Cocotal Golf and Country Club presented by Golf in the Dominican Republic:
Cocotal Golf Course is a nice park type golf course that is set as the centerpiece of a housing project/resort. The golf course also serves the guest of primarily the Melia resort situated between the golf course and the beach. The Cocotal Golf Course consists of 27 holes. The Cocotal Golf Course consists of 3 nine hole loops named Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and Benjamina. The longest playing up to 3905 yards and the shortest 2563 yards depending on chosen tee. Suits players at most levels.
The majority of players will find this to be a nice course however it will have a tough time being named as a great course. Obstacles on the course being mainly trees along both sides of the fairway and out of bounds if your golf ball gets to close to the housing projects. What can also be regarded as an obstacle is the many build in slopes that often gives an awkward lie and stance. Normally kept in very good maintenance standard. Often busy in high season due to it's location in Bávaro and close to several big beach resorts. Photos from Bougainvillea hole 6 and 9 gives a good picture of what the majority of holes looks like.
The Cocotal Golf and County Club was designed by
José “Pepe” Gancedo and opened in 2000.
Hole by hole description
Hibiscus which plays between 2563 and 3380 yards depending on chosen tee box.
Hole 1 at Cocotal Golf Course: Short par 4 where focus should be on hitting the fairway more then getting length as most players can reach the green with to short hits. There is water en 3 sides of the green – left, right and rear. But the player properly wont notice until leaving the hole as there is plenty on room and most of the water is hidden behind bushes and trees.
Hole 2 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 3 hole guarded by a lake along the length of the hole on the right hand side. Depending on chosen tee box and pin placement this can be a difficult tee shot. A shot aimed at the left side of the green is to be regarded playing safe. Bunkers to the rear left if you overshot the tee shot.
Hole 3 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 5 with wide fairway where most players standing on the tee will be think “Plenty of room! I gotta kill this!”. And since there is plenty of room go for it! However most players properly wont be able to make it in two. Obstacles found on this hole are some bushes and palm trees along the hole. When you get to the green you will find a green that is well guarded by bunkers. However it is a big green so aim for the center and you should be fine.
Hole 4 at Cocotal Golf Course: A par 4 hole that will seem long due to the fact that it is narrow forcing most players to ease of on the big one. Bushes and palm trees along the hole. Green guarded by a bunker.
Hole 5 at Cocotal Golf Course: Tricky medium long par 3 hole where the green is guarded by a number of bunkers. Bushes and palm trees along the hole.
Hole 6 at Cocotal Golf Course: Long par 4 where you need some distance from the tee box to get to a wider section of the fairway. Bushes and palm trees along the hole.
Hole 7 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 5 hole where most players should be regarding as a chance to get a good score. Fairway a bit more narrow then on the third hole but still enough room. The approach shot is a bit tricky as the green is sitting up a bit as well as being guarded by bunkers. This makes it tough to see area that you should be aiming for. However trust your shot as there is enough green to hit.
Hole 8 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 4 dogleg right with one of the more difficult tee shots on the Cocotal Golf Course. You need some length from the tee but still the dogleg makes it a narrow drive as an aim a bit to far left will make your golf ball role through and an aim to far right will get the golf ball caught in trees and bushes. The green is guarded by bunkers both left and right. A par on this hole is a good score.
Hole 9 at Cocotal Golf Course: Short par 4 where some players will be taking a swing at the green from the tee box. Be aware of the housing projects on the right that is marked as out of bounds. They are closer then what appears to be the case. A lot of golf balls get sliced out into the OB area. Bunkers guard the green.
Bougainvillea being the longest 9 hole loop playing from 3149 to 3905 yards depending on chosen tee box.
Hole 1 at Cocotal Golf Course: Long but straight par 5 with one of the wider fairways on the Cocotal Golf Course. Once again beware of the bushes and palm trees that you find down both sides of the hole. If you have the distance this is a fairly easy par 5. If you lack distance plan from the tee to use an extra getting there.
Hole 2 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 4 with fairly simple drive. There is an upwards slope going to the green which can make it a tricky shot to the green. Green in different plateaus so make an effort choosing the club.
