Dominican Republic emerges as a top destination for golf tourism
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is strengthening its position as a leading golf tourism destination by combining its natural attractions and hotel infrastructure with world-class golf courses.
According to Jean Carlos Navarro, head of Sports Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), one in three tourists who visit the country for sports-related reasons choose golf. Surveys of non-resident visitors found a satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of five, while 74% said they would recommend the Dominican Republic as a golf destination and 87.2% said they would return.
Navarro said the figures demonstrate the value of sports tourism in attracting visitors while generating positive experiences, recommendations and repeat travel.
The Dominican Republic received 9,241,246 visitors between January and September 2026, a 7.5% increase from the same period in 2025. The United States accounted for 39% of visitors, followed by Canada with 11%.
The figures were presented during a press conference for the Dominican Republic Tour Championship presented by Scotiabank, the final event of the 2026 PGA Tour Americas season, being held in the Dominican Republic for the first time from October 15 to 18.
Gonzalo Pan de Soraluce, Piñero’s global golf director, said the U.S. and Canadian markets offer significant opportunities for golf tourism because of the size and spending power of their golf communities. He noted that the United States alone has approximately 33 million golfers.
Pan de Soraluce explained that golf travelers tend to choose destinations where they can combine their vacations with their sport. He added that this segment generally stays longer and spends two to three times more than other tourists, making golfers particularly attractive to destinations seeking to expand high-value tourism.
To whom it may concern: I am a Canadian citizen and a “snowbird” (seasonal resident); several years ago, I chose to spend my retirement in the Dominican Republic, staying for six months each year. I love everything about life here, especially the golf. I live in Bavaro Beach, an area with numerous golf courses. I discovered Fedogolf in 2012 while staying in Las Terrenas and have been a member ever since. Fedogolf offers discounted rates at various courses, but in recent years, many of them have required a *cédula* (residency card) to access these deals. However, for a seasonal resident like me, obtaining this card is a very complex and costly process.
In 2018, I decided to form a diverse group of golfers (the Norman Golf Group) to negotiate favorable rates directly with various clubs for play two days a week. We started with four members; today, there are forty-six. Through this initiative, I have managed to secure reasonable prices and fair terms. I receive many inquiries from Canadians, Americans, and Europeans. I have had to limit membership eligibility: one must stay in the Dominican Republic for at least one month to join the group. Please note that I manage this group on a voluntary basis. Two years ago, I started another group—this time for pickleball—which currently has twenty-two registered players. It is unfortunate that there are no options for Snowbirds to access various golf courses at a reasonable price; there is a vast difference between an occasional visitor who plays once or twice during their stay and us Snowbirds, who play between 20 and 40 rounds per season. If the Dominican Republic wants to increase the number of Snowbirds, it would be worth giving this some thought.