Dunes Golf & Beach Club: Myrtle Beach Visitor’s Guide
For golfers planning a trip to Myrtle Beach, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club is one of those names that comes up again and again.
Opened in 1948 and designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., The Dunes is part of Myrtle Beach golf history. While newer courses have continued to expand the Grand Strand golf scene, The Dunes has remained one of the area’s signature courses for generations.
It’s also located in one of the most convenient areas of Myrtle Beach for combining golf with everything else visitors come here to enjoy.
Stay nearby and you can spend the morning on the golf course, the afternoon along the Atlantic and the evening exploring Myrtle Beach restaurants and attractions.
Here’s what to know when adding The Dunes Golf & Beach Club to your Myrtle Beach vacation.
About The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club was created during the early years of Myrtle Beach’s development as a vacation destination.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the original course, which opened for play in 1948. His son, Rees Jones, has since overseen renovations intended to preserve his father’s design while keeping the course relevant for modern golf.
Today, The Dunes plays to a par 72 and can stretch beyond 7,400 yards from the championship tees.
Visitors shouldn’t let that number scare them.
Multiple tee options allow golfers to choose a distance appropriate for their game. The bigger challenge comes from the course’s strategic bunkering, water, elevated greens and the decisions Jones asks golfers to make throughout the round.
Myrtle Beach Golf History
Playing The Dunes is also an opportunity to experience part of the history that helped Myrtle Beach become one of America’s best-known golf destinations.
When The Dunes opened, the Grand Strand looked very different.
The dozens of golf courses, resorts, restaurants and attractions that now make Myrtle Beach a major golf destination had not yet arrived.
The Dunes helped change that.
As golf tourism grew, more courses followed, eventually creating the enormous concentration of golf found throughout the Grand Strand today.
For golfers who enjoy playing courses with a story behind them, The Dunes offers something a newer resort course simply can’t replicate.
What Is It Like to Play The Dunes?
The Dunes isn’t built around gimmicks.
This is traditional championship golf.
Fairways are framed by mature trees. Water becomes a factor on several holes. Bunkers protect landing areas and greens, and the course rewards golfers who think beyond simply hitting the ball as far as possible.
One of the defining features is the use of the area’s natural landscape.
The course winds through mature coastal terrain and alongside Singleton Swash, creating several of its most memorable holes.
And then you reach No. 13.
The Famous 13th Hole: Waterloo
The par-5 13th is known as Waterloo, and it’s the hole many golfers have heard about before arriving.
The hole bends dramatically around Lake Singleton, forcing golfers to decide just how much of the water they’re willing to challenge.
Take an aggressive line and you can shorten the hole.
Get a little too ambitious and the lake may be keeping your golf ball.
It’s exactly the type of risk-and-reward hole that golfers continue talking about long after the round is finished.
Waterloo is part of a celebrated stretch of holes known as Alligator Alley, covering Nos. 11 through 13.
And yes, the name is appropriate.
This is coastal South Carolina. If you see an alligator, admire it from a very generous distance and leave the golf ball behind.
A Course With Championship Credentials
The Dunes isn’t known only among vacationing golfers.
The course has hosted numerous professional and amateur events throughout its history, including the Senior Tour Championship, and in recent years has welcomed the PGA TOUR’s Myrtle Beach Classic.
That gives visiting golfers an opportunity to play many of the same holes they’ve seen professionals navigate in tournament competition.
For a Myrtle Beach golf trip, that adds another layer to the experience.
Where Is The Dunes Golf & Beach Club?
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club is located at:
9000 North Ocean Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
The location is particularly convenient for visitors staying around northern Myrtle Beach, the Golden Mile and Grande Dunes areas.
You’re also close to the beach, restaurants, shopping and many of Myrtle Beach’s major attractions.
That makes The Dunes a good anchor course for groups traveling with people who aren’t planning to golf every day.
While the golfers head to the course, everyone else still has plenty to do nearby.
Where to Stay Near The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
When you’re planning a Myrtle Beach golf vacation, don’t automatically choose accommodations based solely on price.
Pull up your course itinerary first.
If The Dunes, Grande Dunes and other courses around Myrtle Beach and the northern part of the city make up most of your tee times, staying in this area can significantly reduce the amount of driving your group does during the trip.
For golf groups, a vacation rental can also provide advantages over booking several individual hotel rooms.
Depending on the property, you may have:
- Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms
- A full kitchen
- Washer and dryer
- Living and dining areas
- Parking for multiple vehicles
- Space for golf clubs and luggage
- A balcony or outdoor area
- Easy beach access
Through VRMB Owner Direct, visitors can browse Grand Strand vacation rentals and connect directly with the local owners and managers behind the properties.
When searching for a golf-trip rental near The Dunes, pay particular attention to northern Myrtle Beach, the Golden Mile and the Grande Dunes area.
But remember: the closest rental isn’t automatically the best rental.
Look at all of your tee times and choose a location that works for the entire trip.
