I was there a few years ago in December, The beach was very pretty but so rough that no one went in over ankle deep, The surf conditions precluded any other water sports. According to the locals the weather was typical at that time of the year, warm and very windy.
The golf courses are associated with the resorts but can be played no matter where you stay. The howling wind made them a challenge. Prices at the time were somewhere around 100 US.
The language in the DR is Spanish. The people working at the resort's speak some English. The lower level personnel, like the maids, speak very little. I found the best way to get across what you wanted was to hold up the item you were looking for. They are very polite and will not tell you they don't understand so you may want a towel and they show up with soap. No big deal but it is kind of funny sometimes.
I've been all over the Caribbean and generally prefer those countries, like Jamaica, whose language is English. It's just less hassle free if you venture out of the resort.
The DR has a bad mosquito problem and the associated disease they may carry. Near the beach they were no problem since it is so windy they couldn't fly. Inland they are more of a problem due to the climate. About 6 weeks later I went to Jamaica and was pulled out by immigration to be screened for malaria since I had been in the DR less then six weeks prior. Nothing happened but had I or my wife exhibited a fever they would have put us back on a plane to the USA.
All in all it was a pleasant vacation but I haven't been back since there are somewhat better options in mid to southern Caribbean.