Punta Cana, located on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast, is the closest a golf enthusiast can get to heaven on earth. If playing 18 holes surrounded by turquoise water is your version of golf’s holy grail, then consider Punta Cana’s 14 ocean-hugging layouts as destination golfing at its finest.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada fits the bill as the mother of all ocean courses. If there is a Yin for every Yang, then think of Punta Espada as the golf equivalent of a beautiful woman with a helluva an attitude.
Yes, there are head-turning ocean holes at nearly every turn. Then again, playing inches from the ocean means that a cross-wind, wind at your back, or wind in your face is a possibility with nearly every shot. The payoff is a golf course that is so “am I really here” awe-inspiring, you’ll be tempted to chuck your clubs and just take photographs.
If Nicklaus were a painter, then Punta Espada is his most memorable canvas. If Mona Lisa posed for the Golden Bear at Punta Espada, her smile would be described as face-splittingly content.
If you somehow take Punta Espada’s brilliant good looks for granted, keep in mind that Punta Cana is home to a baker’s dozen more world-class golf tracks. Isn’t it time for you to color coordinate your next golf vacation with turquoise blue alongside emerald green?
