Courses for the par: Where golf is good

And the winner is, six under par:

Dominican Republic

. It has 23 courses and more under construction. Only three golf courses in the Caribbean made Golf Digest magazine's list of "100 Best Golf Courses Outside the U.S." this year, and two are in the Dominican Republic.

Teeth of the Dog at the Casa de Campo resort is widely considered the best course in the Caribbean and was ranked 20th. It is challenging and windy, says Peter Finch, a senior editor at Golf Digest. He adds that two other Pete Dye-designed courses at the resort, the Links and the unfortunately named Dye Fore, are first-rate as well.

The Dominican Republic is also home to the Cap Cana development's Punta Espada course, which is ranked 77th. The course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is near a dramatic coastline, and there are two other Nicklaus-designed courses at the site. Nearby, Playa Dorada, part of the Wyndham resort in Puerto Plata, is a former member of Golf Digest's "100 Best." And next year, a Nick Faldo-designed course is scheduled to open at the new Rõco Ki resort.

Jamaica

has long been a popular golf spot, but the opening of the White Witch at the Ritz-Carlton in the last decade "really put the island on the golf map," Finch says.

Barbados

is best known for its classic course, Royal Westmoreland. It was the only significant course in Barbados until the opening of three courses at Sandy Lane resort: the Green Monkey, the Old Nine and the Tom Fazio-designed Country Club Course. The resort is where Tiger Woods had his wedding. The Country Club Course is considered top-notch, but some people think it's too stuffy.

Bermuda

, known generally for great golfing, has "one of the best courses in the world," Finch says: The Mid Ocean Club, which runs along the water for several holes is ranked 49th. Also in Bermuda, Tucker's Point is tops, Finch adds, saying that the two courses "are next to each other, so you can play one, have lunch, then play the other. A perfect day."