golf in sosua

I'm staying in Sosua the end of March and want to go golfing. Any suggestions on nearby courses - difficulty - prices? Should I bring my own clubs?

These are your three options for playing golf while visiting the North Coast. I have always seen golfers traveling with their clubs (why pay to rent?): Playa Dorada Golf Course Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata Tel. (809) 320-3344/320-4262 Fax 320-2773 YEAR OPENED: 1976 DESIGN CONSULTANT: Robert Trent Jones GOLF DIRECTOR/Pro: Guillermo Gómez COURSE OWNER: Central Bank of the Dominican Republic COURSE DESCRIPTION: Flat, conditioned course with exceptional greens surrounding the 15-hotel Playa Dorada resort complex PLAYING HOURS: 7 am to 5:30 pm LEAST TRAFFIC: Late afternoons RESERVATIONS: One week in advance NUMBER OF HOLES: 18 MOST CHALLENGING HOLE: 5, 17, 18 LENGTH OF COURSE: Blue 6,730, White 6,302, Red 6,909 yards COURSE PAR: 72 SLOPE RATING: White 68.6, Blue 71.6, Red 70.4 NON-PLAYA DORADA GREEN FEES: US$17/9 holes; US$30/18 holes COST OF CADDY: US$5/9 holes; US$9/18 holes (required) LESSONS: US$35/hr CART FEES: US$15/9 holes; US$23/18 holes CLUB RENTAL FEES: US$5/9 holes; US$9/18 holes OTHER FEATURES: Clubhouse, lockers, pro shop, bar, restaurant, putting green, driving range, memberships, national and international tournaments, Playa Dorada hotels golf packages available

Costa Azul Golf Carretera Sosúa-Cabarete Tel. (809) 571-2608 Fax (809) 571-2766 YEAR OPENED: 1990 DESIGN CONSULTANT: Ramón Pérez Bras GOLF DIRECTOR José Lantigua COURSE OWNER: Cabarete Golf Club COURSE DESCRIPTION: Flat, sprawling 45 acre golf course located between Cabarete beach and lagoon PLAYING HOURS: 7:30 am to 6 pm LEAST TRAFFIC: 8 to 10 am NUMBER OF HOLES: 9 MOST CHALLENGING HOLE: 3 LENGTH OF COURSE: 2,650 yards COURSE PAR: 33 NON-MEMBER GREEN FEES: US$10/9 holes; US$17/18 holes COST OF CADDY: US$3/9 holes; US$5/18 holes. LESSONS: US$22/hr OTHER FEATURES: Clubhouse, pro shop, bar, putting green, memberships

Playa Grande Golf Course Km. 9 Carretera Río San Juan-Cabrera Tel. (809) 223-0768/248-5313 Fax (809) 223-0767/248-5314 YEAR OPENED: 1997 DESIGN CONSULTANT: Robert Trent Jones GOLF DIRECTOR: Salvador Carcagno COURSE OWNER: Central Bank of the Dominican Republic COURSE DESCRIPTION: The "Pebble Beach" of the Caribbean, with 10 holes interacting with the Atlantic Ocean PLAYING HOURS: 7 am to 6 pm LEAST TRAFFIC: Afternoon hours RESERVATIONS: One day in advance NUMBER OF HOLES: 18 MOST CHALLENGING HOLE: 12 LENGTH OF COURSE: Blue 7,046, White 5,917, Red 4,488 COURSE PAR: 72 SLOPE RATING Blue 126-74.9, White 120-69.4, Red 111-66.7 NON-MEMBER GREEN FEES: US$47/18 holes COST OF CADDY: US$4/9 holes. US$7/18 holes (required) LESSONS: US$35/hr CART FEES: US$15/9 holes; US$23/18 holes CLUB RENTAL FEES: US$6/9 holes; US$10/18 holes. OTHER FEATURES: Clubhouse, lockers, pro shop, bar, restaurant, putting green, driving range, memberships, national and international tournaments, Caribbean Village Playa Grande golf packages available

We played the Playa Dorada course last week. It's quite nice. The ocean never comes into play which is too bad, but it's in very good shape and interesting enough. We always played nine holes as my wife is prego and it gets really really hot in the afternoon. The fees were 185RD ($18.50CDN) for 9 hole green fee 75RD for the caddy and we always tipped the caddy 150RD, which I think was a little higher than most (people said around 100rd for 9 holes). But they earned it. I wouldn't call it a tough course. We brought our clubs and were glad we did.