Tucked away on a peaceful jungle-strewn corner of the Dominican Republic sits an exclusive adventure playground for the rich and famous and, as I recently found out, letting your hair down is the word of the day with a good dose of tequila thrown into the mix.
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, masterminded by tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman who co-founded Casamigos in collaboration with George Clooney and Rande Gerber, and the Amanera hotel were purchased collectively by New York hedge fund Third Point LLC for just over $150 million eight years ago.
Now the two ventures offer unapparelled services in terms of luxury accommodation and outdoor activities, with a roster of celebrities and billionaires among their client list.
Venturing on a private tour of the Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club with Chris Skidmore (the director of golf and retail operations), I suddenly become more enamored with the game of golf, thanks to stunning ocean views, perfectly manicured grounds and a seemingly never-ending spread of tiki-esque bars hidden amid the foliage.
‘We want our members to have fun, this isn’t a stuffy kind of place. We have world famous golfers who are part of the club but we also have amateurs who want to test their metal on what I think is one of the world’s most beautiful courses,’ Chris (a PGA golf pro himself) explains.
Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club was masterminded by tequila entrepreneur Mike Meldman, who co-founded Casamigos in collaboration with George Clooney and Rande Gerber
Ricardo Bonnet’s job title at the club is the ‘Chairman of Vibe’ and Sadie says he ‘certainly fulfils the role, with a big smile continually planted on his face, an enthusiasm for tequila and a range of golf trick shots up his sleeve’
Securing a membership at Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club is no easy feat.
First, prospective members must purchase a slice of real estate on the grounds – either a lot, villa or pre-built condominium – with prices starting from $5 million.
Then, the initiation fee for the club is $200,000, with annual dues upwards of $25,000 on top of that.
Currently, there are 58 members of Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club.
Other people who can gain access to the club are guests at the Amanera hotel, which sits like a slick Bond villain lair further along the coast, 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.
The resort only has 25 villas – which it refers to as ‘casitas’ – so it never feels full and there are four staff members to every guest. Rates start from around $2,400 a night, and this is before meals and drinks are accounted for.
Wheeling to a cliff edge in Chris’ golf cart, we make a pitstop on the 18-hole course and he lifts up a piece of turf to reveal a bottle of Casamigos tequila hidden in a pint sized cooler box along with some shot glasses.
The private members club boasts another set up down at the beach next to Playa Grande, with the amenities including a ‘surf shack’ decked out with water toys and a zipline strung above the ocean
Sadie gave the overwater zipline a whirl while she had access to the members-only club
The Casamigos beach bar complete with swings as the bar seats is one of many on the property
Just in time, Ricardo Bonnet – aka Ricky Ricardo – pulls up alongside us.
The charismatic Dominican’s job title at the club is the ‘Chairman of Vibe’ and he certainly fulfils the role, with a big smile continually planted on his face, an enthusiasm for tequila and a range of golf trick shots up his sleeve.
Such is his ability to charm, Mark Wahlberg recently elected him for a short speaking role in his 2024 movie Arthur The King.
After sharing a shot and watching Ricky attempt to putt a ball backwards, we continue on our way around the course with electro music blaring from the cart and an ocean breeze cooling us as we go.
Another pitstop leads us to a shack serving fresh ceviche and punchy margaritas, while another takes us to an axe throwing station before a final stop leads us to an ocean-facing bar and air conditioned refreshment station stocked with every snack imaginable, from chocolate brownies to fresh cheese to Snickers.
With some business to attend to, Chris steers my partner and I to another nook of Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, which appeals to the more adventurous traveler.
The private members-only club boasts another set up down at the beach next to Playa Grande, with the amenities including a ‘surf shack’ decked out with water toys, a Casamigos bar complete with swings as the seats for guests and a zipline strung above the ocean.
Another Tiki-style shack on the golf course, serving and array of drinks and ceviche
One of the signs on the golf course states the benefits of drinking tequila, with one being ‘fixes broken hearts’ (left) and golf pro Chris Skidmore reveals a secret stash of tequila on the golf course for a refreshing libation (right)
Other people who can gain access to the club are guests at the Amanera hotel, which sits like a slick Bond villain lair further along the coast, 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 currently the nearest international airport is around a 90-minute drive away – there are plans to build an airstrip nearby
Other activities on offer include a UTV course through the jungle, paintballing, axe throwing and horse riding.
We check out the UTV course which snakes through the lush terrain to a ridgeline serving up superb views, before swinging back to the safety of the Casamigos bar via the zipline.
To top it off, one of the adventure guides, Dylan, takes us out to visit a shipwreck using Seabobs.
These underwater scooters which cost more than $10,000, go up to 14mph, and you certainly feel like an action hero ducking and diving through the water.
Although trying to keep my bikini on while skimming along at max speed didn’t feel quite as slick.
With one last shot at the bar, it was time to bid this slice of paradise a goodbye.
Discussing his Dominican Republic venture, founder Mike Meldman said said that Playa Grande is designed for ‘precisely the experienced barefoot member, surrounded by the beauty of the ocean and lush rainforest.
‘The nature is stunning and the vibe is even better.’
And on checking out the place out, I can certainly concur that the nature and vibe make for a winning mix.
All that’s needed is some tens of millions in the bank first, to make a return one day.
To make Playa Grande and Amanera even more accessible – as currently the nearest international airport is around 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.
