N. Perched on a plateau high above the sinuous Chavón River gorge is a magical place – the village of Altos de Chavón. Veiled in mists at dawn, at dusk illuminated by golden light, it is a place for art and artists, a center of education and culture and a landmark for the Dominican visitor and international tourist alike.

A bit of background: The first plan for the village was drawn up by Dominican architect José Antonio Caro, who designed Altos de Chavón’s church. But the now iconic look of Altos de Chavón was the work of a true master of design, Roberto Coppa, an Italian stage and cinema set designer. It’s thanks to him that Altos de Chavón recalls a 16th-century Mediterranean village. In the late 1970s, under Coppa’s direction, Dominican masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths handcrafted each stone and artistic detail to create this enchanting village.

At the center of Altos de Chavón is the St. Stanislaus Church, home to the ashes of Poland’s patron saint, a gift of Pope John Paul II. The plaza in front of this photogenic architectural gem is a popular spot for weddings. Climb the church bell tower for a view of the green hills in the distance and the gleaming river below, then descend and wander at your ease along the village’s cobblestone paths and vine-draped, multihued gardens.

Several of Chavón’s attractions are part of the Altos de Chavón Cultural Center Foundation, a United States not-for-profit entity dedicated to cultural and educational activities. One highlight, the Chavón School of Design, is a two-year, college-level program affiliated with New York’s Parsons School of Design. Another is Chavón’s Artists in Residence program, which welcomes national and international painters, designers, writers and musicians who reside and work in the village and sometimes teach at the school. The Altos de Chavón Gallery mounts individual and group exhibitions by invited artists, artists in residence and students from the School of Design. The Regional Museum of Archaeology is host to an excellent collection of artifacts dating from the original Taino culture to the arrival of the Spanish.

Visitors to Altos de Chavón have the opportunity to observe local artisans in the village’s three crafts workshops. The largest studio is dedicated to wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramic pieces that are decorative and utilitarian. Hand-loomed textiles are fabricated in the weaving studio, and in the silkscreen workshop, artists can have prints made of their original works. These studios proudly display the talent of the Dominican artisan.

Rounding out the Altos de Chavón experience, visitors can shop for locally made products, enjoy delectable international dining and attend festive entertainments.

Anyone wishing to take a something of the Dominican culture home with them will enjoy shopping at Chavón’s 10-plus boutiques, including Tienda Batey (charming embroidered children’s clothing), the Jenny Polanco Boutique (stylish and elegant clothing and gifts) and Everett Designs (handcrafted jewelry set with amber, larimar and other precious and semiprecious stones). Not to be missed is the amazing collection of jewelry and artifacts at the Amber Museum. And there’s so much more, something for every taste at every price.

Completing the picturesque cultural village is Chavón’s 5,000-seat amphitheater, inaugurated by Frank Sinatra in 1982. Over the years it has presented performances by such artists as Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Sting, Marc Anthony, Charles Aznavour, and Andrea Bocelli. Recently the amphitheater served as the backdrop to Alicia Keys’ “Karma” music video, where the star and her pink grand piano were on stage, front and center.

Let Altos de Chavón reveal its secrets and allure, and you’re sure to fall under the spell of its irresistible charms. As your tour of ALTOS DE CHAVON begins to wind down, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas offers several dining experiences to explore.

An array of tantalizing taste experiences are sure to please even the most discerning epicure. From dining in true Caribbean style and savoring classic Dominican Republic cuisine to fresh seafood, pasta, steaks and sushi creations, Casa de Campo offers all of the best flavors from around the world. With six resort restaurants on the Inclusive Supplement and another 14 from which to choose, it’s hard to decide whether the exotic flavors or breathtaking settings are more unforgettable.

Minitas Beach Club Restaurant
The Beach Club is based on Mediterranean and Latin culinary traditions, combining different elements for a vibrant and captivating experience. Additionally, the traditional a la carte menu and dish options are in “large format” for large groups. The chef’s specialties bring a dynamic element, delivering top- notch services.

Chilango Taqueria Restaurant
Chilango Taqueria is a fun, contemporary taqueria situated in Altos de Chavón. With a breathtaking location overlooking Plaza Chavón and the Church, this casual and affordable spot will be just right for a no-fuss meal with the big, bold flavors of authentic and traditional Mexican cuisine.

