Tucked away in a quiet, jungle-strewn corner of the Dominican Republic is an exclusive adventure playground for the rich and famous. And as I recently discovered, the motto is to let your hair down, with a generous shot of tequila.
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, conceived by tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman who co-founded Casamigos with George Clooney and Rande Gerber, and the Amanera hotel were jointly acquired eight years ago by New York hedge fund Third Point LLC for just over $150 million.
Today, the two companies offer unparalleled services in luxury accommodations and outdoor activities, and count celebrities and billionaires among their clientele.
When I took a private tour of Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club with Chris Skidmore (Director of Golf and Retail), I became even more enamored with the game of golf due to the stunning ocean views, the immaculately manicured grounds, and the seemingly endless amount of tiki-style bars tucked away in the vegetation.
“We want our members to have fun, this is not a stuffy place. We have world-renowned golfers who are members of the club, but we also have amateurs who want to test their game on what I think is one of the most beautiful courses in the world,” explains Chris (himself a PGA golf pro).
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club was created by tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who co-founded Casamigos with George Clooney and Rande Gerber
Ricardo Bonnet’s job title at the club is ‘Chairman of Vibe’ and Sadie says he ‘certainly fulfils this role, with a big smile on his face, an enthusiasm for tequila and a range of golf tricks up his sleeve’
Getting a membership at Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club is no easy feat.
First, potential members must purchase a piece of real estate on the property — a plot of land, a villa or a turnkey apartment — with prices starting at $5 million.
The club’s entry fee is $200,000, plus annual membership fees of $25,000.
Currently, Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club has 58 members.
Others granted access to the club include guests of the Amanera hotel, which sits further along the coast and looks like a posh villain’s lair from a Bond film, overlooking the golden sands of Playa Grande beach.
Like the other hotels in the Aman portfolio (such as the Aman Venice, where George and Amal Clooney were married), the Amanera prides itself on the privacy, exemplary interior design and exceptional service it offers.
The resort has just 25 villas – which they call “casitas” – so it never feels crowded, and there are four staff members for every guest. Rates start at around $2,400 per night, and that’s before meals and drinks are included.
We ride in Chris’ golf cart to the edge of a cliff and stop at the 18-hole course. He lifts a patch of grass and shows a bottle of Casamigos tequila hidden in a half-liter cooler, along with a few shot glasses.
The private members’ club features a different setup on the beach next to Playa Grande, with amenities such as a “surf hut” equipped with water toys and a zipline strung over the ocean
Sadie tried the zipline above the water while having access to the members-only club
The Casamigos beach bar, complete with swings for bar stools, is one of many on site
Just in time, Ricardo Bonnet, alias Ricky Ricardo, pulls up next to us.
The charismatic Dominican has the job title of ‘Chairman of Vibe’ at the club and he certainly lives up to that role, with a broad smile on his face, a passion for tequila and a range of golf tricks up his sleeve.
His charms are so great that Mark Wahlberg recently chose him for a brief role in his 2024 film Arthur The King.
After attempting to putt the ball and watching Ricky try to putt the ball backwards, we continue our way around the course, enjoying electronic music from the golf cart and a cooling sea breeze.
After a stop, we come to a shack serving fresh ceviche and spicy margaritas. Another takes us to an axe-throwing station. The final stop takes us to an ocean-view bar and an air-conditioned snack station, selling every snack imaginable, from chocolate brownies to fresh cheese and Snickers.
Because Chris still has some business to take care of, he sends my partner and me to another part of the Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, which is especially attractive to adventure travelers.
The private, members-only club has another location on the beach next to Playa Grande, which features amenities such as a “surf hut” with water toys, a Casamigos bar with swings for guests to sit on, and a zipline over the ocean.
Another Tiki-style shack on the golf course, serving a variety of drinks and ceviche
One of the signs on the golf course touts the benefits of drinking tequila, including “it heals broken hearts” (left) and golf pro Chris Skidmore reveals a secret stash of tequila on the golf course for a refreshing drink (right)
Others who can gain access to the club include guests of the Amanera hotel, which sits further along the coast like a slick Bond villain’s lair, overlooking the golden sands of Playa Grande beach.
Like the other hotels in the Aman portfolio (such as the Aman Venice, where George and Amal Clooney tied the knot), the Amanera prides itself on offering privacy, exemplary interior design and exceptional service
To make Playa Grande and Amanera even more accessible – as the nearest international airport is currently around 90 minutes drive away – there are plans to build an airstrip nearby
Other activities on offer include a UTV trail through the jungle, paintballing, axe throwing and horse riding.
We check out the UTV trail that winds through the lush terrain to a ridge with stunning views, then zipline back to the safety of the Casamigos bar.
To top it all off, one of the adventure guides, Dylan, takes us to a shipwreck, using Seabobs.
These underwater scooters cost over $10,000 and can reach speeds of up to 22 km/h. You will definitely feel like a real action hero as you dive and dive through the water.
Although it didn’t feel so smooth to keep my bikini on while gliding across the water at maximum speed.
After one last drink at the bar, it was time to say goodbye to this piece of paradise.
Founder Mike Meldman said of his Dominican Republic venture that Playa Grande was designed specifically for “the experienced barefoot enthusiast, surrounded by the beauty of the ocean and lush rainforest.
‘The nature is breathtaking and the atmosphere is even better.’
And once I saw the place, I could definitely agree that the nature and the atmosphere are a winning combination.
All that is needed is to have a few tens of millions in the bank first to be able to make a return one day.
To make Playa Grande and Amanera even more accessible (the nearest international airport is currently about 90 minutes’ drive away), there are plans to build an airstrip nearby, which will accommodate a fleet of private jets and helicopters.