Hole 3 at Cocotal Golf Course: One of the more narrow played holes where especially right hand players with a tendency to slice should be careful when driving as the OB on the right hand side is close. Bunker guarding the green to the front left.
Hole 4 at Cocotal Golf Course: Fairly long par 3 where the green is guarded well by bunkers. A difficult green to hit from the tee which makes a par a good score.
Hole 5 at Cocotal Golf Course: Another straight par 4 with a fairly simple drive. However if you have the skill try to place the golf ball center or right fairway as this makes for an easier approach shot. Green is guarded by big bunkers both left and right.
Hole 6 at Cocotal Golf Course: Long par 4 with built in slopes in the fairway especially on the right hand side as the green is approached. Once you make the green your trouble should be over.
Hole 7 at Cocotal Golf Course: Finally a hole that deviates from most of the other holes. A long par 3 with a lake down the left side of the hole makes this a difficult green to make. Bunker guarding the green to left. You will also find this to be a rather slopy green area especially to the rear of the green.
Hole 8 at Cocotal Golf Course: The second hole in a row that deviates from the normal layout with straight fairways and bushes and palm trees as the main obstacle. You will still find bushes and palm trees on this hole but also quiet a lot of water that you can't actually play around which is quiet rare on the Cocotal Golf Course. It is a par 5 where you have to cross water not only on your tee shot but also on your approach shot. Play it like a par 5 with a normal tee shot, a transport shot and an approach shot. That should make it a fairly easy par 5 despite it being on of the more difficult on the golf course.
Hole 9 at Cocotal Golf Course: Difficult par 4 because you once again have to carry water on your tee shot but still set up for length as this is a fairly long par 4. However try to keep focus on that the water due to the position close to the tee and a bit to the right is more a visual difficulty than an real threat to most players. The fairway is wide and no major obstacles around the green.
Benjamina being the shortest 9 hole loop playing from 2662 to 3203 yards depending on chosen tee box. However in the opinion of the author also the most interesting 9 hole loop on the Cocotal Golf Course as there is more variation to this 9 holes then any of the other two 9 hole loops.
Hole 1 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 4 with a slight dogleg right. Difficult drive as the landing area is narrowed due to the dogleg. Fairway narrows as you approach the green. Green guarded by bunkers both left and right.
Hole 2 at Cocotal Golf Course: Shot par 4 hole with a classic risk reward setup. Some players will be able to drive this green but the difficulty lies in that this hole bends slightly to the left which doesn't suit a slice which a lot of players has a tendency to do. If you don't want to got for this green simply play an ion down the left side and you should have an easy approach. Bunkers left and right of the green.
Hole 3 at Cocotal Golf Course: Shot par 3. Just focus on the right club and an easy swing!
Hole 4 at Cocotal Golf Course: Short par 5 that most players can make in two. Being a dogleg left you will have a somewhat difficult drive as you have to keep left and at the same time clear an area with rough and bushes. At the same time there is a bunker in the left fairway ready to collect the golf balls that had a line that was to aggressive. No notable obstacles on the second half of the hole this should be an easy par.
Hole 5 at Cocotal Golf Course: Par 4 with a lake on the left side once you get halfway to the green. Stay center or right with your drive and you will be fine including a setup with an easier approach shot to the green where the player should of course still be aware of the lake on the left side.
Hole 6 at Cocotal Golf Course: Interesting par 3 where you have to carry a lake to get to the green. You won't need a long shot but rather a precise shot. If you are going to miss it plan to do that to the right.
Hole 7 at Cocotal Golf Course: Medium long par 5 where obstacles mainly are bushes and palm trees on both sides of the fairway. Green is guarded well on three sides by one big bunker so be careful when approaching.
Hole 8 at Cocotal Golf Course: Pretty straight forward par 3. Hit the green, two put and walk away with par!
Hole 9 at Cocotal Golf Course: Long par 4 with narrow fairway and a slight dogleg left. Obstacles being bushes and palm trees on both sides of fairway.
