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Opened
in 2000, Punta Cana Golf Club is the creation of architect P.B.
Dye, and the emphasis on creation is not an
understatement. Dye’s father,
legendary architect Pete Dye, is famous for, among
other things, putting the Dominican Republic on the
world golfing map with his
‘Teeth of The Dog’ design at Casa de Campo, so it is fitting that his
son would return to the Dominican to build this
celebrated new design; the first of multiple courses planned
for the resort. Dye (the junior) had a great property
to work with at Punta Cana, with plenty of oceanfront
real estate to work with, and he has made the most of it.
While many of the famous seaside courses are located
high above the ocean, Punta Cana literally plays along
the beach, giving the feeling that at high tide you
could reach out and touch the salt water. Dye’s
design strategy highlights some of the traits his
father made famous at such layouts as PGA West and Whistling
Straits in Kohler, WI; railway ties, mounding, and expansive waste areas.
Here, even on a relatively flat seaside land,
undulation abounds as P.B. Dye pushed earth around to
create a fun test for all golfers. While the course is
among the longest and toughest in the
Caribbean, at 7,152 yards, the five sets of tees afford the resort guest the
chance to settle into a more comfortable yardage. With
only a few exceptions, he manages to leave greens open
in front, to encourage players to run a shot in,
benefiting the resort player as well.
The
course gets off to an audacious start on the 368-yard
first, which boasts an unfriendly 17 bunkers, though a
smart golfer can escape with a par and avoid the
beach. Finding the fairway is of the utmost
importance, and then hitting a shorter club to a
fairly receptive green is the secret.
After
allowing golfers a hole or two to get warmed up, Dye
comes back with the challenging third, a 200-yard par
three. While the water hazard standing between the tee
and the green looks ominous from the tee, the right
side of the hole is mowed to fairway height, allowing
the golfer to choose the safer bailout area, if need
be. However, a well-struck should be played to the
right side of the green, avoiding the left side and
any tempting, 'sucker' pin locations. While the hole sets up for a
draw, be weary of the bunkers long, waiting to ensnare
shots that roll through the green.
Upon
arriving at the fifth, the golfer gains a sense of the
joys to come. The 154-yard par three plays literally
along the sea, with the right side of the green
hugging the shoreline. The tough bunkering on the left
side makes the shot away from the ocean equally
perilous, so be sure to pick the right club and hit a
solid shot. The challenge may not lie in the distance,
however the lofted club can mean that wind is a much
greater factor.
Arguably
one of the most photographed holes in the
Caribbean, the seventh has gained international attention since
opening for the aerial shot that shows the vast number
of hollows that reside between tee and green. What the
photos do not detail is the tricky green and
impressive strategic options. The green is perched
like a top hat slightly above the fairway elevation,
providing all the intrigue one could hope for. The
green also provides the deterrent for those who may be
tempted by going towards the green, due to the
relatively short yardage – 326 yards. The shot
towards the green should be considered, despite the
fact the shot must carry hollows and has little chance
of holding the putting surface. The method behind this
madness is that if you are able to leave a chip for
your second shot, you may have a better chance at
holding the green than on a full approach. Dye did not
simply give away the lay-up area either; it too is
fraught with danger and must be delicately negotiated. An
intriguing hole, seven gives guests the chance to play
alternative routes during their stay and decide for
themselves which method is best.
The
front nine closes with a tough par four that plays to
454 yards from the back markers. The hole is guarded
on the entire left side by a massive waste bunker and
the approach plays uphill to a green that is further
guarded by bunkers and wild undulation. The only way
to play this long hole is to challenge the left side
of the fairway, despite the necessary flirtation with
the waste area. From the left, another big shot will
be required to reach the green and face two tough
putts for par.
Taking
a page from his father’s design book, the golfer
faces an island green at the 146-yard 12th hole. While
the hole plays longer than its 'uncle', the 17th at
Sawgrass, the
green affords the golfer some space to find the
surface and have a good chance at par. Like all island
greens, the thrill of striking the shot is part of the
course's magic, integral to the overall experience.
Following
a short par three, Dye bounces back on the 14th with a
brutish 239-yarder. The angle gets progressively
easier from the short tees, but the view from the back
tee is an intimidating one. The pin (and most of the
green) is hidden behind a 15-foot mound, forcing the
golfer to play around the hillock. The undulations
help feed the left to right shot, so back pins are not
as inaccessible as they seem. From the shorter tees,
the view is of the throat of the green, and while the
intimidation factor is still there, a look at the long green
calms some nerves.
Dye
chose wisely to save his other parcel of seaside real
estate for the final two holes; the 413-yard 17th and
the 574-yard finishing hole. The 17th is
not overly difficult, but again Dye uses visual
intimidation in the form of railway ties, which
separate the waste bunker and green complex. The real
challenge here is finding the proper area of the green
to afford a realistic putt at par, which can become
elusive if the second shot is misplayed.
Even
more dramatic is the closing hole, which stretches to
hefty yardage and again is riddled with bunkers. The
width of the hole is the truly winning feature though,
affording the golfer to take a number of routes to the
hole. Oddly, the best route is never down the middle
here. Favouring one side is essential, with the more
dangerous seaside route offering the easiest angle of
attack.
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