La Cana Restaurant & Lounge
Overlooking the pool terrace, La Cana offers outdoor and indoor seating accented by a local designer’s metalwork creations, including a chain mail chandelier surrounded by candlelit tables draped in crisp white linens. The Spanish chef, Jesús Guillen, came to Casa de Campo to bring his personalized flavors and recipes, keeping the menu fresh and innovative.

Lago Restaurant
Situated near the 18th hole of the Teeth of the Dog course and featuring views of the Caribbean Sea is the resort’s famous Lago Rest. Dine in an open-air, Swiss Family Robinson-style restaurant, shaded with thatched roofing made from Dominican palms. While choosing from the extensive buffet of made-to- order omelets, fresh vegetables, homemade baked goods, tropical fruits, salads, grilled entrees, fresh pastas, or fresh fruit smoothies, guests can also marvel at spectacular views of the famed Teeth of the Dog course and the Caribbean Sea. The 19th Hole at Dye Fore offers drinks and refreshments and is the ideal place to relax after a day on the greens with comfortable cabana-style seating.

Pubbelly Sushi
Located at La Marina, Pubbelly Sushi features Japanese-inspired fare, created by Jose Mendin, culinary director and founding partner of the Pubbelly Restaurant Group. Pubbelly Sushi at Casa de Campo leads guests on an edible tour of Asia. The eclectic menu features dishes like tuna pizza, with crispy tortilla, garlic aioli and truffle oil, and tostones con ceviche, featuring Hamachi, ginger soy, cilantro and red onion. With a neighborhood restaurant-style atmosphere, Pubbelly Sushi offers an open-minded and unexpected dining experience that appeals to every generation.

SBG
Featuring an exquisite international menu with a Mediterranean flair, Sophia’s Bar & Grill, or SBG, is a luxurious and elegant venue for a casual dinner, or an evening’s worth of entertainment. Dine by the pool, enjoying a chic and sophisticated vibe, with an occasional DJ appearance or live band.

La Casita
Located at the Casa de Campo Marina and established by local a Dominican family, La Casita Restaurant features succulent seafood specialties, such as Salmon Fresco a la Pimienta, fine Spanish cuisine, and authentic Dominican cuisine, including rosemary lamb chops and a variety of tapas, complemented by refreshing Caribbean cocktails and desserts. Guests can enjoy waterfront seating under the stars or relax in true Dominican style in the al fresco dining room. For a more romantic atmosphere, the exclusive “privacy pier” at La Casita can be reserved for one couple each night to feature candlelight dining for a romantic seaside meal under the stars.

La Piazzetta
Nestled among the coral buildings along the cobblestone streets of Altos de Chavón, La Piazzetta and its famed “antipasto bar” offer authentic Italian cuisine. Guests dine in the rustic, Mediterranean ambiance while enjoying the extensive wine list and serenades from strolling musicians. This restaurant also features the private “amore balcony” reserved for one couple each night La Piazzetta is the only restaurant at Altos de Chavón that is managed by the Casa de Campo Resort.

If the goal is to escape into a world that delivers dreamlike serenity, beautiful landscape and customized experiences exuding quality, elegance and luxury, CASA de CAMPO is the location for your lifestyle.

Other activities unique to CASA de CAMPO
• Tennis Center with 13 courts, 10 lighted, over 25 pros and junior pros on staff and ball boys/girls
• Equestrian & Polo Center with trail rides, lessons in English or western-style riding and jumping.
• Polo facilities are among the best in the Caribbean with matches played regularly from November to late April
• 245-acre Shooting Center, with more than 200 stations for trap, skeet, sporting clays, pigeon rings and a wild bird preserve
•Deep sea fishing, rated Top 10 in the Caribbean for blue marlin
• A full-service Casa de Campo Spa employs Ayurvedic techniques and local organic ingredients to detoxify, regenerate and renew.
• Fitness Center offers state-of-the-art fitness equipment, personal training services, and group classes
• Jogging Trail 3 miles/5 km

Family Pool Complex at Minitas Beach with boutiques, food trucks, an ice cream shop, 2 pools and ocean views
• Supervised children’s programs for ages 1-12, including activities and lunch or snacks, plus teen activities for ages 13-17
• Nannies available, trained in first aid/CPR and childcare
• Family Fun Zone, an entertainment center equipped with pool tables, games and computers