White Sands Golf Course

 

Looking for a place to stay in White Sands Golf and Country Club or in Bavaro, Punta Cana?

 

White Sands Golf Course presented by Golf in the Dominican Republic:

”What a shame!” is a thought that keeps popping up when playing White Sands Golf Course. What a shame that a golf course with such a great layout is kept in so poor condition. Grass, weed and bushes where you don't want it and no grass where you would really like it! Check out the photo gallery to see for your self.

And this feeling stick even some time after having finished the last hole at White Sands Golf Course. If only …! Because this golf course has the layout to potentially be one of the better golf courses in the area especially if only ranked against other inland golf courses. This golf course gives a challenge to most players but not in an unfair way. It has difficult and narrow holes but also the shorter risk reward holes that many golfers enjoy playing. To mention a few hole 2, 8 and 12 are all par 3's that I think most people will remember for some time. The par 4 holes 13 and 18 are also memorable holes. If asked most people will properly rank hole 18 as the signature hole of the White Sands Golf Course.

 

White Sands Golf Course is designed by 6 times Spanish champion José “Pepe” Gancedo and opened in 2007.

Hole by hole description:

Hole 1 at White Sands Golf Course: The golf course starts out with this fairly easy medium long par 4 hole. Fairly wide fairway makes it one of the easier drives. In order to set up for an easier approach shot aim for the left side of the fairway. There is a couple of trees in the middle of the fairway placed there to give the player a visual disruption. The green is rather narrow stretching back and to the right. There is a bunker guarding the green short and to the the right. The green is in two plateaus making it a difficult put if you get on the wrong one. The back portion of the green is set higher which means that there the ball will roll away from the green if missed.

Hole 2 at White Sands Golf Course: Medium long par 3 hole with a difficult tee shot. You are standing a bit higher then the green that due to slopes is difficult to get a clear view of. There is a bunker guarding the green to the front and a lake to the right and rear. Unfortunately all you are able to see of the lake as it hasn't been cleared of weed and bushes for quiet some time which is really a shame as it would give an extra visual dimension to playing that hole.

Hole 3 at White Sands Golf Course: A great risk reward hole. A short par 4 where many players will be contemplating weather to play safe or aim directly for the green. In order to clear the gorge that will swallow your golf ball if short you need a carry from 171 to 273 yards according to the course guide depending on what tee box you are playing from. If you choose to play the safer route all you will need from the tee box is a fairly short ion shot of maybe 150 yards depending on what. Be careful that a birdie hunt doesn't turn into a multiple boogie score!

Hole 4 at White Sands Golf Course: A long but straight forward par 4 with a bunker guarding the right side of the fairway. However still a fairly easy tee shot. When reaching the green you will find to bunkers guarding left and right front. The green area is rather flat so you don't have to worry about any run off areas.

Hole 5 at White Sands Golf Course: Long par 5 where most players need to be think to transport shots and an approach shot. A couple of trees an both sides of the fairway and even a few in the middle of the fairway. Tricky approach shot as the view to the green is limited by a couple of trees and some slopes. Built in plateaus on the green can make this a difficult 2 put.

Hole 6 at White Sands Golf Course: Long par 4 with on one hand a fairly easy tee shot but on the other hand a difficult shot to the green. Only pressure you will feel on the tee box is the need for length unless you make the maybe wise choice to use an extra shot getting there. The last third of the fairway going to the green is guarded to the right by a big lake. The lake continues right and behind the green making this a difficult approach shot.

Hole 7 at White Sands Golf Course: One of the shorter par 5's but with a narrow fairway bending to the left through then length of the hole. This green is makable in two but is even just a bit of there is a price to be payed. The green is set on a small peninsula with water the the right, left and rear.

Hole 8 at White Sands Golf Course: Visually a small but great par 3 where precision is key. Hit the green or be faced with either a lost ball in the water hazard or if you are lucky a difficult chip shot out of the long stuff. This par 3 should be the role model for many par 3's – all about precision and not about power!

