For the final stop of our Myrtle Beach trip we ended up saving the best for last. By the time we rolled into The Dunes Golf and Beach Club we had already played some of the most highly regarded courses in the area; Barefoot Love, Caledonia, and Tidewater. To be honest we weren’t sure what to expect from the 2nd oldest golf club in Myrtle Beach, but we got more than we ever imagined.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is private but if you’re a member at your local club they are very good about allowing reciprocal play. From the moment we pulled into the bag drop and stepped onto the seashell sidewalks we knew the Dunes Club had a special air and grace. After taking a breath of the ocean air we made our way into the clubhouse which was full of luxury apparel including a special collection for members only.
We had an early tee time and after browsing around the pro shop we decided to grab a bite to eat. The food was good but overshadowed by the view from the terrace. The Waterloo Grill overlooks the ocean and provides a spectacular view of the local beach below.
After finishing breakfast we walked thru the clubhouse viewing mementos from The Dunes storied past. Designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones in 1949 (redesigned in 1976) The Dunes has played host to the Senior Tour Championship as well as many other prestigious USGA events. Most recently The Dunes Club played host to the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship.
This Robert Trent Jones signature course is a par 72 that plays 7,370 yards from the championship tees. A good deal of that yardage comes from The Dunes Club world famous 13th hole. The thirteenth is a par 5 that plays 640 yards from the tips and brings Lake Singleton into play.
Over the years The Dunes Club has under gone several major renovations to ensure the course maintains its championship appeal. The most recent renovation in 2013 included switching the greens from A-1 Bentgrass to Ultradwarf Champion Bermuda surfaces. The new greens are amazingly fast and if you didn’t know better you would think they were still bentgrass. In addition to replacing the greens the club updated the practice area making it larger and installed a new chipping zone and practice bunker. The practice area was the best we encountered during our trip; we were all big fans of the target nets on the range.
As I mentioned this was the last leg of our Myrtle Beach trip and after playing 54 holes nobody had any excuses and for the most part we were all on top of our game. That being said The Dunes Club is one of the toughest golf courses we’ve played. Everyone in the group shot well above their normal scoring average, even our low handicappers.
The course is truly a challenge and has enough length to require the use of all the clubs in your bag. In addition, the course is so beautiful that you may find it hard to concentrate on every shot. Having only played this course once it’s on the top of my list to play again the next time we visit Myrtle Beach.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club (Overall Rating 4 ¾ Stars out of 5)
The Dunes is by far and away the best course we played in Myrtle Beach, the only course that came close was Tidewater Golf Club. We visited Myrtle Beach on the tail end of a storm system that dumped tons of rain on the area and The Dunes Club was the only track where you would never had known they even had a shower. The course was in phenomenal condition; the fairways were perfectly cut, the greens were smooth and fast, and the bunkers and rough were tough but fair. When reviewing this course it scored the highest in some of our most critical categories such as hole variety, shot making, and difficulty. Every hole was different and as you moved throughout the course you were kept on your toes. The views from the course are spectacular; from multimillion dollar homes to stunning water views. If you’re heading to Myrtle Beach make sure you find a way to play The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, in our opinion the best golf course you can play in Myrtle Beach!