Golf and rock music are happily married at the upscale Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This Jack Nicklaus design from 2007, a chief amenity of the beachfront Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana, was the first-ever golf club to fly the Hard Rock flag. Each hole at the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay is named for a famous rock song and you ll hear the songs as you watch the flyovers on the cart s GPS system. It s part of a golf experience that puts an emphasis on having fun. Since the course rambles on an inland site, there are no ocean views, just ocean breezes. Nicklaus carved the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay through thick Dominican jungle. Most of the routing lies away from development and exudes a tranquil aura. Lovely flora and birdlife abounds. Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay features four sets of tee markers that extend the par-72 playing field from 5,333 yards to 7,253 yards. Nicklaus allows players to ease into the round with wide fairways and generous landing areas on the opening few holes. The challenge ramps up the further you go as the landing areas get progressively narrower. Thankfully, the fairways feature some bailout areas, but it s easy to lose golf balls at the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay any shot that veers into the vegetation is gone. While water hazards, in the form of lakes, threaten the swing on just three holes, large sandy waste areas and strategically placed bunkers present more pressing problems. The greens at the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay are small with pronounced slopes that make putting fun and eventful. Many players lavish praise on the back nine for its pretty and intriguing holes. Course conditions are aided by the use of Paspalum grass on the fairways and greens. All players must take a cart on this expansive layout. Practice facilities include a grass driving range and a large putting green. The clubhouse features a pro shop and a restaurant and bar. As long as ocean views are not a requirement, a tee time at the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay is a fine choice for a fun round on a beautiful, well-groomed, and challenging but manageable layout.