Las Iguanas Golf Club – Cap Cana
Designed by the South African player Nick Price, winner of the British Open (1994) and twice named Player of the Year (1993 and 1994) by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). This course’s design is different, and is held to a very high standard; the greens have a lot of movement and are surrounded by jungle and large natural lakes. Not much change in elevation but that was expected from the landscape the course is set in. This par 72 course offers the player a challenge at each hole, while also being fun because of its broad and exciting rounds with its traps, lakes and its risky par 3 13th and 15th holes.
Sown with the “paspalum vaginatum” variety, Punta Blanca Golf Course has a clubhouse available for its residents and golfers. Golfers can also enjoy the beach, complete with hammocks in front of the beach club. It’s a nice layout which should appeal to golfers of all levels.
The vegetation changes between the front and back 9. While the front 9 displays the scenery of a typical Florida course the back is more distinct with the wetlands in play on 13 and 15.
This course is part of the Punta Blanca Golf & Beach Resort and is located next to the Majestic Colonial Beach Resort, Grand Bahía Príncipe and Riu Hotels, in the north section of Bávaro (Arena Gorda Beach). Guests at these hotels enjoy special rates at Punta Blanca Golf Club. Punta Blanca offers the player a challenge on each hole and at the same time is fun for their ample and moved fairways, with its bunkers, the lakes and the risky holes 13 and 15 both par 3.
Set just one kilometre back from the ocean, behind a pink wall and plenty of tropical vegetation, this well-maintained parkland course is a great starting point for any golfing trip to Dominican’s burgeoning Bavaro/Punta Cana area. Although you will not be tested by knee-trembling carries over the Atlantic’s rocky foreshore and sandy beaches, this very good Nick Price design will allow you to unwind and stretch those golfing muscles in a very pleasant, tropical parkland environment.
The layout’s relatively open feel combines with good-width fairways to provide ample space for the big timber to be used on most occasions from the tee. However, you’ll need to be mindful of expansive sandy waste areas, good bunkering, areas of taller grasses and occasional greenside water hazards, all of which lie in wait for the seriously errant shot. The usually large and smoothly undulating greens will certainly test your putting skills, while avoiding the elliptical and often deep bunkering around them should be one of your key scoring strategies.
Two of the three back-nine par-3s require carries over wetland areas to reach the safety of their tree- and bush-surrounded greens. The three short holes on the inward-nine are balanced and alternate with three good length, nicely contoured par-5s. Punta Blanca may not be one of the toughest courses in the area, but its excellent design, absence of housing around the course or along any fairways, and easy-going tropical parkland charms ensures a rewarding outing for golfers of all skill levels.
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