Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Nile Young Jr.
Overview
American Dunes opened in 2021 and is a total reinvention of an existing course. In this case, Nicklaus took a wooded, decades-old design and nearly cleansed it of trees, opening up views across a lunar surface of heaving sandscapes that separate the holes. Extreme topographical variety has replaced a succession of narrow, repetitive golf holes with circular greens, and players now face enticing tee shots that must skirt sand barrens and putting surfaces shaped in all manner of size and pitch. Created by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, whose family owns the property, much of the course’s proceeds are donated to Folds of Honor, a charitable foundation that supports injured veterans, their families, and awards scholarships to children of wounded or killed military men and women.
About
Awards
Ranking History:
Best in State: Not previously ranked.
Current ranking: 21st.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“This place is unlike many other Jack Nicklau's designs. It plays firm and fast and it's for a great cause."
Read More2024
Review
“Course was playing firm and fast."
Read More2024
Review
“Outstanding golf course combined with a very patriotic environment and purpose. Course meanders through tree lined fairways amongst sandy waste areas throughout. Good variety of long and short holes providing shot options both on the tees and into the greens. Playing conditions were good. Overall, the patriotic atmosphere and quality of the course created an excellent day of golf."
Read More2024
Review
“This is a must play if for no other reason than honoring American hero's. A great Nicklaus Signature layout. A handful of unique holes. All level of player's will enjoy this layout."
Read More2024
Review
“A great renovation by Jack Nicklaus and also for a great cause, supporting Folds of Honor. A fun dunes swept course that is reasonable from most tees but very difficult from the tips. Try the smashburger! It's awesome!"
Read More2023
Review
“Beautiful Jack Nicklaus creation on top of an older golf course. The course features multiple sandy waste areas and great views from some of the higher parts of the property. Won't beat you up but plenty challenging. Fun course that benefits Folds of Honor Foundation. A great place to go play and to also support a great cause. Play it if you're in the vicinity."
Read More2023
Review
“Good golf course but the whole experience alone is worth the effort to go there."
Read More2023
Review
“American Dunes is a challenging course, not to say it's not fun BUT... Given the dunes, there is a lot of sand, so much that they have a local "lift clean and place" rule in the naturally occurring sand that is on almost every hole. That rule does not apply to fairway and green side bunkers. So keeping out of the dunes is a priority! Starting with number 1 with the whole left side being natural sand, and a fairway bunker protecting the right side, you have to decide on driver, 3 wood or iron off the tee. It's like that pretty much around the course. Not to say the landing areas aren't generous, they are, but the wide open area usually isn't the best line to the hole. The par 456 yd. par 4, 5th is a good example, Plenty of room off the tee to the right, but that leaves you a mostly blind 2nd shot downhill to the green that is tucked being a large natural dune. Playing down the left makes you flirt with the natural dune that runs down the fairway. Fairways are firm and rolling and the firm greens roll true but hold shots very well. Just pay attention to the green contours as there are plenty of slope and collection areas around them. Aside from the golf, this is the Folds of Honor course. Allow yourself time to take in the clubhouse and the memorial walkway to and from the parking lot."
Read More2023
Review
“A renovation of several holes, and a new course for most of the holes, American Dunes is a unique golf experience. The backbone of the course/facilities is the Folds of Honor Foundation and military service. From the first tee, there are homages to the United States Military. From the walkway tribute to fallen soldiers, the unique clubhouse with massive fighter jet models and artwork donning the walls (Not a part of my scoring). On the course, this extends from the use of "Freedom is not Free" painted on the turf near several tee boxes, to the oversized USA flag on hole #9/#10, and the nickel tribute on hole 17. These on-course features are not necessarily course design, but I do feel they add to the character of the golf course experience/ambiance so I valued them in that section. The course is built on a sandy lot with numerous native appearing sandy bunker/waste hazard areas on most holes. There is a variety of long/short holes, and uphill and downhill shots with a few blind shots which are used sparingly but fun. There are only 3 doglegs, and they are all dogleg right. The greens roll true and are firm and fast. And the green complexes have some good options surrounding with some fairway-length aprons around many of the greens. There are numerous bailout areas which allow the less skilled player to still have a good time/fair test of golf while still challenging the better player through green contouring on the greens. There are a few holes #9, #1, #2, and #18 which head away and to the clubhouse which are remnants of the old design. Because of a housing development and road constrains, these holes could not be changes much, and lack(don't fit in ) with the rest of the design. The two areas that shine are the entirety of the back 9 from 10-17 which plays west in a very sandy and topographically interesting piece of property. I think Jack was able to better use the land here and the routing has some really neat spots. Hole 7 and 12 green are close in proximity and from this hilltop, you can see #8 tee, 11 green, 13 tee, 17 fairway. This routing is pretty intimate and I enjoy the tree removal has afforded the golfer better views of the entirety of the course on several spots. There are several double fairways. If you use the connection between the two fairways, it allows for a fairway shot, but with a much worse angle/blind shot. This again will make the course manageable for the 10-25 handicap. I think that as the course matures, there will be a little easier time playing ground shots. Several times I tried to play a low running shot in the fairway near the green and the grass in its current maturity snags the ball rather than bouncing cleanly. I expect this will likely improve over time."
Read More2022
Review
“Scenic but VERY tight. Hit is dead straight or stay away."
Read More2018
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