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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
1426 Reviews (1426)
5 Stars
970
4 Stars
334
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
12
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
88.9%
Recommend this course
1325 out of 1426 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
44 Reviews (44)
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.9
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.6
79.5%
Recommend this course
35 out of 44 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
92 Reviews (92)
5 Stars
53
4 Stars
25
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.7
87.0%
Recommend this course
80 out of 92 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
1426 Reviews (1426)

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

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
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 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Beautiful Course

Great course in excellent condition. Had a 2:50 tee time so was worried we might not be able to finish, but pace of play was fast and we finished our 18 holes.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Condition

I play this course over 10 years ago and was not that impressed but thoughts I would give it another shot.

Dramatic improvement from the last time I played! The fairways were in great condition and the greens were rolling smooth.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tough Bunkers

Bunkers are many and deep. What sand there is is very hard...skulled a couple before realizing. Target golf and really enjoyed the round. Played twilight so it did get pretty backed up on 13. Could have finished without the slow play

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Beautiful Course

Excellent course a short drive from Phoenix. Reduced rate for starting at 7 AM. Very enjoyable except for the blustery conditions.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Overrated

Staff was not friendly at all, the difference between practice putting green and course greens is night and day, every bunker on the course are hard pan. I played 5 courses while in Arizona this one was easily ranked 5th among them.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/08/2023

what other courses did you play during your stay. Planning a trip and would love your input.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worth the drive

Fairway and greens were excellent condition. Staff super friendly and helpful. Uncontrollable was the wind which made for interesting round. Highly recommend

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Target Golf

Course has over 100 bunkers. Sand is very hard so don't even try to splash a shot. Greens ran true and smooth. Really enjoyed the round until the 13th hole and then it was very slow...2 groups and every tee box...then again we teed off at 2:50

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

SAND

The layout of this course is challenging and forces you to play smart off the tee, rather than just loading up and bombing your drive each and every hole. The placement of the bunkers (which there are many on every single hole) forced you to be smart about each shot, or play a favorable miss. The course design also incorporated some decent elevation changes, though the surrounding area is mostly flat. Greens were fast but not abusive. Fairways were well-manicured and green.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Terribly overrated

I’ve played over 250 courses. This was one of the most disappointing corses I’ve played. Way overpriced. If I wanted to play out of hard pan bunkers throughout the entire round I could have stayed in west Texas. The practice putting has some type of growth in it and runs about 5 while the course rolls out at about a 10. The pro shop staff, bag drop staff were not very friendly at all. Would not recommend this course at all.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Small Greens Require Precision Shots

Overall a very nice course. Definitely a Dunes course. Tons of bunkering, always in your landing zones. Course can play LONG if you want it to. The greens are wide but not very deep. Requires precise shots. My one complaint is the greens are guarded closely by many deep bunkers and there is not much sand in them. Hard pan bottom with minimal rocky dirt in them does not lend itself to successful sand shots. If they added some sand to these bunkers I may be a little higher on this course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Must Play

Have been playing vacation golf in Arizona for over a decade and have never made the drive down to Southern Dunes before. It is a fantastic track, best value, and well worth the drive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pace of play

Wonderful course and staff, but pace of play on the day we played was extremely slow-over a 5 hour round. Wet weather likely contributed and I will try this venue again because it’s excellent. I hope the slow round was an abberation.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
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

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

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 & 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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