The first week of last November the five winners of the final of the Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit, Destino La Romana Golf Club/Bahía Principe, traveled to the Dominican Republic, where for a week they enjoyed the charms and golf of this Caribbean country, which has become one of the most attractive destinations in South America for golf enthusiasts.
The Circuit was played from May to August at RCG Guadalhorce, San Roque Club (Old Course), RCG Sotogrande, RC Valderrama, La Reserva de Sotogrande, Flamingos (Villa Padierna) and Valle Romano, and the grand final was played at RCG Guadalmina (South Course).
The winners of the trip to the Caribbean were the two best classified in the first and second categories and the scratch winner of the competition played at the aforementioned Marbella course, for which the top five, also in each category, had previously qualified in the tournaments held previously.
The winners of the trip to the Dominican Republic were, in first category, Pedro Antonio Corral Pedruzo and Juan David Carretero Castillo; Francisco López Castro and Rafael Rubio Lacambra in second category, and Santiago Gutierrez Duque, scratch. The prize consisted of a one-week trip with an all-inclusive stay and four days of golf at three of the best golf courses on the island.
The host hotel was the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville, a five-star luxury hotel located in the Nueva Romana macro-urbanization, halfway between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. This resort has another hotel and a golf course that opened just over a year ago, the La Romana Golf Club.
In spite of being a new course, La Romana Golf Club surprised everyone very positively for its design and maintenance. The general comments were very complimentary about this course, which has three very different areas and several holes bathed by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
In addition to this course, where two days were played, two other rounds were played at two of the possibly best Dominican courses, which is almost like saying of the Caribbean: Punta Espada, in Cap Cana, and Teeth of the Dog, in Casa de Campo (La Romana). The rounds left those who did not know them, but had heard of them, with their mouths wide open.
The winners of the Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit did not travel alone to the Dominican Republic, since, in addition to their partners, they were accompanied by the editors of Andalucía Golf/España Golf, Stefan Tjellander and Antonio Sánchez, as well as a large group of golf players who decided to join this incredible trip of relaxation and golf. In total the group was made up of twenty-two people, who undoubtedly had a short week on the island.
Despite the four days of scheduled golf, there was also time to make “sea” excursions, enjoy the beaches and visit the country’s capital, Santo Domingo, a city with the first cathedral built in the New World, and a very well preserved “colonial zone”.
From Andalucía Golf/España Golf we would like to thank you very much for your support. The magnificent Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville Luxury Bahia Principe Hotel, which, like the entire resort, including the La Romana Golf Club golf course, belongs to Grupo Piñero, one of the leading hotel chains in the Caribbean, gave us an excellent welcome and reception. Our special thanks to Vanessa Vignali, corporate director of Bahia Principe Golf.
In 2019 the final prize of the Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit will be a similar trip, but in this case to the Mexican Caribbean, where Grupo Piñero also has spectacular hotels and a first-class golf course: Riviera Maya Golf Club.
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PEDRO ANTONIO CORRAL
“It has been an incredible experience, very good. I really wanted to come here to play golf, and with your help I’m finally here. I have had a wonderful time. The courses are magnificent and the Bahia Principe resort is perfect: unbeatable service, spacious and luxurious rooms, and also next to a spectacular beach”.
“I already knew the Punta Espada and Diente de Perro courses by reference and I knew they were very good. The one that has surprised me very pleasantly has been La Romana Golf Club. I did not expect this level. Sincerely, it is highly recommended. I will include it in my itinerary when I come back here, which I hope will be soon”.
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RAFAEL RUBIO LACAMBRA
“This award in the Dominican Republic has turned out to be far beyond my expectations. And not only for what we have experienced: playing on spectacular courses, a first class resort, but also for the group that has been formed. I leave with new and good friends. The treatment has been incredible… everything in general. As soon as I can I will come back to repeat this trip because it was not enough. The courses are the best I have ever played in my life. It has been a dream for me to have played them.
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JUAN DAVID CARRETERO CASTILLO
“Above all I would like to thank Andalucía Golf/España Golf for the trip you have offered us: an incredible hotel and first class courses. Everything was spectacular and the golf was better than ever. La Romana Golf Club is a dream. It is a young course, but it is, without a doubt, at the level of the best in the Dominican Republic. And what can I say about Punta Espada and Dientes de Perro? They are unmatched. I honestly hadn’t played on courses of this category.”
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SANTIAGO GUTIÉRREZ DUQUE
“For me the whole trip has been a very pleasant surprise. The group that has been formed has been magnificent: I have to thank Antonio Sánchez, from Andalucía Golf/España Golf, for being attentive to everything and everyone at all times, making our stay easier. Even though there were many of us, everything worked like clockwork. I have let myself go as I have rarely done, and it has been very relaxing and rewarding.
I found the resort to be very complete, with all kinds of facilities: themed restaurants, quiet pools and other more lively ones (to choose from), spa, casino…. What more could you ask for! I am very happy with my trip. I would especially highlight the kindness of the treatment we have been given by all employees of the hotel and the camps.
About the courses we have played, what can I say? If you ask me which one has been the best for me, I would not know how to answer. I wouldn’t know how to choose between one or the other: they are all spectacular, three great courses, in terms of location, design, maintenance, service? A spectacular trip.
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FRANCISCO LÓPEZ CASTRO
“I have been playing golf for a long time and this has been by far the best prize I have ever won in my life. I want, of course, to thank Andalucía Golf/España Golf for this great trip that my wife, Sandra, has enjoyed as much or more than me.
She has already “threatened” me that she will be the one to win the next Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit, which is fine with me because I will be able to go as a “companion”.
I already knew, in one way or another, Punta Espada and Dientes de Perro, what I did not expect was La Romana Golf Club. It has far exceeded my expectations. The holes by the sea, above all, I found them impressive and beautiful. It has been a spectacular week. I hope to be part of next year’s expedition. I will never forget this trip.
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