The Dunes Club

[Andy Troeger]

I ask this to stimulate discussion and not meaning to be confrontational in the slightest...

Everything I read that's positive about this place has to do with the atmosphere, the unique experience, the driveway, etc.

So...what's so great about the course itself?

The fallaway green at the 1st, the double options for the 2nd, and the 9th green complex are neat features to me--but not enough to make it a top 100 course. What else is unique to some of you?

There are plenty of options with the number of different tees and the par 5's are both a true risk reward situation.  Big Nev has gone for and pretty much gotten on both in two when I clearly have to play them as 3 shotters.  The feel and look of the course is great.  The green complex are terrific with plenty of variety based on pin locations and the way the greens are set into the surroundings (like on 6, 8 and 9).  There are a few quirks that I think make the course fun (the tree on .  Play it then deduce an opinion about it. 

Brian,
I have played it. I was really impressed by the experience but not as much by the golf holes. Its a good course IMO just not a great one. Thanks for your comments though, that's the type of thing that's been missing on these threads. I'm impressed that Big Nev has reached the par fives--to me even with some length there's a ton of risk for a minimal reward--especially #8. I think the tree is very silly.

[Jeff Tang]

I had the pleasure of playing The Dunes Club last week.  I played this nine hole course twice.  I have some comments and then a question for anyone that's played the course.

From pictures I had seen prior to playing the Dunes my impression of the course was that it was a very tight course and would be very tricky.  The pictures in this thread aided in that impression.  However I was pleasantly surprised to see that the course was much more playable than I believed it would be.  The landing areas I felt were generous and I did not encounter shots from the fairway that had to deal with overhanging trees.  I'm not saying that it couldn't happen that just that it wasn't a factor from the positions I played from.  I am far from a straight hitter of the golf ball but I was able to hit 10 of 14 fairways.

The course was the best in terms of conditioning of any I have ever played.  Even though it rained on and off for the round the course did not play soft, but I wouldn't consider it firm and fast either.  The shots into the greens were fun and challenging.  I thought the par 5's were good and with a good drive I could see where a big hitter could go for them.  I think it's a challenging course but one that rewards well struck shots all the way around.  I didn't find it tricky or tricked up.  In my opinion I don't think tree removal is really necessary to make the course more playable.  From an aesthetics standpoint that could be another argument, but from that perspective also I wouldn't make any changes.  I thought it was a very, very cool course to look at.

As mentioned from others earlier the overall experience was incredible.  I would place it among the top five coolest golf places I've been to.  The simplicity of the club, from the tiny clubhouse, locker room, and pro shop, to the course itself made for a really great day.

My question is regarding the tree on #8 that overhangs the fairway.  I didn't see this tree, and my host told me that a tree had been removed from this hole earlier.  Was he talking about the Keiser tree on 8?  I had clear shots into the eighth for my approach both times I played it.

[Andy Troeger]

My question is regarding the tree on #8 that overhangs the fairway.  I didn't see this tree, and my host told me that a tree had been removed from this hole earlier.  Was he talking about the Keiser tree on 8?  I had clear shots into the eighth for my approach both times I played it.

Jeff,
That tree was VERY obvious when it was there--but it was being held up by cables even then if I remember right. Chances are that tree must be gone if you couldn't figure out where it might have been--it was pretty smack dab in the middle of the opening just on the left side of the fairway.

I wonder if they've done some other tree thinning or removal in the last few years?

[Dan Moore]

Narrowness aside, this looks quite creative.

 I always liked the intent of Harborside, but fell the maintence, lack of fast and firm,  has been way wrong. 

I don't care for Kemper or its working man's iteration, George Dunne.  Both seem water logged. 

Dick Nugent's  renovation work has been suspect.

Is The Dunes an anomoly? 

Does Dick Nugents work warrant a review? 

 

[Matt_Cohn]

Why not build a second nine across the street?

[Adam Clayman]

Dan, The mounding at Harborside had me vomiting.

What intent?

[Damon Groves]

Great photos and great to see a course that you hear a lot about but hard to get any info on. I agree that it appears some tree work would only add to the course.

[Dan Moore]

Mounding aside there are some very good holes there, especially on the starboard side.  

[Jeff Tang]

My question is regarding the tree on #8 that overhangs the fairway.  I didn't see this tree, and my host told me that a tree had been removed from this hole earlier.  Was he talking about the Keiser tree on 8?  I had clear shots into the eighth for my approach both times I played it.

Jeff,
That tree was VERY obvious when it was there--but it was being held up by cables even then if I remember right. Chances are that tree must be gone if you couldn't figure out where it might have been--it was pretty smack dab in the middle of the opening just on the left side of the fairway.

I wonder if they've done some other tree thinning or removal in the last few years?

Andy, my host said that they had also removed a tree from #5 that makes the tee shot more open.  There was a lot of room off the tee on that particular hole.  Aside from #5 my host said that he wasn't aware of any additional tree trimming which had been done.

[C. Sturges]

I just played here last week. As mentioned above it is a wonderful experience, not a top 100 in my mind.  This is because of course conditions.  Everything was soft!  It played as the softest country club course I have played.  There are shots where you want to play a bump and run and the ball will just plug.  For other questions, the course looks narrow off the tee, but is very wide and then narrows towards the greens.  I played three rounds with the same ball and I like to spray the ball.  All the great waste areas I felt were close to the tees and not in play unless you top a ball.  With this if you get the chance to play here I would not pass.  I just would not cancel another course to play here.  Chicago Golf Club blew it away the next day.
Have a great day, 
Time to tee it up,

Chris