Jack Nicklaus Signature · Cap Cana · Nine Holes Now Open
Las Iguanas Golf Club
Villa Guest Access
Back Nine Open Now
3 Min from Villa
Las Iguanas is the highly anticipated second Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Cap Cana, and it is opening in phases. The back nine is open now, including the oceanside holes; the front nine is expected around spring 2027 (no official date announced). It sits right next door to the legendary Punta Espada, offering a completely different Nicklaus experience through open parkland, natural wetlands, and a protected nature preserve.
When complete, ten inland lakes will shape the strategy on virtually every hole, while its oceanside holes on the back nine hug the rocky Caribbean shoreline. The open holes already wind alongside caves, indigenous vegetation, and the native iguanas that gave the course its name — creating a round that feels as much like a nature safari as a golf experience.
Where Punta Espada is cliff-edge drama on every swing, Las Iguanas is a more diverse, parkland-style test where wind, water, and wetlands dictate your approach. Together, the two Nicklaus courses will give Villa Espada guests 36 holes without ever leaving Cap Cana once Las Iguanas is complete — with the back nine open now, including the oceanside holes.
The Villa Espada advantage: Las Iguanas is just a 2-minute golf cart ride from Villa Espada. Your butler arranges tee times on both Nicklaus courses — play Punta Espada at member-guest discounted rates in the morning and Las Iguanas in the afternoon, or mix and match across your entire stay.
No other villa in Cap Cana gives you direct fairway access to Punta Espada plus a 2-minute ride to Las Iguanas. Villa Espada is the only rental property positioned between both courses.
Holes along the ocean are among the nine open today. The signature sequence at Las Iguanas runs consecutive holes hugging the rocky Caribbean shoreline, with crashing waves and sea spray adding both beauty and challenge: a medium par 4 where the approach plays toward the ocean, a dramatic par 3 with the sea as a backdrop, and a hole demanding a precise tee shot along the cliff edge. Together they rival any coastal stretch in the Caribbean.
Water comes into play on nearly every hole at Las Iguanas. The ten lakes create constant risk-reward decisions — aggressive lines shorten approaches but bring water into play, while conservative routes leave longer second shots to well-protected greens. The lakes also attract native birdlife, creating a round that feels more like a nature walk than a traditional golf experience.
Las Iguanas was built within and around a protected nature preserve. The course winds through caves, indigenous vegetation, and wetland habitats — and yes, the green iguanas that gave the course its name are resident spectators. Nicklaus's routing preserves the natural landscape rather than imposing on it, creating a round where every hole feels carved from the environment.
Playing both Punta Espada and Las Iguanas back to back reveals the range of Jack Nicklaus's design genius. Punta Espada is cliff-edge intensity on every swing — ocean everywhere, limestone headlands, relentless drama. Las Iguanas is strategic diversity — open parkland, water features, nature preserve, and a more varied set of shot requirements. Two completely different courses, one designer, both world-class.
Respect the water. With 10 lakes shaping the course, water hazards are the primary defense at Las Iguanas. The lakes are positioned to punish aggressive lines on approaches and tee shots alike. When in doubt, favor the dry side — there is almost always a bail-out area away from the water.
The parkland demands accuracy. Unlike Punta Espada's ocean-and-cliff drama, Las Iguanas is defined by tree-lined fairways and strategic bunkering. Accuracy off the tee is more important than distance on most holes. If you hit driver well, you'll have short irons into many greens. If your driver is off, consider a 3-wood or hybrid for safer positioning.
Read the wind on the oceanside holes. Expect a significant change from the sheltered inland holes: the coastal stretch is fully exposed to the Caribbean trade winds, and your caddie will help with club selection there.
Take your time on the nature holes. Las Iguanas is as much a nature experience as a golf round. The caves, iguanas, wetlands, and native vegetation are worth appreciating between shots. The pace of play is typically relaxed, and the setting rewards golfers who slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
Distance: Las Iguanas is a 2-minute golf cart ride from Villa Espada. Both courses are within the same Cap Cana resort community, so there's no need for a car or chauffeur — just hop in one of the villa's two 6-person golf carts and you're there.
Tee time booking: Your personal butler arranges all tee times for both Nicklaus courses. Play Punta Espada in the morning and Las Iguanas in the afternoon, or dedicate separate days to each course — the flexibility is yours. Most golf groups staying at Villa Espada play both courses at least once during their visit.
Two rounds in a day: With both courses minutes apart and your villa between them, back-to-back rounds are easy — Punta Espada's eighteen plus Las Iguanas' nine open holes today, and a true two-course 36-hole day once Las Iguanas is complete. Play Punta Espada early morning, return to the villa for a chef-prepared lunch by the pool, then head out for an afternoon round. Your private chef can also prepare boxed lunches for the course if you prefer to play straight through.
Practice facilities: The Cap Cana practice range and short game area serve both courses. Your butler can arrange access before your round for warm-up, or you can spend an afternoon working on your game between rounds.
Las Iguanas is Cap Cana's second Jack Nicklaus Signature course, about two minutes by golf cart from Villa Espada. It is opening in phases: the back nine is open now, including the oceanside holes, and the front nine is expected around spring 2027 (no official date announced). When finished it will feature ten inland lakes and a protected nature preserve.
Punta Espada is a cliff-edge ocean course with eight holes on the Caribbean Sea. Las Iguanas is a parkland-style layout winding through wetlands, lakes, and a nature preserve; it has its back nine open now, including the oceanside holes, with the front nine expected around spring 2027 (no official date announced). Together the two Nicklaus courses will give Cap Cana 36 holes of contrasting design once Las Iguanas is complete.
Yes. Villa Espada guests can arrange to play Las Iguanas' currently-open holes through the villa's butler, at the course's regular rates, as part of the Cap Cana community. It is a two-minute golf cart ride from the villa, and two six-person carts are included with your stay.
When the course is complete, the signature stretch is the oceanside run on the back nine along the rocky Caribbean shoreline, several holes of which are already open. For now, the open nine holes play through the nature preserve of caves, wetlands, and indigenous vegetation, with inland lakes shaping strategy on the approach shots.
Las Iguanas is a strategic Jack Nicklaus Signature design with elevation changes and water in play, but multiple tee boxes make it playable for higher handicaps and newer golfers. Beginners generally find the inland holes more forgiving than Punta Espada's exposed ocean carries. Villa Espada's butler can arrange lessons and appropriate tee times for mixed-ability groups.
Right now you can play Punta Espada's full eighteen holes plus the nine holes currently open at Las Iguanas, a two-minute golf cart ride away. A full two-course, 36-hole day becomes available once Las Iguanas completes all eighteen holes. Your butler arranges every tee time.
Stay at Villa Espada on Fairway 5 and play both Punta Espada and Las Iguanas — two Jack Nicklaus courses (Las Iguanas has the back nine open now, including the oceanside holes). Your butler books every tee time.