Hole 9 at White Sands Golf Course: Medium long par 4 with a visual great tee shot if playing from the back tee. First you have to clear a gorge, then stay left of some trees, left of a lake but not to far left as the easier approach shot is set up from the right hand side of the fairway. Once that shot is in play you should have a fairly easy approach shot to a larger green that is guarded to the rear by a bunker. If you shank your approach shot (right hand player) the lake is still in play!

Hole 10 at White Sands Golf Course: Par 4 with a tee shot to a narrow fairway that widens towards the green. Palm trees on both sides and a bunker on the left makes this a difficult shot. Most players will be faced with the option of using 3 shots to make the green or giving it a go with a fairly long approach shot. The green is guarded by bunkers to the front and right. It is a wide but not very deep green making it difficult to hit from a distance. A lot of slopes on the green.

Hole 11 at White Sands Golf Course: Beautiful par 3 once again about precision and not about power even though this par 3 is longer than the one on hole 8. You will have to carry it to the green as there is no fairway but only a lake going to the green. But watch going far or to the left or right as you will only find trees, bushes and rough there. The green is narrow stretching from front right to left back. A par on this hole should make you happy!

Hole 12 at White Sands Golf Course: I the opinion of the author of these lines you have now reached the most difficult hole on the White Sands Golf Course. A dogleg right par 4 with plenty of options to loose a stroke or two along the way. Difficult tee shot as you need both distance and precision from the tee box. If your shot goes either left or right you might very well be facing a lost ball in either hazard or lush vegetation. The fairway widens a bit halfway through the hole only to narrow again going towards the green. Difficult approach shot as only a shot on target can be considered safe. There is a bit of room to the right of the green so if you are going to be a bit of target right is the side to choose. You will find a photo in the photo gallery from the lush vegetation of hole 12.

Hole 13 at White Sands Golf Course: Short and straight par 4. 2 fairway bunkers to be found both left and right at about 140 to 100 yards before the green. A good drive will however carry both. A small green that is guarded to all sides. To the front and left you will find 3 bunkers. To the rear an right you will find a water hazard.

Hole 14 at White Sands Golf Course: Straight forward par 5 that the long hitters have a chance to make in two. A wide fairway the however has some trees on the right hand side of the fairway approximately 200 to 170 yards before the green. The green is guarded by a bunker on both sides of the green. Happy birdie hunting!

Hole 15 at White Sands Golf Course: Fairly simple par 4 bending slightly to the right. A small bunker on the left side of the fairway to catch a few stray golf balls. An approach shot from the left side of the fairway is easier but will also make the hole play longer. The green is guarded only by one bunker short to the left.

Hole 16 at White Sands Golf Course: Long par 5 with to transport shot to before your approach. Wide fairway where the biggest danger is that the player might loose respect and try to “kill it”. When setting up for the approach shot the left or center of the fairway is to be preferred to the right hand side. A bunker on both sides guarding the green.

Hole 17 at White Sands Golf Course: A long par 3 where both precision and power is necessary in order to make the green in regulation. The is a horse shoe bunker all along the left, rear to the right of the green. A smart way to play this hole is maybe to play a bit short and try to chip it close enough to save par. If not a boogie is no shame on this hole.

Hole 18 at White Sands Golf Course: A challenging par 4 to end the round! Not amongst the longest of holes but one where precision is import to maintain hopes of securing a par. From the tee box you are faced with a road and out of bounds on the left side of the fairway and a lake that runs throughout the hole on the right hand side. Consider from the tee weather you want to go for this green in regulation or use an extra stroke getting there safe. It is not a particular long hole so a tee shot of between 220 and 240 yards in the fairway will set you up nice for an approach that is properly easiest for the center of the fairway. Choosing the left will make the hole play longer. Choosing the right will increase the chance of that one of the few palm trees set in the right rough will be in you shot line. Also as you get closer to the lake the fairway has a down wards slope. And remember basic golf: A slope that leans away form you will lead to a slice, which again properly will find the lake. The green is guarded by a bunker short to the left and the lake to right. A safer shot is far or a bit to the left.