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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
1428 Reviews (1428)
5 Stars
971
4 Stars
334
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
13
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
88.4%
Recommend this course
1326 out of 1428 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
45 Reviews (45)
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.0
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.6
77.8%
Recommend this course
35 out of 45 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
93 Reviews (93)
5 Stars
53
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.7
86.0%
Recommend this course
80 out of 93 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
1428 Reviews (1428)

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
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good track

Course is full of many bunkers and can play long if you use any of the back tees. Layout is very good, with friendly staff. Greens rolled well and were very undulating and can be fast. If you don’t get into any bunkers it would be a miracle! Bunkers in fairways were thin and hard (but that can be good or bad depending on how close you are to the lip) Green side bunkers for the most part have more loose sand. Love the course and layout. Long drive from Goodyear, but worth it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course, But...

Anyone who has ever played Southern Dunes knows what a great course this is. Of course, SD is one of those "super over-priced" tracks during the peak season, but that's

par for the course...pun intended. However, in the summer months, the mere mortals who can afford to play for a fraction of what the course normally fetches, have a chance to play one fo the better courses in the area. I love this course...I feel that it's one of the best in the state. But one gripe I have is, many of the bunkers (which is one of the selling points of the course) are not good. I understand that maintaining bunkers is usually one of the most expensive elements associated with any course maintenance program. But when you consider the amount of money changing hands to play this course, one would expect properly maintained bunking. I would make one suggesting to those preparing to play this course any time soon...practice putting out of bunkers...you'll have more success than trying to hit a "traditional" bunker shot out of the majority of these "traps". My humble suggesting to the maintenance and management crew at the SD...put some of the money you make from this course back into the bunkers. It's the right thing to do.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Smooth, fast greens

Currently the course is in solid shape. Of particular note was the fast smooth running greens and the sand traps. I don’t know what the speed of the greens were but they were significantly faster then what I’ve been playing in the valley. The sand traps were also adequately full and consistent, which unfortunately has become a rarity.

4:15 pace. Friendly staff. Nice bar to have a beer after.

Lone complaint might be that no beverage cart on the course. We teed off at almost 2:00 with very few golfers on the course so I also get it….plenty of bottled water through out the course though.

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

When it plays like it did today, it’s the best test in the valley.

As close to US Open conditions as a course will get without getting out of hand. Still extremely playable, but will test all facets of the game. If there is a hint of wind, be prepared for a very hard day. Great course. A favorite.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course, mediocre conditions

Southern Dunes is highly rated and I can see why. The layout is fantastic and it is a beast from the tips. The only downside were the conditions. They weren’t very good when he played. I feel like this was the exception as I played this course in the recommendation of different people who said they had great conditions at the time. Still highly recommended.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 92
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Sewer smell is bad

We started to tee off on time but was then held back 20+ mins by the unorganized starter who mixed up tee times. There is a really bad sewer smell at the entrance and near the clubhouse but once you start playing it goes away. Other than those 2 issues, the course is great and we will be back.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/08/2023

Also there was not water on the course as indicated in the tee time reservation as "free drinks"

Played On
Reviews 137
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Great Course

I have been coming here every time I visit the Phoenix area ( twice a year for 15 years) have played here at least 50 times over the years and the course is in great condition

Staff is friendly and makes you feel welcome

Only critique was the bunkers need a little tlc

This was the time I played here were pace of play was an issue

Tee time of 8:32 and played in 4:46 , too slow

I generally stay in Peoria or Scottsdale so it is quite the drive but we’ll worth it

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Disappointing

Disappointing experience given the price and other reviews.

Drove up to bag drop. Attendant was there but didn’t come over or acknowledge us. I dropped our bags and parked. When we came back, attendant did help.

At check-in they asked for about $10 more than the confirmation email I had and showed them. They had no interest in sticking to the confirmed price.

We went to range, then to putting green near #1, then to starter for our tee time. Starter was aloof, indifferent and a bit obnoxious over the time we were there, which was a long time. It was an 8:50 tee time and they were already running way behind. We teed off 20 minutes late. If at check-in they would have told us they were running behind (which they knew), we could have timed our warm up differently so not standing around waiting at #1. Starter blamed the delay on the 2nd group of the day running late. That’s no excuse. It’s their job to manage so as not to inconvenience everyone else. Pace of play once we started was also slow. Too slow for the early tee time.

The course itself was nice. Pleasant environment. Very playable if using appropriate tee box. Tee boxes, fairways and greens were good. Greens had a lot of poa, rolled slow but pretty true. But… the greenside bunkers were terribly inconsistent. Sometimes almost no sand, bouncing off hardpan right away. Others had several inches deep of soft sand.

On-course restroom was out of order so only option was at clubhouse.

Plentiful water bottles on course was nice.

Finishing this review like I started it, our overall experience was not what we expected. At that price we won’t be going back.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Worth the drive from Scottsdale

Really enjoy this course and even though it’s a 45min drive from Scottsdale, it’s always worth it!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 113
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Great course and amenities

Southern Dunes is a course that any player will enjoy. Conditions are fantastic and the off course amenities are excellent. One of the best in the valley

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf Course

Great course, lots of sand bunkers, sand was very hard, hard to get out of bunker..

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

The Triple Down Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Gila River Resorts & Casino - Wild Horse Pass or Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel & Casino and golf at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and Whirlwind Golf Club - Cattail & Devil's Claw courses.

Whirlwind Golf Getaway Package

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CHANDLER | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Gila River Resorts & Casino - Wild Horse Pass and golf at Whirlwind Golf Club - Cattail & Devil's Claw courses.

The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package

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PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy accommodations at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection or The Inn at Eagle Mountain and golf at Eagle Mountain Golf Club & SunRidge Canyon Golf Club
Sunridge Canyon Golf Club

The Fairways of Fountain Hills Package

CLICK BELOW
PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE | Enjoy accommodations at ADERO Scottsdale Resort, Autograph Collection or The Inn at Eagle Mountain and golf at Eagle Mountain Golf Club and SunRidge Canyon Golf Club

Mesa Golf Around Package

CLICK BELOW
MESA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Home2 Suites by Hilton - Mesa Longbow and golf at Las Sendas Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club & Ocotillo Golf Club.
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