SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Set against the backdrop of the Caribbean waters, the back nine holes of the Punta Espada Golf Course at the Cap Cana resort and real estate community have been unveiled.
The Punta Espada course is one of three Jack Nicklaus Signature designs that will be built for Cap Cana, which will require a total investment of $43 million.
"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," Nicklaus said. "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."
Punta Espada's 18 holes have been seamlessly integrated into Cap Cana's stunning natural surroundings. The back nine, which is now open for play, is located along a dramatic coastline where golfers can look out into the blue expanse of the ocean in search of inspiration.
Punta Espada is also the first golf course in the Dominican Republic that features 100 percent Seashore Paspalum, a grass preferred in tropical climates because of its resistance to salt water and its vibrant green color.
"We wanted to give Jack Nicklaus the perfect site to create a work of art; that's why we didn?t think twice about putting more than 7,000 yards of land at his disposal so he could let his imagination and creativity soar," said Ricardo Hazoury, president of Cap Cana's Board of Directors. "Our desire is to offer devoted golfers the best course in the world, designed by the best in the world."
The Dominican Republic has the most golf courses of any country in the Caribbean. And when Cap Cana is finished, it will be the only place in the Caribbean to have three Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses within a single development.
The first phase of the upscale Cap Cana development is expected to cost $1.5 billion to complete, officials said. In this initial phase, the 46-square-mile project also will have three 5-star hotels, one of the most complete and modern marinas in the Caribbean and a 5,000 residential units with views of the Caribbean Sea to accompany the golf courses.
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