Punta Espada Golf Club
For eight straight years Golfweek called it the best course in the Caribbean and Mexico, and a single look at the turquoise coves tells you why. Jack Nicklaus draped Punta Espada along the limestone bluffs of Cap Cana, with eight holes hard on the Caribbean and ocean views from all eighteen. It is the Dominican Republic's most photographed round, and one of the great resort tests of the tropics.
Photo: Punta Espada Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Punta Espada is the course that put Dominican golf on the luxury map alongside the storied Teeth of the Dog. Opened in 2006 as the first of three planned Jack Nicklaus Signature courses at the Cap Cana development on the island's eastern shore, it is a par 72 of around 7,396 yards routed over limestone bluffs, mangrove and cliff above the Caribbean. Eight holes sit directly on the sea, and there are ocean views from all eighteen.
The accolades followed quickly. Golfweek rated it the number one course in the Caribbean and Mexico for eight consecutive years, and it has hosted Champions Tour events, confirming that the drama is matched by a genuine test. For the travelling golfer it is a marquee round to anchor a Punta Cana trip, paired with Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo down the coast. Expect premium green fees, immaculate conditioning and a procession of postcard holes against the turquoise water.
Punta Espada at a glance
- Opened
- 2006
- Design
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Oceanfront
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,396 yds
- Green fee
- Premium
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design and the course records. Punta Espada is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course that opened in 2006, a par 72 of around 7,396 yards. Green fees sit at the premium end of the Caribbean, with the published rate including tax, cart, caddie and range balls. Prices are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Caribbean is in play far more often here than on most resort courses, and Nicklaus made the most of it. The signature is the par 3 thirteenth, played across a turquoise cove to a green tucked against the sea, a hole that adorns the brochures of Cap Cana and ranks among the most photographed in the Caribbean. The par 3 seventeenth is its equal, again carrying water with the ocean as a backdrop.
Between the postcard par 3s, the routing rolls along the bluffs with several drives and approaches flirting with the coastline, and the trade wind off the sea adds a constant variable. Inland, the holes wind through mangrove and limestone, with Nicklaus bunkering and well defended greens keeping the better player honest, while wide enough corridors let the resort golfer enjoy the views.
It rewards an aggressive but smart line off the tee and crisp iron play into firm greens. Played in the morning calm or the afternoon breeze, Punta Espada delivers a sustained run of drama that few courses anywhere can match.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and members course at Cap Cana, open to visiting golfers and packages; book through the club or your hotel |
| Green fee | Premium end of the Caribbean; the published rate includes tax, cart, caddie and range balls; confirm the current 2026 figure directly |
| Booking | Reserve through Cap Cana or a Punta Cana golf package; high season is the dry winter, so book ahead |
| On the day | Cart golf with caddies; sun protection and water essential; trade wind off the Caribbean most afternoons |
| Getting there | At Cap Cana on the eastern shore, a short drive south of Punta Cana International Airport |
| Best months | November to April, the drier, cooler high season; summer is hotter and more humid |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Cap Cana itself is the natural base, a gated luxury development with marina hotels and resorts such as Eden Roc and the Sanctuary a short ride from the first tee. Staying within Cap Cana puts you closest to Punta Espada and the beaches and marina that define the resort.
The wider Punta Cana strip to the north holds a deep field of all inclusive and luxury resorts for those who want a livelier base, and Punta Espada pairs naturally with Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore at Casa de Campo down the coast for a full Dominican golf week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Cap Cana and Punta Cana.
A Punta Cana golf trip
We build the Dominican golf trip around your group, pair Punta Espada with Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore and the best of Cap Cana, and arrange the resort, tee times and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Punta Espada questions
Who designed Punta Espada?
Punta Espada is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course that opened in 2006 at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, the first of three Nicklaus courses planned for the development. It is a par 72 of around 7,396 yards.
Why is Punta Espada so highly rated?
Punta Espada has eight holes set directly on the Caribbean and ocean views from all eighteen, and Golfweek rated it the number one course in the Caribbean and Mexico for eight consecutive years. It has also hosted Champions Tour events.
How much does it cost to play Punta Espada?
Punta Espada sits at the premium end of Caribbean green fees, with the published rate including tax, cart, caddie and range balls. Prices change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is Punta Espada?
It sits at Cap Cana on the eastern shore of the Dominican Republic, a short drive south of Punta Cana International Airport.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; green fees confirmed indicative and premium June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.