The opportunity to play the Dunes Golf & Beach Club is always a treat. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design helped fuel Myrtle Beach’s rise to prominence as a golf destination and it remains the area’s most decorated layout.
A limited number of tee times are open to the public at the Dunes Club but if you are lucky enough to snag a spot on the tee sheet, here are five things you need to know.
– Arrive early. The practice facility is great; the range, chipping area and the putting green are part of the experience, so enjoy it. Additionally, this isn’t a layout you
want to challenge without warming up.
– The quality of your round at the Dunes Club will closely track with the strength of your short game. Elevated greens at the Dunes Club (10th hole pictured above) are protected by deep bunkers and rolling terrain that creates tricky chip shots. Even if you hit the ball well, you are going to miss greens and the ability to scramble out of dicey positions will be vital.
– The putting surfaces at the Dunes Club are almost without peer. They are large, undulating and have multiple pinnable areas that can dramatically affect the strategy and difficulty of a hole. Pay attention to where the flag is on the approach because there are consequences to missing in the wrong spot. Combine the creativity of the putting surfaces with the speed – they are always among the area’s fastest – and the greens at the Dunes Club rival any in the state.
– Alligator Alley, as holes 11 through 13 are known, is worthy of the hype. A 370-yard (all distances from white tees) par 4, No. 11 features a dramatic approach to a
green that is protected by two bunkers and bordered by Singleton Swash on the right. The 12th is a 150-yard par 3 that features a do-or-die carry over the swash, while the par 5 13th (pictured right), known as “Waterloo,” is Myrtle Beach’s most famous challenge. The 90-degree dogleg right will absolutely be a topic of conversation after the round. Alligator Alley is a daunting but unforgettable stretch.
– Don’t let your day at the Dunes Club be defined by your score. Relish the challenge and appreciate the experience playing a course that is ranked among the nation’s top 100 public layouts by the game’s leading publications. There are dramatic shots, beguiling greens complexes, and spectacular scenery. The Dunes Club has hosted the U.S. Women’s Open and six Senior PGA Tour Championships, so it’s a big boy golf course. You aren’t likely to go low, but it’s a day to be savored.
