My Honeymoon Golf Recap

[klineka]

So last week I was on my honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and the wife and I planned a day where she would go to the spa and I would get to do a round of golf.

I did some research and chose Punta Espada Golf Course. It was highly ranked based on numerous articles I have read, and I believe the PGA Champions Tour has held tournaments there in the past. The course has multiple holes on the water and I was pretty excited to play there.

Included in the course fees was transportation to and from the course, so I got to the course around 10:30 for an 11:40 tee time. I checked in and then was taken to my cart where I met my caddie, Franklin. Caddies are mandatory at this course, and this was my first time ever playing with a caddie. Since I was going out as a single I figured I would be paired up with people, but to my surprise, the course was pretty much empty and it was just myself and my caddie. I used their rental clubs which were very solid for rentals. 2016 Taylormade M2 Driver, 3 wood, and 3 Hybrid, Taylormade Aeroburner 4 iron - PW, M2 gap wedge, Titleist 60 degree wedge, and an Odyssey putter. I brought my own golf balls so it was a mix of pro v1s and some Nike SFT.

Tees were included, as well as a cooler with water and towels, and a yardage book which turns out I didnt even have to use. 

Once I get situated with the cart, we headed over to the driving range, which was nicer than the majority of the courses I play around my house! I went to reach for some clubs to take and the caddie politely said he would handle it, just tell him which ones I wanted. I took driver, 7 iron, and a few wedges and spent about 20 minutes hitting some warm up shots, although it didnt take much to get loose since the temperature felt in the upper 90s with humidity factored in.

After the range we started on the back 9. Took me a few holes to get used to the caddie and the greens, but didnt play too bad overall. I played from the blue tees, which was 6314 yards and was 72.4/133. Definitely a little more difficult that I am used to. Precision off the tee was required to even have decent looks at the green, and I found myself in a few more fairway bunkers than I usually do.

I brought my range finder but never had to use it, Franklin was spot on with the distances as well as the reads on the green.

The main highlights of the round include a 2 putt for par from about 60 feet on a par 3, a 280 yd drive over water right in the middle of the fairway, and a chip in from just off the green for a par on my last hole, hole 9.

Below are a few of my favorite pictures, I also have a few videos I will edit together and post in the next few days.

I highly recommend this course to anyone who visits Punta Cana and think it is worth every penny!

 

Above is the view from the tee box on the hole where I drove it 280 straight over the water, left myself around 140 into the green.

 

Pretty close after a tee shot to going in the ocean but still in play!

 

Above was one of the tougher holes, a very long, 575 yd, par 5 with the hole being to the right of that blue water/pond area which actually connected to the ocean.

Edited June 13, 2017 by klineka

[mcanadiens]

Not quite the Airport Golf Course, but I guess it did ok in a pinch.

[dennyjones]

Amazing.   Thanks for sharing.

[Wally Fairway]

Congrats - on getting to play around on your honeymoon!

[mcanadiens]

4 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

play around on your honeymoon!

Know what you meant, but that was too funny to let go.

[Kalnoky]

Wow, congratulations - on both accounts. 

It looks beautiful down there

[klineka]

2 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Not quite the Airport Golf Course, but I guess it did ok in a pinch.

Im quite familiar with that course, play it all the time. 

But yes this was by far the nicest course I have ever played. Fairways were perfect, minimal divots, 0 ball marks on the greens, sand traps were perfect as well. 

[Gator Hazard]

Looks like a blast!

[bkuehn1952]

Nice!

Now, you said it was "worth every penny"...c'mon...how many pennies?  

[klineka]

1 hour ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Nice!

Now, you said it was "worth every penny"...c'mon...how many pennies?  

Significantly more than I am used to paying for golf haha. This is considered their "non peak" season, so it was a lower rate, but the round of golf, cart, caddie, transportation to and from the course, rental clubs and range time was $275. I bought a hat at the pro shop and obviously tipped the drivers and caddie. The caddie mentioned greens fees can climb up around $400 during peak season in December.

 

For any baseball guys out there, the caddie also mentioned that course is where David Ortiz holds his annual charity tournament getting numerous baseball and some basketball players including Josh Donaldson, Terry Francona, Miguel Cabrera, and Ray Allen. The caddie said one year Donaldson lost $5,000 cash to Ray Allen from betting on a round of golf there, and he said Miguel Cabrera regularly pays for everyone that attends, including tipping caddies, $500-$600 each 

[uitar9]

Very nice, considering where it is and the condition, not a bad price for a once in a lifetime opportunity.-congratulations on the wedding. You have a good catch there, to appreciate her other half golfing on a honeymoon

[klineka]

18 hours ago, uitar9 said:

Very nice, considering where it is and the condition, not a bad price for a once in a lifetime opportunity.-congratulations on the wedding. You have a good catch there, to appreciate her other half golfing on a honeymoon

It worked out well, she spent a few hours at the pool and the spa and I went golfing. She was thinking about riding along for the views and pictures, but we didn't know if I was going to get paired up or be in a 4+ hour round. Finished the 18 hole round just under 3 hours so not bad at all. 

[Zekez]

WOW!  That is absolutely beautiful.  Good for you man!!