When architect Roger Rulewich was tapped to design what would become the Grande Dunes Resort Course, he had only one directive: build one of Myrtle Beach’s best courses.
“We commissioned Roger to create a masterpiece, to create a grand course and gave him all the resources to do it,” Robert Harper, then director of golf operations for Burroughs & Chapin, the course’s developer, told the Sun News upon its opening.
Twenty-four years and one invigorating renovation project later, Grande Dunes has certainly fulfilled its original objectives. The creativity of Rulewich’s design, the beauty of the holes along the Intracoastal Waterway, and the 2022 project that saw Grande Dunes’ greens restored to their original specifications and the renovation of every bunker, have solidified the layout’s place among the best public courses in all of South Carolina.
As you prepare for a Myrtle Beach golf trip, here is a scouting report for how you will want to attack the acclaimed layout.
Par 3s
The 14th hole, which plays from an elevated tee box to a green that borders the Intracoastal is Grande Dunes’ most dramatic challenge, but it’s not the toughest one-shotter. Your eyes naturally gravitate to the water on No. 14, but there is ample room to miss left and the forced carry isn’t onerous. That’s not to say it’s easy, but it’s not as daunting as the par 3 8th.
The scorecard says No. 8 plays 155 yards (all distances from white tees) from the white tees, but according to my rangefinder, the hole is always cut 160+ yards from the tee and you need at least 140 to carry the water. When the wind is coming off the nearby Atlantic, this is a daunting tee shot into one of the course’s most undulating greens. If you are on the wrong side of a ridge that divides the green, good luck two-putting.
Holes 2 (137 yards) and 11 (124 yards) are both outstanding, offering a softer touch, particularly No. 11, which features a large green ringed by sand on three sides. (14th pictured right)
Par 4s
From the opening tee shot on the 396-yard first hole, the par 4s are at the heart of the challenge at Grande Dunes. The fairways are among Myrtle Beach’s widest, but given the size and undulation of the greens, finding the short grass hardly ensures success, especially on the front nine.
This is a second shot course. Whether you are trying to get home on No. 3, which borders water on the right, offering little room to miss, or the brutish fifth hole, which will require a mid to long iron, you need to be swinging the club well lest you will be in survival mode much of the round.
The one exception on the front nine is No. 6, a 305-yard two-shotter that invites all of us to dream of making birdie.
The 10th and 15th holes, both of which border the Intracoastal, are the most memorable back nine par 4s. While we’ve touted the importance of iron play at Grande Dunes, No. 15 is about the tee shot. It’s 400 yards, but if you bust a driver and catch the downslope of a hill, you can set up a 125-yard approach from flat ground. If you don’t hit it on the screws, No. 15 can quickly turn into a monster.
Holes 16 and 18 are hard(ish) par, easy bogey challenges that can decide matches, with 16, one of the few holes with OB, being the more daunting of the two.
(15th pictured right)
Par 5s
Here is your chance. While trouble lurks on the par 5s at Grande Dunes, they are gettable.
My favorite of the bunch is No. 5, a 506-yard dogleg right. This is a risk-reward test the whole way. If you want to play aggressive and challenge the water off the tee, you can cut off distance and set yourself up for a chance to get home in two. Of course, going for the green in two means flirting with the water that runs to the right edge of the green.
The toughest of the quartet is No. 17, which plays 477 yards with water running up the entire left side. On a course known for its width, the 40-yard-wide landing strip on 17 can feel even tighter when you are staring at that water.
You might be able to reach the green, but there isn’t a lot of bailout room, and the water provides a muscular defense.
The 13th is the No. 1 handicap hole, but don’t let the scorecard fool you. There is water to carry on your second shot but it’s manageable, and if you clear it, par should await. Hole 7, which plays 495 yards, rewards patience. You will be rewarded for playing it as a three-shot hole, but trouble awaits if you get greedy.
Bottom Line: The breathtaking scenery, strategic challenges, and modern renovations make Grande Dunes a standout experience. Whether you’re chasing birdies or savoring the views, the course promises an unforgettable round. Ready to take on the challenge? Start planning your trip today.
(17th pictured right)
Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips
