Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/739845
B est guess is about 700 years ago, somewhere in Scotland when a couple of windswept and rain- soaked farmers inverted their crooks and knocked sheep dung into sandy rabbit holes. Not very romantic. Those early Scottish golfers would flip their kilts if they could see how the game has been transformed, especially in the Caribbean, home to more than 50 of the world's most stunning layouts. Courses in the Caribbean wind past jumbles of jas- mine, through dense jungles, along sugar-white beaches edged in blue, blue seas, and all bathed in soothing sunshine. There are plenty of idyllic islands and courses from which to choose. Here are some of the best. DOMINICAN DELIGHT For a small spot, the Dominican Republic is a big-time player in the golf world. There are more than 20 courses sprinkled across the country. The ominous sounding Teeth of the Dog course at the Casa de Campo resort is considered one of the best warm-weather layouts in the world. For pure looks though, it's hard to beat the Punta Espada course at the Cap Cana resort on the eastern edge of the country. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course bends down to the edge of the Caribbean Sea, with white water spraying up across the jagged coral coastline. Make sure to have a chat with your caddie during the round. My caddie, Melvin, was a big fan of the Blue Jays, especially slugger Edwin Encarnacion, a proud Dominican. However, even with the recent changes, Melvin wasn't so sure about the Maple Leafs' chances this year. A CANADIAN CONNECTION Toronto golf course architect Tom McBroom has laid out golf courses from China to Fin- land. (He got the design job in Helsinki after meeting some golf-mad Finns at one of his son's hockey tournaments.) His prettiest project though is Royal St. Kitts, which made its debut in October 2004 and is part of a Marriott hotel and casino complex, which is perched above the beach. Stretching over 6,900 yards from the tips, the course runs east to the water and then north toward the island's mountain range, rising up through DREAMSCAPES FALL/ WINTER 2016 50 BY IAN CRUICKSHANK CARIBBEAN CRUSH NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE WHEN AND WHERE GOLF WAS INVENTED.