Cap Cana - Punta Espada

Great day at Punta Espada. The course was in great shape. Course layout, design and views were spectacular.

Nothing better in the Caribbean. Played great courses in Jamaica, Cancun, Bermuda and none compares to this. About 1/2 the holes are on the Caribbean, the other have are beautifully carved out of the sandstone and hills making this course visually incredible. Was fortunate to be a single with my caddie. We finished 27 holes in less than 3 hours. Pay the fee go play it - worth every penny. it's the Pebble of the Caribbean better than Teeth of the Dog or Dye Fore

I work in the golf industry, numb to what is considered "great golf". I rarely get wowed by a course. Punta Espada took my breath away! If you are in the DR, this course is a must play! The conditions of this course could be put up against the best!! Plan your DR trip with this course as the highlight! You will not be disappointed!!

I was trying to figure out the right words to describe this property and I couldn't...so I'm making one up. It's Spectacunificent!

From the very first tee you may find yourself just pausing to admire the view. Every hole just seems to get better than the last. I played on what I'd call an extremely windy day (probably average for the course though) and had a blast. It was challenging (I'm a 1 handicap), fair and just overall a great test of golf. Jack did an incredibly job creating a great mix of difficult and rewarding holes. The layout was top notch.

Enough about that though, this course is the MOST visually stunning golf course I've ever seen, much less been on, and I've been to Augusta multiple times. I searched all day and couldn't find a single blade of grass that wasn't exactly where it was supposed to be, and if you're looking for a single weed, keep looking. My playing partner actually took a picture of the grass on the tee box because it didn't even seem real. This was the most well manicured, pristine golf course I've ever seen. I even took my shoes off and played bare feet just to feel the grass.

The staff was absolutely incredible. Our caddy, Martin was awesome! He was fun, and incredibly insightful. One of my playing partners wants to bring him to every course she plays...he was that good. Everyone had a smile, was very relaxed, which you might not expect at a course of this magnitude, and make you feel like you were the most important person there.

I can't say enough good things about this golf course. No matter what, it is a must play...oh yeah, did I mention the most vivid double rainbow I've ever seen arched right from the ocean to the edge of the course! We truly found the Pot of Gold!

I should preface this review by saying I am an occasional golfer that enjoys playing 9 holes and having a couple beverages, and would rarely golf on a vacation.

This course is a huge exception and I am so glad that I was able to play this spectacular course during my visit to Punta Cana.

The entire facility is first class and each hole impresses you more and more as your taken along the Caribbean Sea back inland along beautiful rock formations back to the ocean, which never gets old. Not only are the views and hole layouts beautiful and interesting, the course conditions are top notch and probably the best conditioned course I have seen.

The icing on this amazing round was our caddy Martin who I would highly recommend you ask for if you get the opportunity to play this course. He was professional, super knowledgeable, and just a pleasure to spend the morning with.

If you haven’t been to DR for a golf trip, add this destination to your list and make sure to play Punta Espada. You won’t regret it!

This round was my second on Punta Espada in less than a year - and third overall. Playing this course never gets old. In fact, I'd argue it gets better every time. I've finally learned how to tackle the tricky short par 4 eighth and figured out some of the nuances on the greens.

Not only is the beauty off the charts, but Jack Nicklaus did a nice job making every hole memorable. After the simple first hole, it's a great cart ride for the next 17. A must-play along with the likes of Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, Kiawah Island and other seaside/lakeside stunners.

SUPERB golf.

BUT, pro shop staff failed us when they ordered us a taxi from the wrong company. Upon arrival we were forced to pay $50 for what should have been a service included in our deal. We had been picked up as expected and not charged. Management admitted error but did NOTHING!

I played this course as part of a media FAM trip. Several of the writers there were course raters for major publications. Everyone raved about the views. Nearly every hole capitalized on ocean views, either as a hazard or as vista from tee or green. Really imaginative layout; nearly every hole was memorable. Some media critics considered it much better than the nigher-rated Teeth of the Dog (which we'd played the day before). The low handicappers (single-digit) scored well here because they hit the ball straight. Those of us who were less straight, however, faced multiple recovery shots off the crushed shell & rock waste areas that lined many fairways (most?). If we had not been playing a 2-day tournament, though, I would have laid out of these. The rocks/shells in those areas were tough on my irons, and frankly, no fun to play from at all. If I had paid $370 + caddie to play, I would not have wanted to risk having to buy a new set of irons after my round, too. This is a very tough but beautiful course, which skilled players will love. Average resort players should experience it too, but they should give themselves a break.

While Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo in the DR is one of Pete Dye's very best, the same argument could be made for Cap Cana at Punta Espada GC and Jack Nicklaus. This is undoubtedly one the Golden Bear's best golf courses in the world -- and he has hundreds. With spectacular ocean views on about half the holes, it doesn't get any prettier than Punta Espada, plus the holes are all interesting and well thought-out. This is, without a doubt, one of the top 100 courses in the world, and it probably the best course in the Caribbean, perhaps even better than Teeth of the Dog. With that said, I'd have a hard time deciding between the two, meaning any trip to the DR has to include them both.

