Las Iguanas Golf Course — Nicklaus 2025

Las Iguanas is Cap Cana's newest championship course — a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design that opened in November 2025. Lead designer Troy Vincent created a layout that integrates with the resort's protected iguana nature reserve, delivering three oceanside holes (12–14) alongside a naturalistic interior experience that is unlike any other course in the Caribbean.

For visiting golfers, Las Iguanas represents a chance to play a brand-new Nicklaus design before it accumulates the crowds and advance booking pressure that Punta Espada now commands. Book Villa Espada now while Las Iguanas is still in its opening season.

Punta Espada Golf Course — Nicklaus 2006

Punta Espada is Jack Nicklaus's personal favourite course of all his designs — a statement covering a portfolio of over 300 courses worldwide. Eight holes play directly alongside the Caribbean Sea cliffs, with dramatic elevation changes and visual impact that has made it the #2-ranked course in the Caribbean for nearly two decades.

The course is longer and more wind-exposed than Las Iguanas, with a playing experience dominated by the trade winds and the constant presence of the ocean. Punta Espada demands course management above all — the golfer who respects the course beats the one who tries to overpower it.

Playing Both — The Two-Course Cap Cana Itinerary

  • Day 1 — Las Iguanas: Morning tee time. Experience the iguana reserve and the 12–14 ocean stretch. Afternoon at Villa Espada pool.
  • Day 2 — Punta Espada: Early morning start. Take a caddie. Play the full 18 before wind builds after 10am.
  • Day 3 (optional): La Cana at Puntacana Resort (15 minutes) or Corales Golf Club for variety.
  • Day 4 (optional): Replay your favourite Cap Cana course or take a day trip to Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo.

Where to Stay — Inside Cap Cana

The only accommodation that gives you walking-distance access to both Las Iguanas and Punta Espada is a Cap Cana villa rental. Villa Espada is the premier option — a private eight-bedroom luxury villa inside the resort with a private pool, chef service, and a concierge team that specialises in golf travel logistics.

Hotel accommodation outside Cap Cana's gates requires a drive to reach either course. For golfers whose trip is built around the two Cap Cana courses, staying inside the resort is the only sensible choice.

FAQ — Cap Cana Golf

How many golf courses are in Cap Cana?
Two championship courses sit inside Cap Cana: Punta Espada and Las Iguanas, both Jack Nicklaus Signature designs — 36 holes without leaving the gates.

Who designed the Cap Cana golf courses?
Both are Jack Nicklaus Signature designs. Punta Espada opened in 2006; Las Iguanas opened in November 2025.

Can you play both Cap Cana courses in one trip?
Easily. The two courses are about three minutes apart by golf cart. A common itinerary is Las Iguanas one day, Punta Espada the next, with La Cana or Corales nearby for a third round.

Where do you stay to play Cap Cana golf?
Villa Espada sits directly on Fairway 5 of Punta Espada inside the resort — the only private rental estate with a fairway address — with two golf carts and member-rate tee times included.