Punta cana golf courses

Punta Cana golf courses? Punta Cana is known for having great all-inclusives and the most beautiful beach in the world, but a lot of people don’t realize that Punta Cana golf courses are the best in the Caribbean. They are spectacular because of the scenery and because they have tracked down some of the best designers in the world to create them. Designers include: Pete Dye; Jack Nicklaus; P.B. Dye; Nick Faldo and Robert Trent Jones to name a few.

While Teeth of the Dog is a spectacular course, Punta Cana golf courses have definitely taken over in recent years. The first course to help dethrone the Dog was the La Cana Golf Course designed by P.B. Dye. With seven of the holes at the Punta Cana Golf Course running directly along the shores of the Caribbean, you truly feel that you’re playing a seafront course – the views are breathtaking! The course gives you an odd feeling of being at a tropical Pebble Beach.

The Cocotal Golf Club is one of several resort style courses that were designed with the tourist in mind. These courses tend to be enjoyable and somewhat forgiving, lending themselves to an under five hour round by tourists renting clubs. Cocotal Golf club is a lot of fun as it weaves through Coconut trees and small lakes, but is not a seafront course. There are 27 holes to choose from, but you should probably tee off early if you want to avoid the busy time of day. Hiring Jack Nicklaus to design three new golf courses was a stroke of genius by the developers of the Cap Cana resort complex in Punta Cana. They have given him his pick of the 46 square miles of real estate that the complex owns. Jack revealed the back 9 of his new course Punta Espada Golf Course to the world in August 2006. The course is a spectacular championship course with almost half its holes playing along or to the Caribbean. My first impression was that of the dramatic coastline and views – my second was of just how green the course is. Jack created the first course in the Dominican Republic entirely with Paspalum grass. Nicklaus says that this grass is the best choice as it is resistant to salt-water, heat and remains incredibly green and lush.

Nicklaus describes the course as "Cap Cana's topography represented a challenge in design, but one we embraced. At the same time, 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 with its natural surroundings--with almost half the holes playing to or along the coastline, and views of the Caribbean on all but a few holes--this is a stunning backdrop for golf." With these 3 new courses, Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic have definitely lifted themselves above all other golf destinations in the Caribbean.

There are eight golf courses in operation directly in the Punta Cana area, and several more slated for opening in the next couple years: El Golf de Bavaro 18 holes par 72 (Barcelo hotels), Cocotal 27 holes par 72 (Melia hotels), La Cana Golf Course (Club Med, Punta Cana Resort & Club, Cabeza de Toro Golf (Catalonia Resort), White Sands Golf (Blue Ocean resort), Punta Espada Golf opened the first 9 holes summer 2006 (the full 18 are now open) at the prestigious Cap Cana complex. The second course at the Punta Cana Resort & Club La Corales Golf Course is under construction and will open in 2008

The courses at Casa de Campo like Teeth of the Dog , the new Dye Fore Golf course and The Links are not too far of a drive to venture to from Punta Cana. The next time you're on vacation, try out a few of the Punta Cana golf courses - you won't be disappointed.