What is your favorite shot at The Dunes Club?

[Kalen Braley]

Is a picture tour in the works?  Or is photo taking against the rules at The Dunes Club?

[Jim Franklin]

Many years ago I caddied for a group of Chicago club pros who used to play a little tournament at The Dunes Club.  As I recall a couple of the longer hitters played way left off the 8th tee, into the middle of the 5th fairway, and then had a direct shot to the 8th in two.   A couple of guys made it.  I guess their third shot was a putt.

I may try that next time. I hit 3 wood well into the junk and one of my options was to play down 5th fairway. I never thought about trying to drive it there, but now I might.

[Billsteele]

This is an interesting thread given the variety of responses. For me, the approach to the 8th hole (my third shot) is the favorite. The sunken nature of the green adds a little apprehension to what should be a simple shot. I don't know if I would classify the green as a punchbowl but it is pretty neat and it seemed like one of the smaller ones on the course.

The approach to the 9th is also a very neat shot with the Cyclops bunker staring at you. On my first go round my approach was short of the bunker and I had to execute a pretty delicate shot over it to the flag. That is the type of enamel grinding, sphincter tightening shot that is a blast when you pull it off.

I also loved the 5th hole in general. It seemed to have the widest fairway on the golf course and invited you to swing away off the tee to set up the true money shot over the pond to a green with very interesting movement.

All in all, a great day and a great course. Thanks to Judge Lavin for arranging this.

[Howard Riefs]

For people who haven't played the course, the tee shot on #1 is visually stunning yet simple.  For me, I really like the tee shot on #7, which I find to be an underrated hole.  It's a medium length par 4 with a sharp dogleg left.  The tee shot requires precision in both distance and direction.  Go too long or too far right and you're in the high dune grass.  Try to cut off too much of the dogleg and you risk going into the trees left of the fairway.  The other par 4 holes are more majestic from the teebox but I like the demanding nature of this shot.

Good call, Judge.

A challenging tee shot with a different flavor from the two tee complexes. As I learned the first time playing the hole, the left side of the fairway is also to be avoided as the trees overhanging the fairway will interfere with the approach.

[John Kavanaugh]

I also enjoyed the approach on nine as challenged by the balloon knot bunker.  How does this bunker compare to its famous cohort at Pine Valley?

[Bill Seitz]

Is a picture tour in the works?  Or is photo taking against the rules at The Dunes Club?

Kalen, I have a bunch of pictures that I've put up on Facebook, but probably not enough for a full tour.  Mostly tee shots, approaches, and some looks back at tees from fairways.  I didn't really get many shots of green contours and such.  I'd be happy to post them if a) people are interested and b) I can figure out how.

[Kalen Braley]

Is a picture tour in the works?  Or is photo taking against the rules at The Dunes Club?

Kalen, I have a bunch of pictures that I've put up on Facebook, but probably not enough for a full tour.  Mostly tee shots, approaches, and some looks back at tees from fairways.  I didn't really get many shots of green contours and such.  I'd be happy to post them if a) people are interested and b) I can figure out how.

Bill

I'd be interested in seeing them.  If you need help posting, let me know.

Kalen

[Jim Franklin]

I also enjoyed the approach on nine as challenged by the balloon knot bunker.  How does this bunker compare to its famous cohort at Pine Valley?

The bunker at PV is deeper, but not as big circumference-wise.

[John Kirk]

The Dunes Club is a very difficult golf course.  It's course rating and slope from 6500 yards are 74.0/145.  The one club you must have in the bag is a driver.  On several holes, a draw or fade is unusually valuable.  Another great strength are the green contours.  The right place to miss is different for many pin locations.  In the afternoon round, the 4th hole (think I've got it right this time) was tucked into a bowl just a few yards onto the green.  Anywhere long was just so dead.  You have been better off thirty yards short.