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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
1439 Reviews (1439)
5 Stars
977
4 Stars
337
3 Stars
79
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
13
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
87.8%
Recommend this course
1335 out of 1439 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
53 Reviews (53)
5 Stars
30
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.0
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
77.4%
Recommend this course
41 out of 53 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
88 Reviews (88)
5 Stars
50
4 Stars
23
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
84.1%
Recommend this course
74 out of 88 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Southern Dunes delivers a championship-caliber layout with challenging bunkers, stunning scenery, and conditions that consistently impress recent golfers. Exceptionally friendly staff, quality amenities, and outstanding value make this AGA and USGA qualifier venue worth the trip.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Traditional/Links
Par 72
Length 7546 yards
Slope 142
Rating 76.5

Stretching over 320 acres in the southwest area, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club (previously known as Royal Dunes) transforms mostly flat terrain into a challenging course that uses practically twice the amount of land a standard course. The course incorporates superb landscaping featuring towering mounds and hollow valleys for an interesting and scenic game. This desert golf course has wide fairways and generous landing areas. The dunes-style layout requires precision from tee to green. The difficulty of the golf course lies within the deep, strategically placed sand bunkers, multi-tiered greens, and native grass roughs. Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club provides adequate challenge for players of any skill level.

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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2002
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round. Closed on Mondays from June 1 - August 31st
Architect Brian Curley (2002) Fred Couples (2002) Lee E. Schmidt (2002)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Caddies Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa, Locker Rooms

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

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Reviews

4.4
1439 Reviews (1439)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 59
Patio Dining 48
Brunch 25
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 121
Undulating Greens 56
Forced Carries 55
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 90
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 49
A Weekend Splurge 44
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 101
In the 'Burbs 16
Convenient to the City 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

106 is cool. Temperature not score!🙃🏌🏿😂

Glad I played it would love to play it again. Can’t wait till the facilities are fully open in 2027.

Thank you, everyone

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Go Play

For those that leave a review because the remodeling the clubhouse, has nothing to do with the golf course. This course is always in great shape and as long as you can do your best to stay out as many of the 115 bunkers then it’s usually enjoyable. The pace of play was the only thing to be negative about. Waited most of the day until the back 9

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Not worth the drive

The staff is great. The course and pace of play wasn't worth the hour drive. Much better courses to play if you are staying in Phoenix.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Best time to play—pure golf!

The clubhouse is under construction until May 2027. This place is pure golf at this moment—just the way I like it! I highly recommend playing here to experience pure golf…none of the frills. Enjoy!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 29
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Southern Dunes

If you think bunker shots, this is the course for you. Strategic placement in landing areas and protecting the greens. Beautiful layout but can be intimidating.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

This course is always fun to play. Great layout and peace a quiet. Can't wait to have a beer at the 19th hole when they complete construction. The new building looks great so far. Keep it up Souther Dunes. The golf staff is top notch.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course Design

This course is a well designed course by Fred Couples.

Should note that the entire clubhouse is being renovated and won’t open until Spring 2027. They have a food truck there though that has the best Smash Cheese Burger I have ever eaten!! They gave us a $10 food voucher each when we checked in for our tee time, which was not expected and was appreciated.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Lots of sand

As it name describes, this course has a lot of sand or dirt traps. They currently are not in very good condition. The course is very nice and staff is friendly!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Excellent track

I had read a few previous reviews about the course being in a bit of disarray, and yes, they are doing construction and rebuilding the clubhouse, but the Golf Course was a great challenge. Lots of great holes that take a great amount of strategy to get around. The staff was incredibly friendly, navigating us through the construction, and although the pace was a bit slow, we had a fantastic day out at Southern dunes.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 27
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0

dry, firm, bad bunkers and overall nothing much great, at the moment.

Conditions Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Average

Slightly underwhelming course. Currently under construction. Parts of the course look to be not is great conditions, mostly the areas off the fairways. The course design has alot of bunkers but the bunkers were not in good shape. Hard sand which made them almost unplayable. Approximately 1 hour from Phoenix area.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 29
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Bring your A game

Tough layout. Small landing areas on droves and heavily bunkered greens. Tons of traps. Sand could be better but recommend and worth the 40 min drive.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not for beginners

Good course for 10 index or lower. Lack of sand in bunkers and less than ideal GPS makes for additional challenges. 50% of bunkers green-side were hard pack with no sand. The Mtc folks said sand gets blown out of bunkers!? Should be good course when club house is completed, they fix bunkers and get new carts with better GPS.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Time

Course and weather was perfect. Only downfall, new clubhouse is not completed

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Overrated

Overrated track. Greens were splotchy. They were also so firm and dry I couldn’t hold PW from the fairway. Driving range looked like it hasn’t been mowed in a week. Major let down considering the hype of a top 100 US public course.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
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