St. Regis’ Next Caribbean Resort Is Opening In The Dominican Republic

It's one of the most beautiful pieces of real estate in the Dominican Republic: the Punta Espada golf course.

If you know golf, you know Punta Espada — it’s one of the top courses in the Caribbean, a Jack Nicklaus designed stunner famous for its oceanside holes. But in a few months, this course will be famous for something else: a St. Regis resort.

The highly-anticipated St. Regis Cap Cana is opening in the Dominican Republic in the spring, and now it has an opening date: April 26, right on the edge of Punta Espada.

The Marriott-portfolio resort is now taking bookings for stays beginning April 26, 2025, according to St. Regis’ website.

The resort is going to have 200 rooms, including some swim-up rooms, along with 9 dining concepts anchored by a flagship eatery called Nina and a beach bar called Marla. There’s also a club-style bar called The Amber Room, and copious meeting space in the resort’s ballroom.

The property will include a spa, of course.

What about prices? Given the timing of the opening on the heels of the high season, you can find room rates as low as $587 per night.

It also adds a major new addition to the luxury segment in Cap Cana, which is home to two luxury resorts: the all-inclusive Sanctuary Cap Cana (also part of Marriott) and the Eden Roc Cap Cana, where we’ve stayed and absolutely loved (particularly its rooms and suites with private plunge pools).

St. Regis has a growing Caribbean footprint, including the St. Regis Kanai in the Mexican Caribbean and the soon-to-open St. Regis in Aruba.

So how do you get to Cap Cana? It’s part of greater Punta Cana, which means you fly directly to Punta Cana International Airport and take a short drive to the St. Regis. For more on cheap flight options check out Google Flights.

https://www.caribjournal.com/author/alexander-britell/

Puerto Rico Hosting PGA TOUR, Top Golf Professionals Compete Feb. 27-March 5, 2023

The PGA TOUR has arrived for the 15th playing of the Puerto Rico Open this week, when many of the world's top players – including six Puerto Rican players (Boricua) – will compete for shares of the $3.8 prize money on the Championship Course at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande.

As if having the PGA TOUR make its annual stop here isn't exciting enough, this year the Puerto Rico Open comes on the heels of the Island hosting the Latin America Amateur Championship last month, when the winner earned invitations to play in this year's Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship (three of golf's four major championships). Further, last spring Puerto Rico and Grand Reserve held the first United States Golf Association championship to be played outside the mainland (Women's Amateur Four-Ball).

"We are humbled and thrilled that the PGA TOUR has returned to Puerto Rico and the Island is increasingly being honored to host these extraordinary golf tournaments that draw global attention to our wonderful destination," said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. "Our Destination Marketing Organization's mission is to highlight Puerto Rico's global brand, and the PGA TOUR, USGA, Latin America Amateur Championship and Golf Channel coverage are helping golfers throughout the world learn about our courses, culture, golf resorts, miles of beaches, and many other attributes."

The 2023 Puerto Rico Open is set to crown another champion amid the Island's tropical splendor. Some of the PGA TOUR's biggest names and rising stars have won or finished runner-up here. These include Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, Jason Day, Tony Finau and Retief Goosen, all either winners of Major Championships or highly ranked in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The tournament will be contested on the Championship Course adjacent to the amenity-rich, oceanfront Hyatt Regency.

"The Puerto Rico Open has been established as the premier golf event held on the Island for the past 15 years. Through our long-standing partnership as the title sponsor, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company is proud to continue supporting the celebration of this important tournament, which has not only become a key platform to promote Puerto Rico as a world-class golf destination, but also a driving force of tourism and economic development," said Carlos Mercado, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Michigan's Ryan Brehm captured last year's title with an exceptional final round. But it was the Island's own Rafa Campos who nearly set off a country-wide celebration in 2021 Puerto Rico Open. Leading after three rounds, he narrowly fell to the eventual champion.

Island native and legendary champion Chi Chi Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA TOUR. He designed El Legado, a popular 18-hole course in Guayama, within minutes of the ocean on the south coast. It is one of Puerto Rico's 18 golf courses, including several of the "Top 50 Courses in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and the Atlantic Islands" (source: Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play).

Other course designers represented on the Island include Tom Kite, Tom and George Fazio, Gary Player, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Many of the courses are amenities of beautiful resorts, including Royal Isabela; Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino; The St. Regis Bahia Beach; Wyndham Grand Rio Mar; Wyndham Palmas; Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and the forementioned Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve.

Golf courses are located throughout the Island with many in the Northeast near San Juan. Puerto Rico is an enchanting destination where history, gastronomy, nightlife, and natural wonders abound. It requires no passport for American citizens, is bilingual, uses the U.S. dollar for currency, and is the air hub of the Caribbean. There are more than 4,000 restaurants, and an array of award-winning lodging options of every kind.

The Puerto Rico Open is airing on Golf Channel Thursday through Sunday of tournament week.

Learn more about visiting Puerto Rico at DiscoverPuertoRico.com

Travelore News: Vietnam To Host World Masters For Club Golfers

DANANG, Vietnam - After 20 years of staging successful World Masters tournaments in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, Go Golfing has partnered with Golfasian to host the inaugural Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship in Danang from 6 to 12 September 2015.

World Masters Tournaments are open to club golfers aged 35 years and over. Competition is offered in age and handicap divisions. Playing with golfers of a similar age and standard, from all over the world, is a major draw card for World Masters events.

Accor, one of the world's biggest chain of hotels and resorts, is the main sponsor of the Vietnam World Masters. Accor's Chief Operating Officer and golf enthusiast, Patrick Basset, says it is an honor to take part in such a major golf event. "We are excited to break new ground in our sports involvement in Vietnam with the launch of the Accor Vietnam World Masters Golf Championship 2015. This tournament will welcome hundreds of golfers and onlookers, playing at Danang's world-class golf courses, while pampering themselves in our best-in-class hotels. The ultimate objective of this tournament is introduce Danang as a premium golf destination and bring attention to the accommodations, facilities and golf itineraries that are second to none in this region."

Participants can choose to stay at the Pullman Danang Beach Resort which will host all tournament functions and dinners, while the Novotel Danang Premier Han River is another accommodation alternative.
"As a partner of the Accor Vietnam World Master Golf Championship 2015, we are so proud to be associated with this world-class golf event" said Timothy Nott, General Manager of Pullman Danang Beach Resort. "We are delighted to host Vietnam's biggest 19th hole festivities and golf presentations each night during the tournament as well as providing the luxurious beachside accommodation for the event. We are confident the Accor Vietnam World Master Golf Championship will be the new benchmark for masters events in the region and look forward to many years of partnership," he added.
The all-inclusive tournament package boasts 6 nights' accommodation, 4 rounds with caddies and carts, nightly social events with food, beverage and entertainment, welcome and presentation dinners, a player pack with tournament shirt, personalized caddie bib and country flag, US$10,000 in prizes and much more. There is also an attractive program of events and day tour options for non-players.