Puntacana Resort & Club

If it wasn't for Corales and Punta Espada, La Cana wouldn't take a backseat to any course in Punta Cana. As is, though, it's definitely a must-play at the Puntacana Resort, with its ocean views, interesting holes and playability. In addition to the course, there's the Puntacana Beach Club, great dining and the Six Senses Spa, which is the perfect way to end your day after a day of terrific golf.

Sometimes it's nice to step away from the pretentiousness of a five-star private club like Corales. Sometimes, you just want to relax. And that's what La Cana provides. The whole beach club vibe is very much alive. Non-golfers flock to the pool and the beach and dine for lunch on the patio. The golf almost feels secondary, even though it's definitely worth playing. Holes on the Tortuga (nos. 5-6-7) and Arrecife (nos. 7-8-9) nines touch the shore for a few picturesque moments. The risk-reward short par 4 seventh on Tortuga is my personal favorite, although there are plenty of choices.

The Golf Advisors arrived a few weeks too early to see the enhanced Corales, which will host its first PGA Tour event in March 2018. Only 10 holes were open. All the seaside holes were closed, although we did drive the final three holes on the water to get a reminder of how beautiful they are. Work to repair the seaside eighth and ninth holes from hurricane damage was scheduled to wrap up by mid-December. Both were raised up nearly two feet to protect from future storm surges. The clubhouse is also being expanded for the pros.

The best way to describe Corales is "pure". There's no blade of Paspalum grass out of order. Fazio designed some interesting twists in the routing to add variety for members and repeat guests. There are two greens on two different par 4s that rotate regularly. The par-3 17th hole has tees along the water and another set on a different angle farther inland, so the hole can play completely unique depending upon the wind and the course setup.

There's not much trouble, so I'm guessing the pros will light it up unless the wind cranks up. I'll be watching on TV to see if it does.

While there are only a few ocean holes, those are great, and the rest of this Tom Fazio-designed golf course is nothing to sneeze at. Wide fairways, flawless conditions and one distinct, pretty hole after another make this one of the best in the DR. Off the tee, this is a fairly easy golf course. But if you do miss the fairways, the rough can be brutal. As for the greens, they're pretty much flawless and you can score on them. The last part of the course is called the Devil's Elbow, and it is pretty difficult because it runs along the ocean. The last hole, with the Caribbean all down the right side of a dogleg right, is as good as it gets.

I had an opportunity to play Corales this past July with my father during a family trip to the Punta Cana area, and found it a big, expansive and engaging experience. Tom Fazio's bunkering takes some different forms, but here, it's broad and clamshell-like, reflecting the scale of the place.

Obvious highlight holes sit along the ocean (8, 9, 17, 18), punctuated by 18, but don't sleep on the inland holes, of which the long par-3 11th and two-green 15th (pictured) stand out.

The course is wall-to-wall Paspalum, so greens were on the slow side during a summer visit, but overall a fun experience. I look forward to seeing the PGA Tour visit this season.

In any other place this would be the best golf course in the area - but Punta Cana being such a hot vacation destination La Cana is probably one of the top three alongside Cap Cana and Arrecife.Make no mistake this is a destination golf Course.

The Hacienda nine starts in the back of the property and weaves itself through this area . It is probably the most challenging of the nines that include some very fast greens and water hazards in some holes. There are houses built on the edges of some of the fairways , but they are barely visible and do not come in play for the most part.Holes 4 and 6 where the stand outs of this nine,

The Tortuga Nine- starts from the clubhouse and begins the journey out to the beach culminating on hole 4 with a par five with an ocean view from the green and hole five a par three right on the beach where a slice into the prevailing wind will end up in the ocean. Avery difficult approach into the the water surrounded green on the par four 6 follows making it the toughest hole in this nine.Number 7 green is also adjacent to the beach. This nine finishes on the elevated green on number nine that gives you a very nice view of the whole area.In contrast to the Hacienda nine these greens are a lot slower, specially during summer months.

The arrecife nine was closed for maintenance during my visit but this is the crown jewel of this course,. The finishing two holes run along the beach and are absolutely gorgeous with this nine also featuring an island green.

Caddies are suggested although not required but are an absolute bargain at 30,00 us per cart.The staff was very friendly and the clubhouse has an open air bar perfect to have a drink after the round.

i have written quite a few reviews for this website and this is one of the very few that I have given 5 stars. This is most definitely a cant miss golf course for the avid golfer where beautiful holes along the ocean and and a great design marry to produce a challenging (specially in the wind) and memorable experience.

This was th most gorgeous golf course my husband and I got to play in DR. The golf course was being worked on by dozens of men, yet when we got close they stopped what they were doing and moved toward the perimeter of the hole. They were absolutely silent and as still as humanly possible until we completed our last putt. The staff was extremely friendly and very helpful. They jumped at the chance to help us with loading, unloading, cleaning, etc. The course itself was in immaculate shape. Every single thing about this golf course was amazing!

As my title suggests, this course is worth it for the scenery alone. My new bride drove the golf cart as I played, but the camera seemed to get more action that my clubs did.

I did end up shooting a +3 that day, which was excellent for me. Breathtaking scenery and a fun challenge along several oceanside and water-surrounded greens.

Will play again when I return to the D.R.

This course is the best course I've ever played. If you're looking to play golf this is a legit course to test your skills. Corales gives you that big course, tour feel. Sure Espada's oceanside holes are prettier but you don't get as much course. It's definitely worth the splurge, I can't say enough good things about Corales. It plays fair and true and I like the longer tee options.

good but not nice staff ...but really good and nice golf course.it was wourth it coming here.

I played Corales in the fall of 2011 with head pro Jay Overton, a former PGA TOUR and Champions Tour player. It had been open less than a year, but it was already in ideal condition, like an Augusta National of the Caribbean.
The six ocean holes weren't as visually striking as some of the ocean holes at the nearby Jack-Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada, but this is still a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The par-3 ninth hole and the par-4 18th hole, the finish of the three-hole stretch called the 'Devil's Elbow', were my favorite ocean holes. Tom Fazio added a unique touch, two greens on holes No. 3 and No. 15. They rotate play daily, giving members a new look.