Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club, a private residential resort community being developed on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, is destined to become the most exclusive, private members-only property on the Caribbean island. Developed by Discovery Land Company, Playa Grande is set on a seven-mile stretch of Atlantic coast, with more than 2,200 lush acres that include pristine hidden beaches and expanses of virgin rainforest on the hillsides.
The club will provide unparalleled amenities, beginning with an 18-hole championship golf course, redesigned by celebrated golf course architect Rees Jones, which is now open. The renowned course was originally designed by Jones’s father, Robert Trent Jones, in the late 1990s. Playa Grande will also offer a spa and wellness center, a golf clubhouse, and extensive sports and recreational activities on both land and sea.
Discovery Land Company Has Developed Exclusive Residential Resorts Around The World
Discovery is responsible for developing some of the best known exclusive residential communities in the world, including Kuki’o in Kohala, Hawaii; Baker’s Bay in the Bahamas; El Dorado in Los Cabos, Mexico; Iron Horse in Whitefish, Montana; and Gozzer Ranch in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, just to name a few.
What’s the secret? “We provide a sense of place in every aspect of our communities, along with attention to detail that helps create unforgettable experiences for each member of the family,” says visionary Discovery CEO and founder Mike Meldman, who adds that the Playa Grande golf course is one of the best courses in the company’s portfolio with an impressive 10 oceanfront holes. (See Forbes Magazine’s article “Follow The Leader” for more about Michael Meldman and Discovery Land Company).
For the club’s master planning Discovery enlisted VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture and worked with Discovery Design to create the residential architecture and interior design. The residences will vary in design by neighborhood but offer both contemporary designs as well as authentic Caribbean-style villas. Each villa will seamlessly blend into the surrounding tropical environment with indoor/outdoor living spaces that include large floor-to-ceiling glass and modern high-end appliances and fixtures. Backyards will feature pools, cabanas, grilling areas, and casitas. Buyers will work with the design teams to furnish their homes to the highest standards.
Luxury Residences And Home Sites
Playa Grande will include 350 residences and home sites, featuring oceanfront cliff estates, golf and coastal villas, beach cottages, and mountain villas. Amanera Founder Villas will also be available, with additional Amanera-branded residences. To date, 53 lots have been released of which approximately 25 have been sold.
Residences will range from 1,700 square feet to more than 10,000 square feet and offer between two and six bedrooms. Developer-built residences, which will be priced starting at $2.5 million, will cost approximately $500 plus per square foot to construct with an all-in purchase price averaging $1,200 per square foot.
Only 60 residences and 16 golf clubhouse units will be located along the entire golf course, a small number compared to other developments in the Dominican Republic that may offer a similar number on just two or three holes.
One notable residence, called The Promontory, is located 80 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at the center of Playa Grande’s iconic seven-mile coastline. This 3-acre compound is a tropical oasis that features dramatic 270-degree views—from the Amanera Resort in the west to Playa Grande beach in the east. The buyer of this premier custom home site will work with world-renowned architect John Heah to design the residence, which will be fully serviced by Aman.
Custom Estate Lots
Playa Grande’s Phase One will offer 14 custom estate lots, from 1.5 to 3.5 acres with prices ranging from $7 million to $14 million. These lots can accommodate any size home a buyer wishes to construct on the building envelope, subject to the community’s design-review approval.
Estate Lot 10 is the cornerstone homesite of the Western Cliff Estate neighborhood. Priced at $14 million, it is unique in both its size and shape, with spectacular sunset views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a stunning backdrop of the town of Cabarete and Mount Isabel de Torres in the distance. This spectacular 3.47-acre custom home site sits 80 feet above the water and includes an incredible 630 feet of ocean frontage.
Unlike other Dominican residential/golf developments, which have thousands of members and are open to the public, Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club will cap membership at less than 500; moreover, membership in the club is extended only to property owners. Currently the membership fee is $125,000 with annual dues at $25,000.
The Club’s Amenities Will Be Extensive
The club’s amenities will be extensive. Phase One will include a wide range of dining options, including a Latin American/ Caribbean barbecue grill, as well as a fine dining restaurant and a beach club restaurant. On the golf course itself there are three signature Discovery comfort stations: Las Brasas restaurant is located near the 1st tee and serves fresh farm-to-table cuisine, The Point comfort station behind the 4th green offers golfers breathtaking views as well as a pizza oven and bar and Caverna Casamigos, a natural open-to-the-sky sea cavern, will be available on the back nine in 2019.
Phase Two of the development will include a golf clubhouse restaurant, a beach club restaurant, and a mountain club restaurant. The club will feature a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and a lap pool. There are plans, too, to build a world-class spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and private locker rooms as well as resort-style swimming pools. The community will also be home to an organic farm and activity barn designed for all ages.
A Renowned Recreation and Lifestyle Concierge Program
Discovery’s renowned recreation and lifestyle concierge program is designed to assist members with exploring all that Playa Grande has to offer, providing local knowledge and professional safety while creating family memories that will be cherished for years.
The Outdoor Pursuits team will help organize group and personalized activities. Water sports include scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, and Seabobs. There will also be deep-sea fishing, sailing, and boating excursions on the club’s powerboat. In addition to tennis and pickleball courts, the property also features a signature 1,500-foot ocean zip line and ATV adventures, as well as miles of running, biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails along the beach and through the property’s mountain reserve.
Playa Grande has partnered with the five-star Amanera (an Aman resort) to host its members and their guests throughout the purchase and construction process, allowing them to immediately enjoy the benefits of ownership and membership.
For more information about real estate opportunities at Playa Grande, contact info@playagrande.com
