Villa Espada · Expert Comparisons
Two of the Caribbean’s most celebrated courses, two legendary designers. Here is the honest head-to-head — and why you don’t have to choose.
It depends on the ranking you trust. Punta Espada, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course Villa Espada sits on, is ranked number one in the Caribbean and Mexico by GolfWeek, with 8 holes on the Caribbean Sea. Teeth of the Dog, Pete Dye’s 1971 masterpiece at Casa de Campo, has long topped Golf Magazine’s Caribbean list and sits among the top courses in the world, with seven ocean holes. Both are bucket-list golf — and from Villa Espada you can play both in one trip.
| Punta Espada | Teeth of the Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Jack Nicklaus (Signature), opened 2006 | Pete Dye, opened 1971 |
| Location | Cap Cana — Villa Espada is on Fairway 5 | Casa de Campo, La Romana — about an hour’s drive west |
| Ocean holes | 8 on the Caribbean Sea | 7 on the Caribbean coastline |
| Signature hole | No. 13, a par-3 over the Caribbean Sea | No. 16, a par-3 over a seaside inlet |
| Ranking | GolfWeek #1 in the Caribbean and Mexico | Long-time Golf Magazine #1 in the Caribbean; among the world’s top courses |
| Tournament pedigree | Hosted the PGA Champions Tour (2008–2010) | Host to top amateur and professional events over five decades |
| Access for guests | Villa Espada guests play at Punta Espada member rates, arranged by the butler | Butler arranges a private chauffeur and tee time; resort-guest access rules apply |
Villa Espada sits directly on Fairway 5 of Punta Espada, so it is your home course — played at member rates arranged by your butler, with two six-person golf carts kept at the villa. Teeth of the Dog is about an hour’s drive west at Casa de Campo; your butler arranges a private chauffeur, the tee time, and the return so you can play the Caribbean’s two greatest courses on the same trip. Start with the golf page or the full course guide.
Golf travelers often frame this as a rivalry, but the smarter plan is to play both. Punta Espada is Villa Espada’s home course — you can walk out for an early round at member rates — and Teeth of the Dog is close enough for a comfortable day trip. Building a trip around both means two of the Caribbean’s greatest courses in a single stay, without changing hotels.
The character of each is distinct. Punta Espada is a modern Nicklaus layout, generous and dramatic, with eight holes on the Caribbean Sea. Teeth of the Dog is older and rawer — carved from coral by Pete Dye in 1971 and recently restored — with seven holes hard against the coastline and a mystique built over five decades. Your butler can arrange member-rate tee times at Punta Espada and a chauffeured round at Casa de Campo, so the only real decision is which one you play first.
8 bedrooms · Sleeps up to 22 · Full staff · Punta Espada member rates · Two 6-person golf carts · Private chef · Butler · Airport transfers included
Check AvailabilityThey top different lists. Punta Espada is ranked number one in the Caribbean and Mexico by GolfWeek. Teeth of the Dog has long been ranked number one in the Caribbean by Golf Magazine and sits among the best courses in the world. Both are elite — the honest answer is that it depends on which ranking body you follow.
Yes. Punta Espada is the course Villa Espada sits on, played at member rates arranged by your butler. Teeth of the Dog is about an hour’s drive west at Casa de Campo, and your butler arranges a private chauffeur, tee time, and return — many groups play both on one trip.
Punta Espada has eight holes on the Caribbean Sea. Teeth of the Dog has seven holes along the Caribbean coastline. Both are among the most scenic oceanfront golf experiences in the world.
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