Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is one of the most storied and respected championship courses in the Southeast. With its Robert Trent Jones pedigree, genuine ocean views, and a history of hosting national events, it’s a can’t-miss for any golfer planning a Myrtle Beach trip.
Find the historical marker by the 11th tee that commemorates the original Chapin Cabin—the club’s founding spot and a unique link to Dunes’ origin story.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club fuses classic Robert Trent Jones design concepts with a dramatic Grand Strand setting. Its routing takes full advantage of ocean views and coastal wind, delivering heroic strategic tests and varied hazards throughout. Holes bend and flow along the natural terrain, while recent work by Rees Jones has sharpened playability, expanded tees, and refreshed greens and bunkers. The course’s identity is shaped by its championship structure—demanding, fair, but unrelenting in its challenge—and a setting that’s both visually striking and strategically nuanced. Singleton Swash and iconic water carries keep the nerves sharp, making for a round that’s as memorable as it is exacting.
Robert Trent Jones’ footprint is unmistakable—big, bold corridors and demanding green sites—while Rees Jones’ modern work sharpened the course for today’s championship play.
The first true scoring opportunity of the day, this reachable par 5 tempts players to attack for birdie but punishes any wayward second shots with water and bunkers lurking.
Find fairway position, then weigh the risk of going for the green in two against a safer layup for a precise wedge.
Water on the approach and deep greenside bunkers can turn ambition into a frustrating start if caution is thrown aside.
Championship-level conditioning with firm, fast greens and meticulously maintained fairways.
Expect a resort pace with possible backups near signature holes during peak times.
Classic, polished, and tournament-inspired—the buzz of big-event golf surrounds every round.
Collared shirts, appropriate golf attire, and no denim; soft spikes required.
Review the forecast and be ready to adjust club selection for often unpredictable coastal breezes.
Firm Champion Bermuda greens mean lag putting could save your round—spend extra time on the practice green.
The walk is pleasant but lengthy, especially in summer; bring water, snacks, and sunscreen to keep your energy up.
With many deep bunkers in play, arriving with a confident sand game is a must.
Club conceived at a fishing cabin overlooking Singleton Swash
Dunes Golf and Beach Club officially incorporated
Host of the U.S. Women's Open
Hosted U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball
Rees Jones renovation and course upgrades
First-ever Myrtle Beach Classic, a PGA Tour event
The Dunes traces its founding to a group of Myrtle Beach locals dreaming up the course in a humble fishing cabin overlooking Singleton Swash. Today, that spot is commemorated at the 11th tee, tying every round to the club’s origin story.
Few Myrtle Beach courses can claim a résumé like the Dunes: from the 1962 U.S. Women’s Open to 1990s Senior PGA Tour Championships and now a new spot on the PGA Tour. The course’s ability to test the best under championship pressure is part of its lasting legend.
Singleton Swash, a natural coastal inlet fronting the back nine, isn’t just for scenery—its swirling wind and water hazards define some of the Dunes’ most memorable and challenging holes, especially when the tournament is on the line.
In 2023, Rees Jones returned to his father’s classic, rebuilding greens with Champion Bermuda, modernizing bunkers, and upgrading practice facilities, ensuring the Dunes remains both historic and fiercely relevant for championship play.
The club’s first planning meeting took place in a fishing cabin now commemorated near the 11th tee.
Dunes GC is Myrtle Beach’s only course with authentic ocean views.
The monstrous 13th hole, 'Alligator Alley,' is a true three-shotter and a region-wide legend.
The 2023 course renovation introduced new ultra-dwarf Champion Bermuda greens.
The club hosted Myrtle Beach’s first-ever official PGA Tour event in 2024.
Famous for its Lowcountry scenery and imaginative Mike Strantz design.
A shotmaker’s dream with bold contours and generous fairways.
Marsh views and strong championship holes north of town.
Top-tier, tough Dye design with plenty of challenge.
An acclaimed central Myrtle Beach resort experience just minutes from the Dunes.
Central Myrtle Beach, close to both the Dunes and other area standouts
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Grand Bear Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: Reynolds Lake Oconee – the Landing is a natural next stop after Dunes Golf and Beach Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: If Dunes Golf and Beach Club is your kind of course, Arthur Hills at the Highlands is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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