Hard Rock Golf Club — Local services in Higüey

We decided to venture off-resort at a bachelor party to play a round at the Hard Rock Golf Club, and I'm glad we did!

We chose to book on GolfNow the night before (this was in early December) and were pleasantly surprised with how many tee times there were for the following day. We also needed some rental clubs, and that wasn't an issue either ($50 USD for the round).

The good:

We had no idea that it was open bar, and free snacks / sandwiches when we booked the round. This was a huge bonus, as the round wasn't super cheap (not that we'd expect a Nicklaus course to be cheap, but the CAD to USD conversion stung a bit).

We were also thrilled that we could play as a twosome, and we didn't run into a single person on the course that day. We powered through the round in about 3 hours and 15 minutes. I definitely regret not taking the 'play again' deal the pro-shop offered, which would have been amazing if we had the time.

The tee boxes, fairways, and greens were all in great shape - and it was a challenging course. Having access to the range prior to the round was also great.

It seemed like our coolers were being filled with beers every 4 holes or so, and again, this is included with the round. It didn't help the scores, but definitely helped with morale!

The not-so-good:

Take the time when you get there to see if you can go through the rental clubs to pick out a set that works for you. I was impressed that all of the irons were well-used but not damaged SIM2's, and the driver was a Cobra. The driver was pretty much done, so - again - don't hesitate to ask if you can have a look through what they've got to build a good set.

Some of the carts are in rough shape. We blew a tire on the 8th (that was a first for either of us), and didn't see any kind of marshall / course attendant until we got to the turn. They switched us out to a better cart, but still - keep the clubhouse phone number handy just in case.

Overall, it's a challenging course in better-than-average shape for where you're playing. I'd recommend holding off on pre-booking until you've had a chance to see some of the third party sites offering their deals, and if you have the time - try and play 36 - it's incredible value for what they're offering. Would go back in...

We used our resort credits to play a round of golf on a Sunday. The round was $300 in which we pay 20%. We also rented clubs. They had two types, a regular set for $40 and a premium set (Callaway) for $60. Your round does not include balls so you will need to bring some or purchase. We brought our own. The carts are not typical golf carts but more of an ATV cart. No place for balls and tees but places to stick them and your beverages. But it does have mirrors! So that's a plus :) There is a USB port but not sure it worked as we didn't use it. You also don't get a towel so maybe ask for one. We had no way to clean clubs as we played. The ladies bathroom had no working water in the sink! So there was a bottle of water there and that is what I used. Apparently the men's bathroom had showers that worked. So perhaps this club needs to understand that yes, women do golf and need to wash their hands. The course is nice but not as bougie as I expected. We saw plenty of wildlife, which was nice. Wild dogs, cats/kittens, cranes, etc. tee boxes were kept up and greens were not really grass but looked like turf or something which made for rough putting. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it). We had a moment when a local was behind us and we were told to let him play through. Which was odd because we would have. Not sure why they felt we needed to be told. Then at some point workers would just be standing on the course watching you. We were on par with time so not sure what was going on. All in all we did have a good time. The ride from HRPC was on time. When we were ready to return, they called for a pick up. My brother-in-law played another 9 after our 18 and he was able to head out directly after. If you golf, I would suggest a day here. It was fun. Just...

⭐ One-Star Review – Not Worth the Price or the Hassle I was really looking forward to playing at the Hard Rock Golf Club in Punta Cana, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish.

At $225 per round, I expected a premium golf experience. While the rate includes a cart and unlimited snacks, the “snacks” were little more than tuna fish and ham & cheese sandwiches—and the snack cart only made one round during the entire 18 holes.

We also rented clubs. I paid $75 to rent their high-end Callaway Smoke set, but on hole #1, the shaft of my club snapped right under the grip on my backswing. I did not hit the ground or anything else—it broke in a very unusual spot, suggesting a manufacturer defect. I returned it immediately and was given a replacement without issue.

However, things escalated after the round. On our way out, I was told to speak with the manager, who demanded I pay $150 for the broken shaft, insisting the clubs were new and I had signed for them. I explained the break was abnormal and not caused by misuse. Even other golfers nearby who saw it happen agreed that I shouldn’t be held responsible.

Still, the manager refused to listen and even threatened to call security unless I paid. My 16-year-old son, understandably upset, asked me to just pay so we could leave. I did—but I took the broken shaft with me. When I got home, I called Callaway directly and they sent me a replacement shaft at no charge, which is exactly what the golf club should have done in the first place.

The course itself is decent, but nowhere near worth $225, especially with subpar food and poor customer service. The management was rude, unreasonable, and completely unwilling to handle the issue professionally.

👎 I would not recommend...