Special Post – Golfing at Playa Grande Resort

Not sure how to describe the golf experience Mo, Garrett and Matt had but hopefully a few brief sentences and a bunch of pictures will do the trick.

Imagine you’re at a bar and you strike up a conversation with a stranger that leads to discussing everything from politics and war to women and sports.  Before you know it you do a 151 shot and you agree to a round of golf with the new friend, not thinking it’ll actually happen.  That’s how it started. 

After going to bed only hours before, we took the leap of faith and woke up at 7am to meet our new friend Senor Robert.  We figured it’d be a 50-50 shot he’d show, but when we got downstairs he was there waiting.  What ensued is arguably one of the greatest rounds of golf of our lives.

Senor Robert, Matt, Mo and Garrett were all smiles

When you drive through the Playa Grande Golf Resort gates the views of the endless cliffs with pristine turquoise water crashing against the rocks immediately strike you.   The course is designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, the same designer of Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach, California.  In fact, the course is often referred to as the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean. 

The views made looking for your lost ball not nearly as depressing

Garrett takes in the pristine views from the fairway

We teed off around 8:30am and after a few holes of mostly staring at the views and not paying attention to our golf game, we noticed we were the only ones on the course.   Our caddies kept us on track and treated us like professionals by recommending clubs, providing distances, cleaning…and finding…our balls, lining up our putts, etc.

Matt found himself in the rough throughout the day...

Mo sets up his putt against a postcard-like backdrop

Several holes, such as this one, called for a cross-canyon tee shot

We were the only golfers on the course so we stopped to take photos whenever possible

Be sure not to hook it or you'll be swimming with the fishes

Mo lines up one of his handful of birdie putts - he birdied two holes on the day

Matt toes the edge of one of the many Playa Grande cliffs

Garrett and Matt enjoy one of the many picturesque scenes

Garrett tees off with the beautiful Playa Grande in the background

The views continued to get better on each hole and peaked on the 13^th where the green over looked the famous Playa Grande beach, considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world.  Again, we took note that still no one else had teed off and we had the entire world-class golf course to ourselves like we were playing in our own backyard. 

The view of Playa Grande beach from the 13th green

The boys were on cloud nine the whole round

We picked up a few words and learned a few lessons throughout the round such as:

* Gorilla Grande – A big dude who hits the ball a long way; Mo and Garrett were referenced as a Gorilla Grandes on several occasions

* Dominican Gimme – Gimmes in the Dominican are an extra club length

* Putter – Putter in Spanish is Putter

* Mierda – Literally translates to ‘shit’ and was used by the caddies after Matt teed off saying “en la mierda otro vez” or 'in the shit again'

* Dame Gasolina – What you say when you hit a putt short as if it ran out of gas

* Luna – When you hit a ball sky high off the tee

We wrapped up the round in the early afternoon on Tuesday and we are still on a high from the experience.  Huge, huge thanks to Senor Robert for hosting us on an absolutely phenomenal experience and adding such an invaluable excursion to our trip.