The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Myrtle Beach, SC • Private
Overview
Its ocean-side dunes are mostly covered with turfgrass and mature trees now, but when Robert Trent Jones built The Dunes back in the late 1940s, the property was primarily windswept sand dotted with lagoons. Those lakes come in prominently on many holes, particularly on the 11th through 13th, dubbed Alligator Alley. (The boomerang-shaped par-5 13th is called Waterloo.) The home hole, with a pond in front of the green, started as a gambling par 5 but today is a daunting par 4. The course has hosted three USGA championships, including the 1962 U.S. Women's Open and most recently, the 2017 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked from 1969-'86, 2003-'04.
Highest ranking: 78th, 2003-'04.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2003.
Highest ranking: 15th, 2003-'04.
Previous ranking: 63rd.
2023-'24 ranking: 71st.
Best in State: Ranked inside the top 15, 2017-'18, 2021-'22. Ranked inside the top 20, 2011-'16, 2019-'20, 2023-'24.
2023-'24 ranking: 20th.
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
“The Dunes Golf and Beach club is a beautiful seaside course. Large greens, fairway corridors and "runway' tee boxes contribute to a wide variety of course setups. The layout can be stretched to nearly 7,500 at sea level, with the low elevation contributing to the course playing "longer" than the listed yardage. As with many extremely large greens, the transitions can be very subtle and difficult to read creating putting challenges that may not be apparent at first glance. The course is classic example of Robert Trent Jones' architecture and his influence on golf course design in his heyday.."
Read More2024
Review
“Really fun course that flows very well. Course in incredible shape. Some very challenging and strategic holes. Good varying distances and green shapes sizes and contours. Memorable holes especially the boomerang around the lake."
Read More2024
Review
“Best course in Myrtle Beach."
Read More2023
Review
“The Dunes is one of my all time favorite courses. The hole routings are excellent, the conditioning is great, and the bunkers are large and strategically placed. Hole nine is a par three with the ocean in the background providing great scenery. Hole 12 is an excellent risk reward hole with the green jutting out onto a peninsula and hole 13 is a par 5 that has a boomerang shape around a lake. There is not a bad hole on this Robert Trent Jones masterpiece."
Read More2022
Readers
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