Grande Dunes (Resort Course) – Played May 2024
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 8700 Golf Village Lane, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Year: 2001
- Architect: Roger Rulewich
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Gold: 7,578 yards, Par 72, 76.9 Rating/145 Slope
- Black: 7,183 yards, Par 72, 75.1 Rating/141 Slope
- Blue: 6,419 yards, Par 72, 73.0 Rating/138 Slope
- White: 6,101 yards, Par 72, 70.9 Rating/132 Slope
- Green: 5,747 yards, Par 72, 69.2 Rating/128 Slope
- Red: 4,956 yards, Par 72, 71.2 Rating/123 Slope
The second stop on this weekend trip was the Resort Course at Grande Dunes. There wasn’t much in the way of history that I could find, so we will get right into this one. I got matched up with a couple of older gentlemen and a younger guy who was getting nine in before a flight home. We started on the back nine but we’ll go in the proper order for the tour.
Hole 1 – 396 yards – Par 4
The first hole at Grande Dunes asks for a straight tee shot to avoid trouble on each side. The approach shot is guarded by a large front bunker.
Hole 2 – 142 yards – Par 3
Early on in the round you are afforded an opportunity with a short club. Take advantage and you could get an early birdie.
Hole 3 – 378 yards – Par 4
A wide fairway begs you to hit the driver here. I’m not going to tell you otherwise. A downhill landing area will boost your distance if you catch it.
Hole 4 – 506 yards – Par 5
The big hitters can hit a power fade on this tee shot to shorten the hole. For the rest of us, take care not to go too far right since the water extends up that side.
Hole 5 – 383 yards – Par 4
There is another hazard up the right side of this hole that comes into play more easily than you would think based on this visual. Keep your tee shot just to the right of the left bunker and you’ll be in good shape.
Front pins are quite gettable on this narrow, angled green.
Hole 6 – 305 yards – Par 4
Smart of aggressive, the goal here is avoiding the bunkers. The farther up the right side you can go, the easier the hole becomes.
We got a blurry shot here but you can still see the contouring of the green.
Hole 7 – 495 yards – Par 5
In being accomodating to my playing partners on tee selection, I was rewarded with some short par fives. You’ve got a big fairway here but be careful not to venture too far left towards the hazard.
The green is set up for a running approach if you are going for it in two.
Hole 8 – 155 yards – Par 3
The water is only going to come into play here on poorly struck shots. The green is plenty undulating and you do not want to go long.
Hole 9 – 386 yards – Par 4
This is one of the seven holes at Grande Dunes that run along the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s on the left side, so don’t miss there. The fairway rolls from tee to green before ending with a nice view of the water.
Hole 10 – 385 yards – Par 4
The water continues up the left side of this hole. The fairway bunker provides a nice barrier for aiming.
The fairway and green are pretty large targets. That should set you up for success but the green does have plenty of slope.
Hole 11 – 124 yards – Par 3
Take care not to get too cute going for front pins on this hole. The large bunker will likely catch your ball if you come up short.
Hole 12 – 350 yards – Par 4
Precision is more important than distance here unless you can get close to the green. The bunkers are no place to hit an approach shot.
Hole 13 – 499 yards – Par 5
Another resort-sized fairway awaits you here. A good drive sets you up to challenge the green and fly the hazard with your second shot.
Hole 14 – 158 yards – Par 3
The Intracoastal makes another appearance on this picturesque par three. The front left pins are in the go zone on this green since you can stay away from the massive bunker.
Hole 15 – 400 yards – Par 4
This is one of the most challenging holes at Grande Dunes with water up the right and a severely sloped fairway. Depending on where your tee shot ends up, the approach shot can be partially blind.
The hazard sits just off the right side of the green so you better favor the left.
Hole 16 – 365 yards – Par 4
Drives up the left side of this fairway provide the best angle to the green. From that side, the angled green opens up and you can easily aim for the pin.
Hole 17 – 477 yards – Par 5
As you can see, the trouble here is all along the left side. If you hit the fairway, the green is accessible but you cannot miss left.
Hole 18 – 373 yards – Par 4
You can get aggressive and take on the bunker on the left side to shorten your approach shot. On the other side, if you miss right, the trees can block your second shot.
Approach shots from the left side have the better angle to this green.
While Grande Dunes is a resort-style course with large fairways and greens, it’s not a pushover. There is enough water to make you think on some tee shots and the greens have surprising amounts of undulation that make putting an adventure. Of the places I’ve seen in Myrtle Beach, I’d definitely return here.