Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus has made an on-site visit to Cap Cana, the prestigious Caribbean tourism destination, to review ongoing construction work at the highly anticipated Las Iguanas Golf Course. Developed by his namesake Jack Nicklaus Signature Design team, the 18-hole course is on track to welcome its first full complement of golfers when it opens completely in spring 2027.
During his inspection, Nicklaus centered his assessment on two core priorities: the quality of ongoing construction and the alignment of the course’s layout with Cap Cana’s untouched natural landscapes. Currently, the project has crossed a key milestone: the first nine holes are already open to the public, with crews working steadily to complete the remaining half of the course ahead of the 2027 full launch.
Standing on the partially completed grounds, Nicklaus shared that the course is approaching final completion and reaffirmed the full dedication of his design team to seeing the project through. “We are now back, with our entire team and fully committed to this new stage,” Nicklaus said of the development.
The addition of Las Iguanas marks a major expansion of Cap Cana’s already robust golf offerings, and fits directly into the destination’s long-term strategy to solidify its standing as the Caribbean’s premier hub for golf and sports tourism.
This new project is far from Nicklaus’ first collaboration with Cap Cana. His working relationship with the destination stretches back decades, to the design of Punta Espada Golf Club, one of his most acclaimed Caribbean courses. Punta Espada, which is consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the region, will mark its 20th anniversary in 2026.
Fernando Hazoury, chairman of the Cap Cana board, noted that Nicklaus’ ongoing partnership with the destination serves as a powerful vote of confidence in Cap Cana’s long-term growth vision. “Golf has been a fundamental part of Cap Cana’s identity, but our commitment to sports tourism is much broader,” Hazoury explained.
He went on to highlight that Cap Cana has steadily expanded its footprint beyond golf to host a growing roster of major international sporting events, including the ATP Challenger 175 tennis tournament and the Ironman 70.3 triathlon. These events are central to the destination’s strategy to draw a diverse range of visitors, from competitive athletes to casual sports enthusiasts from across the globe.