Staying Near the Golden Mile
The Golden Mile can be particularly appealing for golfers who want the Myrtle Beach experience without necessarily staying in the busiest sections of the city.
This stretch of Myrtle Beach is known for its oceanfront setting and residential feel while remaining convenient to restaurants, golf and attractions.
For couples combining golf with a beach getaway, it can be especially attractive.
Play an early round, spend the afternoon at the beach and still have plenty of dining options nearby that evening.
Check out these properties at the Golden Mile:
Upscale Oceanfront Couples Retreat | Golden Mile | Sand Dunes Resort | Myrtle Beach
Where to Eat Near The Dunes
Golf trips and good meals tend to go together.
Fortunately, The Dunes is close to several established Myrtle Beach dining areas.
Restaurant Row
The Restaurant Row area around Highway 17 is just north of The Dunes and offers everything from seafood and steaks to casual restaurants.
It’s a convenient choice when you’re traveling with a group because there are plenty of options within a relatively small area.
Sea Captain’s House
For visitors who want an oceanfront Myrtle Beach dining experience, Sea Captain’s House has been serving guests for decades.
Its ocean views and seafood-focused menu make it a popular option for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Hook & Barrel
If your group wants a more contemporary seafood dinner, Hook & Barrel is another nearby option.
It’s particularly convenient for visitors staying around the northern Myrtle Beach and Golden Mile areas.
Carolina Roadhouse
Hungry after 18 holes?
Carolina Roadhouse is a long-running Myrtle Beach favorite known for hearty portions, steaks, ribs and its signature croissants.
It’s the kind of place that works well for a group after a long day on the course.
What to Do Near The Dunes When You’re Not Golfing
One of the biggest advantages of playing The Dunes is its location.
You’re not isolated inside a golf resort.
Spend Some Time on the Beach
You’re in Myrtle Beach, after all.
If you schedule an early tee time, there’s no reason you can’t get in a round and still have several hours left for the beach.
This is also why the area works well for couples or families where not everyone is golfing.
Visit Broadway at the Beach
A short drive south takes you to Broadway at the Beach, one of Myrtle Beach’s largest entertainment districts.
Restaurants, shopping and attractions make it an easy evening option for a group.
Explore Barefoot Landing
Head north instead and you’ll find Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach.
It offers restaurants, shopping and entertainment along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Spend an Evening on the Water
The Grand Strand isn’t only about the Atlantic Ocean.
The Intracoastal Waterway and surrounding waterways provide another side of Myrtle Beach worth experiencing, particularly if your group wants a break from golf.
Other Golf Courses Near The Dunes
If you’re staying around northern Myrtle Beach, The Dunes doesn’t have to be your only round.
Pine Lakes Golf Resort is nearby and makes an excellent addition to an itinerary.
Travel farther north and you’ll reach the four courses at Barefoot Resort, along with numerous options throughout North Myrtle Beach and Little River.
Head inland and you’ll find even more.
That’s one of the advantages of a Myrtle Beach golf vacation: you can choose completely different golf experiences without changing destinations.
Building a Myrtle Beach Golf Trip Around The Dunes
A four-day trip might look something like this:
Arrival Day: Check into your vacation rental, get settled and have dinner near the beach.
Day One: Play The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, spend the afternoon at the beach and head out for seafood that evening.
Day Two: Play Grande Dunes, then explore the Intracoastal Waterway or Restaurant Row.
Day Three: Head north for another round, return to the rental and finish the trip with dinner and drinks.
You don’t have to play 36 holes every day to have a great Myrtle Beach golf vacation.
Sometimes the best trips leave enough room to actually enjoy Myrtle Beach.
Is The Dunes Golf & Beach Club Worth Playing?
If you’re building a list of signature Myrtle Beach golf experiences, The Dunes deserves serious consideration.
You’re getting a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with more than 75 years of history, one of the Grand Strand’s most recognizable holes and a course that continues to host high-level tournament golf.
But its location makes it even more attractive for visitors.
You can play a historic championship course without giving up the beach, restaurants and attractions that brought you to Myrtle Beach in the first place.
That’s a combination that’s difficult to beat.
Planning a Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation?
Start with the golf courses you don’t want to miss and build the rest of the trip around them.
If The Dunes is on your list, consider staying around northern Myrtle Beach, the Golden Mile or Grande Dunes to keep your group close to golf, restaurants and the beach.
VRMB Owner Direct connects Grand Strand visitors with vacation rentals and directly with the local property owners and managers behind them.
Find a property with enough room for your golfers, your clubs, and a little relaxation after the final putt drops.
About Time: Surfside Beach House
Walk to the Beach! Brand New Home! – Sleeps 10
The Marble Manor | House & Loft
Rhythm Retreat | Bar, Patio & Space for 10
Callaway Corner | Luxe Pet-Friendly 2BR Condo
Find Your Myrtle Beach Stay → VRMB Owner Direct
So,I like it