Cap Cana - Punta Espada
About
Punta Espada, the first of three exclusive Jack Nicklaus signature designs to be developed at Cap Cana, has been ranked by GolfWeek as the best golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico. The golf course opened in October 2006.
Punta Espada Golf Club has been designed to incorporate the natural features of the landscape into its topography: the bluffs, the beach, the waterways and the jungle foliage. The design allows and guarantees that golfers of all levels are accommodated, including those playing at world championship level. The par-72 golf course played host to the inaugural PGA Tour's Champions Tour in April 2008 - The Cap Cana Championship.
Many experts consider the course's signature hole to be No. 13, a 250-yard par-3 that is sure to become one of the world's most photographed holes. Reminiscent of scenes from Pebble Beach, this hole requires golfers to execute a huge, 249-yard tee shot over the ocean into a green surrounded by lapping waves. For the timid, there is a generous bailout zone to the right of the green.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Negro | 72 | 7396 yards | 77.0 | 137 |
Dorado | 72 | 6883 yards | 75.3 | 134 |
Azul | 72 | 6314 yards | 72.4 | 133 |
Azul (W) | 72 | 6314 yards | 78.9 | 139 |
Rojo (W) | 72 | 5052 yards | 71.4 | 128 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 75.0/133 | 390 | 610 | 396 | 186 | 464 | 614 | 167 | 342 | 425 | 3594 | 429 | 491 | 532 | 252 | 434 | 553 | 213 | 350 | 452 | 3706 | 7300 |
Gold M: 72.4/133 | 365 | 592 | 343 | 167 | 427 | 589 | 145 | 314 | 395 | 3337 | 405 | 470 | 492 | 217 | 405 | 525 | 189 | 338 | 397 | 3438 | 6775 |
Blue M: 69.5/124 W: 76.0/136 | 359 | 533 | 326 | 152 | 414 | 579 | 130 | 300 | 368 | 3161 | 330 | 436 | 481 | 172 | 353 | 489 | 179 | 251 | 352 | 3043 | 6204 |
Green M: 66.9/115 W: 70.0/125 | 359 | 465 | 326 | 152 | 340 | 457 | 130 | 300 | 255 | 2784 | 330 | 366 | 481 | 112 | 291 | 441 | 179 | 251 | 287 | 2738 | 5522 |
Red M: 66.2/113 W: 68.7/119 | 268 | 465 | 312 | 113 | 340 | 457 | 89 | 222 | 255 | 2521 | 273 | 366 | 389 | 112 | 291 | 441 | 105 | 216 | 287 | 2480 | 5001 |
Handicap | 11 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 6 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 11 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 6 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Food & Beverage
Snacks, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Banquet Facilities, LockersReviews
Reviewer Photos
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNbt8tC7PzU&t=94s Photo submitted by brianmcneely on 06/19/2023
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on #17 at Punta Espada Photo submitted by u370813028 on 04/28/2022
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on #10 at Punta Espads Photo submitted by u370813028 on 04/28/2022
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Photo submitted by u197947269 on 01/18/2022
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Signature Par 5 on the front nine Photo submitted by rayalfonso on 07/06/2019
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Clubhouse courtyard view of the 18th Photo submitted by rayalfonso on 07/06/2019
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#17 over the Caribbean Photo submitted by rayalfonso on 07/06/2019
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Photo submitted by Ryan8952454 on 04/12/2019
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Photo submitted by SPT23 on 04/12/2019
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Photo submitted by SPT23 on 04/12/2019
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Photo submitted by SPT23 on 04/12/2019
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Photo submitted by SPT23 on 04/12/2019
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 12/11/2017
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 12/11/2017
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 12/11/2017
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The driving range at Punta Espada. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 12/07/2017
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Views for days on both nines Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 12/07/2017
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Scenic par 3s. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 12/07/2017
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The crew Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 12/07/2017
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Hole 2 - Tee Photo submitted by EthanZimman on 10/21/2017
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Hole 2 - Approach Photo submitted by EthanZimman on 10/21/2017
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Hole 10 Photo submitted by EthanZimman on 10/21/2017
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Photo submitted by EthanZimman on 10/21/2017
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Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 10/18/2017
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Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 10/18/2017
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Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 10/18/2017
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Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 10/18/2017
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Unforgettable Photo submitted by guycharles2012 on 05/18/2017
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Photo submitted by LICC on 03/02/2017
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Photo submitted by LICC on 03/02/2017
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Photo submitted by LICC on 03/02/2017
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View from Club House at 7:00am. Photo submitted by Dolf4170962 on 08/18/2016
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by Ryan8043198 on 08/27/2015
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Photo submitted by legacy3930 on 07/26/2015
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Photo submitted by legacy3930 on 07/26/2015
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Photo submitted by legacy3930 on 07/26/2015
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Photo submitted by legacy3930 on 07/26/2015
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Photo submitted by legacy3930 on 07/26/2015
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Par 5 2nd hole, lagoon that cuts in by the green Photo submitted by sacup10 on 04/24/2015
GREAT OCEAN COURSE
One of the best ocean courses we have ever played.
What a course!
Great day at Punta Espada. The course was in great shape. Course layout, design and views were spectacular.
Best in the Caribbean hands down!!!
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
6 STAR WORTHY! Breathtaking!
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!!
A masterpiece!
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!
A Must Play in the Caribbean!
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!
Dominican Golf Gold
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.
Great course, but disappointing staff and management
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!
Five-star perfection
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.
Arguably the best course in the Caribbean
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.
Unreal setting
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.
Goreous views & difficult shots
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.
Nicklaus gem glimmers by the sea
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.