Casa de Campo celebrates the 30th annual Caribbean International Pro-Am!

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From the 27th to the 3rd of February 2013, the Casa de Campo golf department celebrated it’s 30th annual Caribbean International Pro-Am golf tournament! As one of the very first golf tournament’s created by Gilles Gagnon, Casa de Campo Director of Golf, shortly after his arrival 31 years ago, the Caribbean International Pro-Am golf tournament has without a doubt evolved over the years – but it’s essence remains the same – great golf, in a great location, amongst great golfers, who over the years have now become great friends! “People come back to see the friends they have made over the years. It is like a family reunion,” says Gilles.

Teeth of the Dog hole #5, Casa de Campo

Of course more than 30 years ago the tournament was played exclusively on Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog and Links golf courses and it wasn’t until 2003 that Pete Dye’s latest edition to his Casa de Campo golf portfolio was opened – thus adding an extra dimension to the already well-established Casa de Campo golf tournaments, the Caribbean International Pro-Am amongst them – as well as starting the eternal debate “Teeth of the Dog vs. Dye Fore.” With Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog ranked [by Golf Magazine] #1 in the Caribbean and within the top 50 worldwide – its general accepted that the “Teeth” is the overall winner – but for those golfers who regularly visit Casa de Campo the jury is very much still out – and a hotly debated topic both on and off the courses. A debate that has no doubt intensified following the opening of the “Dye Fore Lakes” extra 9 holes, which transformed the Dye Fore into a spectacular 27 hole complex, where today, Casa de Campo golfers can choose to play the traditional Dye Fore routing or a new routing including the Dye Fore lakes – for a different and arguably more challenging golfing experience. For the golfers of the 30th annual Caribbean International Pro-Am golf tournament, the occasion was celebrated with a welcome cocktail, followed by 4 days of tournament rounds played across Casa de Campo’s beautiful Pete Dye designed courses; Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and the Links and closed with an awards ceremony and dinner at the Beach Club by Le Cirque. During the awards ceremony the winners of the tournament were presented with not only with the prize-winners “purses” but also beautiful prints of the Casa de Campo golf courses – the Dye Fore and the Teeth of the Dog. The Casa de Campo “Pro-Am” series continues with the 26th annual Caribbean Pro-Am II from the 3rd to the 10th of March.

30th annual Caribbean International Pro-Am – Winners

Gross Champions:

Commonwealth National Golf Club Travis Deibert Ron Averett Mike Blank Vince Varvolis

Kanawha Club Lance Reynolds Ray Godman Stuart Johnson Dave Pulk

Net Champions:

Morris Country Club John Keegan Mike Murphy Jim Thorpe Roger Wright

Net Runners-up:

Tallwood Country Club John Nowobilski Dick Merlino Barry Rank Bruce Small

Closest to the Pin – Saturday, February 2 

Teeth of the Dog hole #5: Dick Merlino Teeth of the Dog hole #7: Doug Blackwell Teeth of the Dog hole #13: (Professionals) Mark Kirk Teeth of the Dog hole #16: Bill Flanders

Senior Professionals

Champion: Mark Kirk Runner-up: Carl Baker

Junior Professionals

Champion: John Keegan Runner-up: Travis Deibert

Ladies Division Champions

Tallwood Country Club Mary Ellen Nowobilski Jane Merlino Jean Rank Pat Small

Casa de Campo Golf Casa de Campo’s first golf course, Pete Dye’s masterpiece, the Teeth of the Dog, was opened more than 40 years ago in 1971 thus beginning the transformation of Casa de Campo from a rural seaside retreat into a world-class golf destination, otherwise known as the “World’s Leading Golf Resort.” Click here to read all about Casa de Campo’s world-class golfing facilities!