{"id":21886,"date":"2018-09-27T09:48:09","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T09:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/punta-espada-spectacular-caribbean-golf-2\/"},"modified":"2018-09-27T09:48:09","modified_gmt":"2018-09-27T09:48:09","slug":"punta-espada-spectacular-caribbean-golf-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/punta-espada-spectacular-caribbean-golf-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Punta Espada: Spectacular Caribbean Golf"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There are a just a handful of golf courses of great quality and beauty in the world that also have the added attraction of being nestled in paradisiacal havens. One of them is Punta Espada Golf Club, in the Dominican Republic, specifically in the Cap Cana macro-urbanisation, just 15 minutes from the airport. Opened in 2006, this par-72, 6,762-metre course, lapped by Caribbean turquoise waters, was designed by Jack Nicklaus, who incorporated the area\u2019s natural features into its topography: the cliffs, the beach, the water channels and the lush vegetation. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cap Cana terrain represented a challenge in designing Punta Espada,\u201d said Nicklaus during the course\u2019s inauguration, \u201cand inspired us to create the ideal setting for an exceptional golf course for those who are passionate about this sport. It enjoys a privileged natural environment, with all 18 holes overlooking the Caribbean Sea, making it an irresistible course for golfers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Efren Garc\u00eda-Estrada, director of Punta Estada Golf Club, relates how the legendary star conceived the commission. \u201cWhen Nicklaus was hired for three Signature designs at Cap Cana, he was given the choice of locating the first of them to make Punta Espada a reality and, like a good artist, he chose the best canvas for his artwork: approximately two kilometers of spectacular coastline that provides the perfect contrast of various shades of blue, the bright green of Paspalum and the clear white tones of the bunkers and landscaped areas.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Selected Holes <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

With eight holes next to the sea, it is not easy to determine which are the most attractive. According to Garc\u00eda-Estrada, it is a difficult choice because for him all are remarkable. Nevertheless, he opts for three. He begins with the second, a par-five he defines as \u201can incredible hole, both aesthetically and strategically, a well thought out hole that challenges you on each stroke and rewards those who take risks and hit good shots\u201d. <\/p>\n

Then he mentions the 13th, a par-3 of 225 meters, over the sea and the \u201cSignature Hole\u201d; and also includes in this trio the 17th, a par-four that is simply spectacular. <\/span>\u201cThe drive is played over water and those who are more daring will have a much shorter and easier second shot than those who do not take so many risks. It is not a long par-four and it offers a good birdie opportunity if you play it courageously.\u201d <\/p>\n

As for the three most difficult holes at Punta Espada, the director lists the 13th, \u201cattractive while also being tough\u201d; the 11th, \u201ca long par-four with a shot to the green that requires a lot of mettle\u201d; and the 18th, \u201cof great difficulty, a demanding, long hole, because usually you hit against the wind and play to a small green, well defended by the sea and two bunkers\u201d.<\/p>\n

For the final choices, we asked him to specify the most spectacular holes. \u201cThe second and third are stunning; the same as the 12th, a par-five that ends on a green with 270 degrees of coastline and outstanding views of Caleton Beach Club, a small but exquisite beach with fine white sand.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

World-Class Players<\/b><\/p>\n

Punta Espada, unquestionably one of Jack Nicklaus\u2019 masterpieces, has an outstanding resume as a venue for top-category competitions, especially The Cap Cana Championship, a US PGA Tour Champions event held in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fred Couples was the winner of the last edition, finishing the tournament in fine style with a 10-under 62, which remains the course record. \u201cThanks to the tournament,\u201d recalls Efren Garc\u00eda-Estrada, \u201cwe were able to see such top players as Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin, Gary Player, Bernhard Langer and Mark O\u2019Meara compete in the Dominican Republic.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Golf Destination<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite the great fame that Punta Espada and various other courses in the country enjoy, Garc\u00eda-Estrada believes the Dominican Republic should be promoted much more as a golf destination.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a premier golf destination,\u201d he says emphatically. \u201cWe have it all: good weather, good hotel facilities and villas, easy air access and, above all and the most important \u2013 impressive golf courses designed by some of the best names in the industry.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are four courses that stand out from the rest,\u201d he continues, \u201cand they are among the best in the world: Punta Espada by Jack Nicklaus; Teeth of the Dog by Pete Dye; Coral by Tom Fazio; and Playa Grande by Robert Trent Jones Sr and renovated by his son Rees Jones. Of these, the first three are less than an hour\u2019s drive away. Apart from these three, there are a handful of other extraordinary courses that offer a wonderful golf experience and would stand out in any other destination. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving said that,\u201d he adds, \u201cfate remains a great unknown and the challenge is to continue promoting the destination. The PGA Tour Corales Championship is undoubtedly helping to spread the word about the destination, and we appreciate the effort being made to have this tournament on the island.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Value and Price <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Playing at one of the best golf courses in the Caribbean has its price: expensive but not exorbitant, given the value of what is offered. Until 18 November, when the golf season ends there, the green fee is $225 (\u20ac197) if the tee time is from 11.40am to 2.30pm, and $295 (\u20ac258) if you go out on the course between 7.00am and 11.30am. This latter price at Punta Espada is, together with Teeth of the Dog (at the same price), the most expensive green fee in the Dominican Republic. If you can afford it, do not hesitate \u2013 pay it and play the course! <\/p>\n

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Best in the Caribbean<\/b><\/p>\n

Golfweek Magazine has ranked Punta Espada as the number one course in the Caribbean and Mexico area for eight consecutive years. This challenging Dominican Republic par-72 course also appears in 76th place in the world rankings produced by Golf Digest. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Mandatory Caddie<\/b><\/p>\n

It is not that they do not trust their visitors\u2019 golfing skills, but simply that at this Caribbean course caddies are mandatory. Although playing at Punta Espada costs almost $300, the price includes caddy, unlimited practice range balls, golf cart, tees, yardage book, water\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Exceptional Urbanisation<\/b><\/p>\n

Cap Cana, with its more than 12,000 hectares and 52 kilometers of roads, is one of the Caribbean\u2019s major tourism macro-urbanisations \u2013 and, indeed, throughout the world. It offers all kinds of facilities and even has a university campus. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Oldest in the Americas<\/b><\/p>\n

The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, is the oldest colonial city in the \u201cNew World\u201d. Founded by Bartolom\u00e9 Col\u00f3n (brother of Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n \u2013 or Christopher Columbus) on 5 August 1498, it was the first European settlement in the Americas. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are a just a handful of golf courses of great quality and beauty in the world that also have the added attraction of being nestled in paradisiacal havens. One of them is Punta Espada Golf Club, in the Dominican Republic, specifically in the Cap Cana macro-urbanisation, just 15 minutes from the airport. Opened in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[125],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}