GOLF @BAVARO RESORT COURSE

I AM GOING TO BAVARO RESORT THE WEEK OF 11-06-99. NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON THE COURSE. CLUB RENTALS? CADDIES? WALKING?

NAME: Golf de Bávaro LOCATION: Bávaro, La Altagracia province (Barceló Bávaro resorts complex) TEL/FAX: Tel. (809) 686-5797 Fax (809) 686-5711 EMAIL: bavaro@codetel.net.do YEAR OPENED: 1991 NUMBER OF HOLES: 18 holes DESIGN CONSULTANT: Juan Manuel Gordillo GOLF DIRECTOR Vicinio Moya GOLF MANAGER: Tomás Mercedes COURSE OWNER: Barceló Bávaro COURSE DESCRIPTION: 18 hole course alternating holes surrounded by vegetation with others bordering lakes. Wind comes into play on this par 72 course which is part of the Barceló Bávaro Resort complex, consisting of five properties run by a Spanish hotel chain. This course is flat, very playable, usually in excellent conditionand built with the enjoyment of the resort tourist in mind. PLAYING HOURS: 7 am to 5:30 pm LEAST TRAFFIC: Afternoons RESERVATIONS: 24 hours in advance NUMBER OF HOLES: 18 MOST CHALLENGING HOLE: 4, 9, 12, 15 LENGTH OF COURSE: 6,376 yards COURSE PAR: 72 SLOPE RATING Blue 145-73.5 White 138-72.1 Red 137-74 GREEN FEES: US$60/18 holes; US$48/9 holes LESSONS: US$50/hr; US$35-1/2hr CART FEES: US$30/9 holes; US$40/18 holes CLUB RENTAL FEES: US$30/18 holes; US$20/9 holes. OTHER FEATURES: Clubhouse, lockers, pro shop, bar, restaurant, putting green, driving range, memberships, national and international tournaments, Barceló Bávaro hotels golf packages available

DR1 Message Board reader review on the Bavaro Golf Course: Overall, the Bavaro Golf Course is described as "very difficult". Note that card and yardage markers are in meters and if you are used to getting good yardage you have to convert in your head. Although the golf course is mostly inland enough to diminish the wind, it can be a definite factor. Note that you need to have a 30 handicap in order to "qualify" to play at BBGC. This is not a course to go to to learn the game. It is very difficult and an inexperienced player could easily loose more than a dozen balls in one round. About half the holes have water in play and on the rest of the holes if you miss the relatively ample fairways, you will not find your ball in the "jungle".

Nearly all the greens are elevated about 3-4' above the otherwise flat terrain and often feature bunker(s) in front of the green and sometimes bunker(s) hidden behind. sometimes the green between the front and rear bunkers is no more the 20' deep. This is a very demanding pin placement. The greens are relatively small to moderate sized and moderately contoured. There are many bunkers (fairway and greenside) and they are inconsistent in the type and amount of sand in them (to be expected in the Caribbean.)

Mike,

A response I made to an earlier question:

If the golf course is the same as the one associated with the Barcelo Bavaro Complex, I can give you some insight. I have also played the course at Jack Tar in P. Plata. I'd say similar conditioning, although from my memory (4 years ago at P.Plata) the Punta Cana course had fewer ugly areas. green speeds are probably similar. The course at P.Cana seemed to have been designed by someone (a Spaniard) with more of an ego than the P. Plata course (RT Jones - I know its hard to believe). Anyway. the P. Cana course is much more difficult, longer and with probably nearly twice as many bunkers and water hazards. There were no caddies (as at P.Plata) and you must take a cart (which is not included in the all-inclusive at the Barcelo resorts), although the course is very flat and could easily be walked. Many of the bunkers didn't have enough sand and some of the greens had narrow tongues of green that were protected front and back by deep bunkers. Although it tends to be windy at P. Cana in the winter, the wind disapates alot as you go inland, and the wind was never a big enough factor to make it a big problem. The tees were small and nearly all in very bad condition.

Having played several Carribean courses, my advice always is "don't even think about improving your game or shooting your best score ever. Do whatever you have to do to have a good time, generous prefered lies everywhere - even bunkers, and don't keep score - just have fun."

Marv

The person who responded above this message (Marv) was whom contributed the review on Barceló Bavaro golf course that we included in our post.