Tucked away in a quiet jungle corner of the Dominican Republic lies an exclusive adventure playground for the rich and famous and as I recently discovered, letting go is the word of the day with a healthy dose of tequila in the mix.
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, the brainchild of tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who co-founded Casamigos with George Clooney and Rande Gerber, and the Amanera hotel were collectively acquired by New York hedge fund Third Point LLC for just over $150 million eight years ago.
Now, both companies offer unrivaled services in terms of luxury accommodation and outdoor activities, with a roster of celebrities and billionaires among their client roster.
Venturing on a private tour of the Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club with Chris Skidmore (the director of golf and retail operations), I suddenly fell more in love with the game of golf, thanks to the stunning ocean views, perfectly manicured grounds, and a seemingly endless expanse of tiki bars hidden among the foliage.
“We want our members to have fun, this is not a boring place. We have world-famous golfers who are part of the club, but we also have amateurs who want to test their talent on what I consider to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world,” explains Chris (a PGA professional golfer).
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club was the brainchild of tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who co-founded Casamigos in collaboration with George Clooney and Rande Gerber.
Ricardo Bonnet’s title at the club is “President of the Environment” and Sadie says he “certainly lives up to the role, with a big smile continually on his face, an enthusiasm for tequila and a variety of golf shots with tricks up his sleeve.”
Getting a membership at Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club is no easy task.
First, prospective members must purchase a piece of real estate on the land (either a lot, a villa or a pre-built condo) with prices starting at $5 million.
Then, the initiation fee for the club is $200,000, to which must be added an annual fee of more than $25,000.
Currently, Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club has 58 members.
Other guests who may have access to the club include guests of the Amanera hotel, which sits like a posh Bond villain’s lair further up the coast, overlooking the golden sands of Playa Grande beach.
Like other hotels in the Aman portfolio (such as the Aman Venice, where George and Amal Clooney tied the knot), the Amanera prides itself on privacy, exemplary interior design and exceptional service.
The resort only has 25 villas, which it refers to as “casitas,” so it’s never crowded and there are four staff members for every guest. Rates start at around $2,400 per night, and this is before you factor in meals and drinks.
Rolling toward the edge of a cliff in Chris’s golf cart, we make a stop on the 18-hole course and he pulls back a patch of grass to reveal a bottle of Casamigos tequila hidden in a pint-sized cooler along with some shot glasses.
The private club has another facility on the beach, next to Playa Grande, with amenities including a “surf shack” decorated with water toys and a zipline stretched over the ocean.
Sadie tried ziplining over the water while having access to the members-only club.
The Casamigos Beach Bar, equipped with swings as bar seating, is one of many on the property.
Just in time, Ricardo Bonnet, also known as Ricky Ricardo, appears next to us.
The charismatic Dominican’s job title at the club is “President of the Environment” and he certainly fills the role, with a big smile continually planted on his face, an enthusiasm for tequila and a variety of golf tricks up his sleeve.
Such is his ability to charm that Mark Wahlberg recently cast him in a brief speaking role in his 2024 film Arthur The King.
After sharing a shot and watching Ricky try to throw a ball backwards, we continued our tour of the course with electronic music blasting from the cart and an ocean breeze cooling us as we went.
Another stop takes us to a shack serving fresh ceviche and spicy margaritas, while another takes us to an axe-throwing station before a final stop takes us to a beachfront bar and air-conditioned refreshment station stocked with every snack imaginable, from chocolate brownies to queso fresco to Snickers.
With some business to attend to, Chris takes my partner and me to another corner of Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, which attracts more adventurous travelers.
This members-only private club features another beachfront facility, next to Playa Grande, with amenities including a “surf shack” decorated with water toys, a Casamigos bar with swings as seating for guests, and a zipline stretched out over the ocean.
Another Tiki-style hut on the golf course, serving a variety of drinks and ceviche.
One of the signs on the golf course lists the benefits of drinking tequila, with one saying “heals broken hearts” (left) and pro golfer Chris Skidmore revealing a secret stash of tequila on the golf course for a refreshing drink (right).
Other guests who have access to the club include guests of the Amanera hotel, which sits like a posh Bond villain’s lair further up the coast, overlooking the golden sands of Playa Grande beach.
Like other hotels in the Aman portfolio (such as the Aman Venice, where George and Amal Clooney tied the knot), the Amanera prides itself on privacy, exemplary interior design and exceptional service.
To make Playa Grande and Amanera even more accessible (as the nearest international airport is currently about a 90-minute drive away), there are plans to build an airstrip nearby.
Other activities on offer include a UTV jungle tour, paintball, axe throwing and horseback riding.
We check out the UTV course that winds through the lush terrain to a ridge offering magnificent views, before returning to the safety of the Casamigos bar via the zipline.
To top it off, one of the adventure guides, Dylan, takes us to visit a shipwreck using Seabobs.
These underwater scooters, which cost more than $10,000, reach speeds of up to 14 mph and certainly make you feel like an action hero as you crouch and dive through the water.
Although trying to keep my bikini on while sliding at top speed was not so easy.
With a last drink at the bar, it was time to say goodbye to this little piece of paradise.
Speaking about his Dominican Republic adventure, founder Mike Meldman said Playa Grande is designed precisely for “the experienced barefoot member, surrounded by the beauty of the ocean and lush rainforest.”
“Nature is impressive and the environment is even better.”
And visiting the place, I can certainly agree that nature and environment form a winning combination.
All you need is to have a few tens of millions in the bank first, so you can get a return someday.
To make Playa Grande and Amanera even more accessible (as the nearest international airport is currently about a 90-minute drive away), there are plans to build an airstrip nearby, which will be able to accommodate a fleet of private jets and helicopters.