Anybody who doesn't give Punta Espada five stars doesn't know golf.

It's not just one of my favorite courses in the Caribbean but in the world. It's beyond gorgeous. What's amazing is how well how well Nicklaus not only used the sea cliffs but how strong many of the inland holes are. The reveals on the second tee and the eighth green are poster worthy. And those seaside tee shots at no. 13 and 17 - oh boy.

Don't miss it.

Just a few minutes from Punta Cana, Punta Espada is one of the three true headlining golf courses in the Dominican Republic along with Corales and Teeth of Dog. It might be a little lesser known if only because Cap Cana took a little longer to get off the ground compared to Punta Cana. It's a mesmerizing place and an entirely different environment compared to its peers. Holes on both side of the course play so intimately beside the sea. In fact, on the 17th tee, the waves feel like they could run right onto your feet.

Playing corridors are pretty generous, but there are holes where fairway bunkers come into play. There are some real neat short holes, and some brawny par 5s like the 2nd (make sure you drive back to the elevated tee, and take a crack from the 250-yard tips on 13, too. Very Mauna Kea-esque!)

I recently played Jack's Cabo Del Sol, and I think Punta Espada compares favorably to it. It's less of a desert course with more mellow undulations to it. But drama is nevertheless high throughout.

The experience is a premium one through and through and includes a forecaddie. Like all courses in DR, they can be hit and miss. Come early and use the driving range. It's one of the best settings out there.

Jack Nicklaus has a well-earned reputation for designing challenging golf courses that can frustrate golfers. Punta Espada's breezy, sandy seaside setting could have yielded exactly that, but I found the course tough but playable. Greens are smallish and angled, but there's almost always somewhere to miss. What's more, there's always something interesting to see here - particularly the unreal blue of the Caribbean Sea. A must-play if you come to Punta Cana.

Not cheap. We paid $235. Worth every penny. So many beautiful holes. We teed off at 7:30am and finished in 4 hours 20 minutes. Could have played much faster but lots of places to stop and take pictures. Turf conditions were excellent, first time playing on paspalum grass. Our caddie was great and helped a lot with putting. One of the few things in life that lives up to the hype.

All I can say is that if you are a true golf enthusiast then you owe it to yourself to play it. The course was in perfect shape after a heavy night time rain. The wind was blowing, the waves were crashing and my group was in golf heaven. The caddies were great and after our round we were allowed to fire up cigars inside the club house. The bartenders took great care of us and we can not wait to go back.

If you've never played golf in the D.R. there are a couple 'must' plays and this is one of them. Situated along the ocean there are hardly any calm days. This can be fun and maddening at the same time.

While many holes offer ample room off the tee there are a few approach shots that are nearly impossible in the wind. Most notoriously, is Hole 2 that plays from an elevated tee back into the prevailing wind and is 598 yards from the Gold (Black is Championship) tees. Assuming a solid tee shot it still takes two more mighty lashes to get to a fairly small green surrounded by water in regulation. Not sure how ideal it is to have the hardest hole on the course be the second hole you play.

Regardless, every hole along/near the water is stunning, if for no other reason than you rarely see water so magnificently blue. As with most island golf, scoring will mostly depend on how you play in the wind and if you can avoid being distracted by the stunning scenery.

The visually stunning surroundings can make you forget how good of a course this is. Good risk/reward options, nice variety, and a lot of fun. Amazing routing along the water and the inland holes are also terrific. The most memorable course I have ever played.

This is my favorite Jack Nicklaus course to play. If you have never played on paspalum fairways or greens, you are in for a treat. You will not believe how good your lies are all the way around this course. The greens are wonderful, they are never really really fast and that is good news with the wind you will encounter most of the time.

Take time and enjoy the wonderful views.

Pics of Punta Espada

https://flickr.com/photos/92239680@N08/sets/72157638895878966

This is not only the most beautiful courses I've ever played but its also one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! I was the only one in my group of vacationers that play so I went by myself but still had a great morning. The course is in great shape and very playable. It would be great if you could walk the course when its not busy to enjoy the scenery more. I wish we still had caddies at courses in the US. It was great to just grab a club, get some advise and hit the ball. If you are a golfer and are in the area you would be crazy to not play this course.

I have played all over the world including all the great tracks in Ireland, and I can tell you the physical beauty of Punta Espada will blow you away. This is a must play golf course.

The driving range view is breathtaking, and that just gets you started. The layout is impeccable given that it is a Jack Nicklaus design. It is a course that you can get your driver out and have some fun.

Fairways are not hard to hit, and the greens are not tricked up in order to be more difficult than necessary.....if you hit greens you can make some birdies.

Breathtaking beyond description. I have played before and will play again. Two thumbs way up.