I've only played the Dunes Club once and it was a few years back so my memory may be faulty but here's my best shot with the pictures I have. The ambiance of the place is amazing and much of that has already been mentioned. The clubhouse and the hole in the fence are things I've not seen anywhere else. The feel of the place is really cool as well. My take on the architecture was that it is good but the only comparison to Pine Valley's very high standard (haven't been there so I'm going off reading posts here and its standing as #1 or 2 in the US) is likely the look and not the holes themselves IMO. The Dunes Club is very position oriented, there's enough width in spots to bring angles into play, but there's not much reward for risking anything on most of the holes. People often really praise #8; I think its rather goofy with a tree that blocks most of the landing area. You kind of have to play a punch into the green unless you get it in one little nook of the fairway. #5 I have profiled below, and #4 when I was there would have benefitted from some tree trimming to open up the left side of the fairway. To each their own I guess. As a whole its easily worth playing and a wonderful and unique experience, but I don't think comparing it to Pine Valley serves much purpose for either club. I also think Lost Dunes and Point O'Woods are better golf courses.
1st hole is brutal, 420 or so and narrow with a green that falls away from the fairway. Its a good hole, but real easy to make a huge number right out of the gate. I think it would work better later in the round personally.
Third is a position par five, hit to the first landing area, then to the second before an iron in. Not too hard if you play it that way, but if you wanted to try to get it right to the end of the first landing area from the tee you could try to go for it I think. You better not miss going that route.
Fifth is the water hole, very pretty but there's nowhere to go if you can't carry the pond and a missed fairway leads to a layup in most cases. The fellows I played with didn't carry the ball real far and this hole was brutal for them.
Nine is a really cool hole, possibly the best longer hole on the course. Drive out of a chute to where the photo was taken from, then that little front bunker is a great little hazard.
The clubhouse, great little place.
