Golf in Punta Cana: Corales, La Cana and Punta Espada
Courses by Tom Fazio, P.B. Dye and Jack Nicklaus, who can play them, and how to plan a golf trip.
In this guide
Golf in Punta Cana is one of the region’s main draws. Within a short drive of the airport are courses by Tom Fazio, P.B. Dye and Jack Nicklaus, several with holes played along the sea. This guide covers the headline courses, how access works and how to plan a golf trip.
Corales
Designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2010, Corales is the flagship course of Puntacana Resort & Club. Six holes run along cliffs and coves beside the sea, and the closing three holes, known as the Devil’s Elbow, finish with a forced carry over Corales Bay. The course has hosted a PGA Tour event, the Corales Puntacana Championship, since 2018. The resort says Corales is open to members and their guests and to guests of its hotels, so check the rules for villa stays before you book.
La Cana
P.B. Dye designed La Cana, a 27-hole layout at Puntacana Resort & Club made up of three nines: Tortuga, Arrecife and Hacienda. According to the resort, 14 holes have ocean views. It is a natural partner to Corales for a multi-round stay.
Punta Espada
Punta Espada, in Cap Cana, is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course that opened in 2006. Eight holes play along and over the sea, and it hosted a PGA Tour Champions event from 2008 to 2010. Cap Cana says the course is open to the public, with tee times bookable online. A second Nicklaus course there, Las Iguanas, is under development, with nine holes currently open to members.
Access and dates, as published in September 2026
The Corales course page states that the club admits members and their guests, with access for Tortuga Bay and Westin guests through the resort’s Golf Experience plans or à la carte; villa guests elsewhere in the resort should ask for written confirmation. The 2026 Corales Puntacana Championship was played from 16 to 19 July 2026 for a US$4 million purse and won by Stefano Mazzoli, and the resort’s tournament page lists the next edition for 12 to 18 July 2027, so expect Corales to be unavailable around those dates. Cap Cana’s golf page dates Punta Espada’s opening to November 2006 and says the first nine of Las Iguanas is open to members only. July is also the humid season, as when to visit Punta Cana explains.
Other courses
The wider region has more courses, many attached to resorts in Bávaro and farther north. They can be good value for an extra round, but check who can play and how to book.
Planning golf in Punta Cana
- Play early: mornings are cooler and often less windy.
- Book tee times when you book your villa, especially in high season and around tournament weeks.
- Ask whether your villa comes with golf privileges or a golf cart.
- Pack sun protection and drink plenty of water; heat and humidity are high for much of the year.
- Check dress codes and caddie rules for each course.
Combining destinations
Many golfers pair Punta Cana with Casa de Campo, about an hour away by road, to add Pete Dye’s Teeth of the Dog. Read golf at Casa de Campo.
Golf in Punta Cana is best planned around access, so confirm where you can play before you choose where to stay. For the areas, read where to stay in Punta Cana.
