by LARRY HALL
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – A recent golf trip took me to play Punta Espada, the Crown Jewel of the Caribbean, located in the Dominican Republic. This spectacular course lies near the city of Punta Cana, within the 30,000-acre Cap Cana development, and is part of the luxurious St. Regis Cap Cana Resort, where my wife and I were treated like royalty for our stay.
Punta Espada was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is arguably the second most recognized of the 400-plus courses he has built worldwide. While Muirfield Village will undoubtedly be remembered as Nicklaus’ enduring legacy, thanks to the Memorial Tournament, Punta Espada may be regarded by future generations as his finest work.
The course was originally the brainchild of the Cap Cana Village Council, whose president, Ricardo Hazoury, proclaimed at the time: “Our greatest wish is to present the best course in the world to all golf lovers, to be designed by the best (designer) in the world.”
The Council gifted Nicklaus over 6,000 acres to “let his imagination and creativity run free.” Punta Espada opened on November 8, 2006, with Nicklaus personally unveiling this oceanfront masterpiece.
Reflecting on the project, he announced: “Cap Cana’s topography represented a challenge in design, but one we embraced, as the terrain also created an ideal scenario for a golf course that is unique and should appeal to anyone who has a passion for the game. With the relationship Punta Espada enjoys in its natural surroundings, almost half the holes play to or along the coastline, and with views of the Caribbean on all but a few holes…this is a stunning backdrop for a golf course.”
The ocean front property stretches for over a mile of open coastline, with eight holes playing directly beside or across ocean coves. Most of the remaining holes still offer views of the sea from the tee box, fairway, or green. Notably, Punta Espada was the first course in the Dominican Republic to be grassed entirely with Seashore Paspalum, a salt-tolerant turf that retains a vibrant green hue and thrives even in coastal conditions.
I’ve played hundreds of golf courses in my lifetime, and the only one that rivals the scenic beauty of Punta Espada is Pebble Beach. The views and flawless Nicklaus design are so mesmerizing, you almost forget about the lost balls or the three-putts. My only regret was not being able to play again the following day, but alas, Mercedes had reserved the course for the next two days for The Mercedes Trophy Cup.
Punta Espada Notes:
• Hosted three Champions Tour events, with Fred Couples setting the course record at 62.
• Repeatedly ranked by Golfweek as the No. 1 Best Course in the Caribbean and Mexico.
• Ranked No. 35 on Golf Digest’s 2021 list of the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
The Jack Nicklaus Design Company portfolio lists over 400 world-wide projects but I would argue that Punta Espada stands as the premier public Nicklaus course in the world – an unforgettable experience that anyone can play.
I’ll end my golf adventure with Jack’s own words about his creation: “Nowhere else in the world will there be a golf experience like this.”
If you’re thinking about a golf vacation that won’t ‘bust your budget’ this place has it all. The “wow” factor is non-stop and you might even find yourself tired of taking selfies with such visually stunning and gorgous ocean backgrounds.
Punta Espada is unquestionably the Crown Jewel of the Caribbean!
https://www.puntaespadagolf.com/
(Larry Hall, a Jacksonville, Florida-based golf writer, is a member of Golf Heritage Society, Golf Writers Association of America, Historical Writers of America, International Network of Golf and Golf Travel Writers of America. He can be reached at: bgtriptips@gmail.com)
