--- title: "Pete Dye’s ‘Heaven 7’ on Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog®" url: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/blog/2019/11/30/pete-dye-heaven-7-on-casa-de-campo/ date: 2019-11-30 modified: 2026-09-02 lang: en author: "Gitti" description: "What happens when the greatest golf course architect in the modern era plies his considerable imagination and skill on one of the most beautiful spots on Earth? Well, you get..." categories: - "Blog" image: https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/teeth-of-the-dog-golf-47.jpg word_count: 671 --- # Pete Dye’s ‘Heaven 7’ on Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog® ## Key Takeaways - Pete Dye calls Teeth of the Dog® his “best course,” and the layout features seven dramatic ocean holes that he describes as “Heaven 7.” - Teeth of the Dog® opens with four inland holes, then shifts seaside at No. 5, where the ocean holes run Nos. 5-8 and 15-17. - The 174-yard 5th hole stands against a rock wall, uses a peninsula green, and is one of the most photographed holes in the world. - Teeth of the Dog® is widely recognized as the No. 1 course in the Caribbean and top 40 in the world, according to the post. What happens when the greatest golf course architect in the modern era plies his considerable imagination and skill on one of the most beautiful spots on Earth? Well, you get one of the special places to play the ancient game of golf at Pete Dye’s glorious Teeth of the Dog® layout. Even with his 50-plus year resume featuring sparkling gems like Harbour Town Golf Links, the Ocean Course at Kiawah, TPC Sawgrass, PGA West and Whistling Straits, the maestro himself calls Teeth of the Dog® his “best course.” How’s that for high praise? "The opportunity to carve out Teeth of the Dog® was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Dye wrote in his book, “Bury Me in a Pot Bunker.” Why so good? Well, with seven dramatic holes hugging the craggy coral formations rising out of the azure Caribbean Sea, the golf is thrilling. The ocean holes, Nos. 5 - 8 and 15 - 17 are as scenic and challenging as the famous oceanfront seven at Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula. However, Mr. Dye doesn’t take full credit for his creation of the “Heaven 7” on Teeth of the Dog® , giving a “co-designer” tribute to a higher power. Dye famously quipped, “I created 11 holes and God created seven.” Dye allows the player to get acquainted with the proceedings as the first four holes are inland and solid with teases of his hallmark traits living in harmony with island life: waste areas flanking fairways, bunkers exactly where your ball seems to want to travel, lush tropical vegetation swaying in the trade winds and tricky sloped greens providing all the challenge one would want with the flatstick. **![Teeth of the Dog® , Casa de Campo Resort & Villas](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/teeth-of-the-dog-golf-15.jpg)** Though all 11 of the inland holes are first-rate to the nth degree, Teeth of the Dog® really presents its winning argument on why it’s widely recognized as the No. 1 course in the Caribbean and top 40 in the world with the Heaven 7. It all becomes apparent as we get seaside for No. 5 with the serene tropical sky and ocean expanse forming the mesmerizing horizon. You know immediately you’re playing somewhere special. Few par 3s anywhere are as magnificent as the 174-yard 5th, which demonstrates in spades why the course is so acclaimed. This jewel of a hole isn’t camera shy as it’s become one of the most photographed in the world. It’s also the epitome of why playing Teeth is as “must play” as they come. Take a moment to savor the seascape before getting to the business of what Dye and Mother Nature have in store, golf wise. The tee-box is hard against a rock wall standing guard against the unrelenting pounding of the surf while the peninsula green boldly juts out into the sea. Despite the idyllic setting, menace lurks most everywhere especially as a pretty little cove swallows up most anything hit short and the ocean at large is ready to devour shots struck to the left. A semi-circle bunker flanks the raised putting surface front and left, while a ball-swatting tree rudely guards the right corridor should one think an inland route away from the drink might be prudent. It really isn’t, as the downhill pitch shot is next to impossible to stop. Thankfully the aforementioned bunker prevents the ball from becoming waterlogged. Throw in the vexing sea breeze and it’s all the golf one would want. The 5th is so perfectly good, you just can’t wait to play it again, but the course still has six more oceanside holes of the “Heaven 7” remaining, each one every bit as fun and dramatic and thrilling to play. And on it goes at Teeth of the Dog® , just one grand hole after another working in tandem to form the tapestry of this masterpiece. You only need to play Teeth of the Dog® once to concur with Mr. Dye. Yes, this may well be his best course. **![Teeth of the Dog® Golf Course at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in the Dominican Republic](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/teeth-of-the-dog-golf-49.jpg)**   Review our different [packages and promotions](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/vacation-packages-offers/) and get ready to book your golf experience today.           ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Why is the 5th hole on Teeth of the Dog® so famous?** A: The 5th hole stands out because it is a 174-yard par 3 with a peninsula green that pushes out into the sea. That setup makes the hole both scenic and unforgiving, since short shots can disappear into a cove and left misses are exposed to the ocean. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo uses this hole as the clearest example of why Teeth of the Dog® is so highly regarded. **Q: What are the Heaven 7 holes at Teeth of the Dog®?** A: The Heaven 7 are the seven seaside holes on Teeth of the Dog®: Nos. 5 through 8 and 15 through 17. Those holes are the course’s defining stretch because they hug coral formations above the Caribbean Sea and combine ocean views with real shot-making pressure. That is why the blog treats them as the part that separates Teeth of the Dog® from an already strong inland routing. **Q: Is Teeth of the Dog® really Pete Dye’s best course?** A: Pete Dye called Teeth of the Dog® his “best course,” which is a strong statement given his resume includes Harbour Town Golf Links, the Ocean Course at Kiawah, TPC Sawgrass, PGA West and Whistling Straits. The blog backs up that opinion by pointing to how the inland holes build toward a dramatic seaside finish. Casa de Campo, Casa De Campo, Casadecampo frames that claim around both design quality and setting. **Q: What makes the ocean holes at Teeth of the Dog® so hard to play?** A: The ocean holes are difficult because beauty and danger sit side by side. The tee on No. 5 sits against a rock wall, a cove swallows shots hit short, and the ocean punishes anything left. Add a semi-circle bunker, a tree guarding the right side, and a tricky sea breeze, and even a short par 3 becomes a precise target test rather than a simple scenic stop. **Q: How do I plan a golf trip around Teeth of the Dog®?** A: The practical move is to pair your round with Casa de Campo’s [packages and promotions](https://www.casadecampo.com.do/vacation-packages-offers/) so you can book the golf experience in one place. The blog closes by pointing readers toward those offers after describing Teeth of the Dog® as a course worth playing once just to understand its reputation. That makes it clear this is meant as part of a full resort golf trip, not just a standalone tee time.