Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tips | 72 | 7546 yards | 76.5 | 142 |
| Black | 72 | 7330 yards | 75.2 | 138 |
| Gold | 72 | 6902 yards | 72.7 | 132 |
| Blue | 72 | 6493 yards | 71.2 | 129 |
| Blue (W) | 72 | 6493 yards | 78.1 | 149 |
| Championship (W) | 72 | 6138 yards | 76.0 | 141 |
| White | 72 | 5981 yards | 68.7 | 124 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5981 yards | 75.0 | 139 |
| Combo (W) | 72 | 5538 yards | 72.1 | 132 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 5055 yards | 69.9 | 121 |
| Red | 72 | 5055 yards | 64.3 | 105 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tips M: 76.5/142 | 449 | 370 | 575 | 165 | 451 | 248 | 584 | 484 | 483 | 3809 | 412 | 189 | 468 | 606 | 323 | 496 | 576 | 204 | 463 | 3737 | 7546 |
| Black M: 75.2/138 | 433 | 365 | 548 | 160 | 426 | 244 | 576 | 465 | 445 | 3662 | 408 | 182 | 462 | 587 | 312 | 491 | 570 | 198 | 458 | 3668 | 7330 |
| Gold M: 72.7/132 | 411 | 323 | 513 | 152 | 390 | 217 | 548 | 445 | 421 | 3420 | 388 | 170 | 442 | 546 | 302 | 470 | 549 | 180 | 435 | 3482 | 6902 |
| Blue M: 71.2/129 W: 78.1/149 | 382 | 310 | 467 | 145 | 370 | 200 | 530 | 429 | 415 | 3248 | 366 | 160 | 408 | 507 | 283 | 430 | 515 | 170 | 406 | 3245 | 6493 |
| Champions W: 76.0/141 | 382 | 323 | 513 | 128 | 315 | 151 | 515 | 339 | 398 | 3064 | 366 | 139 | 355 | 496 | 312 | 362 | 499 | 170 | 375 | 3074 | 6138 |
| White M: 68.7/124 W: 75.0/139 | 325 | 300 | 460 | 128 | 315 | 154 | 515 | 372 | 398 | 2967 | 342 | 139 | 355 | 496 | 260 | 410 | 499 | 138 | 375 | 3014 | 5981 |
| White/Red M: 66.8/115 W: 72.1/132 | 325 | 300 | 460 | 128 | 229 | 154 | 448 | 339 | 398 | 2781 | 342 | 139 | 298 | 451 | 252 | 362 | 499 | 138 | 276 | 2757 | 5538 |
| Red M: 64.3/105 W: 69.6/121 | 253 | 238 | 390 | 120 | 229 | 151 | 448 | 339 | 299 | 2467 | 301 | 112 | 298 | 451 | 252 | 362 | 412 | 124 | 276 | 2588 | 5055 |
| Handicap | 9 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 10 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, GrillAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Spa, Locker RoomsAvailable Sports
FitnessAccolades
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u000001261715 on 05/19/2026
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Photo submitted by u314161478681 on 02/22/2026
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Photo submitted by george1061870 on 02/12/2026
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Photo submitted by george1061870 on 02/12/2026
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Photo submitted by JoeFellows on 03/07/2025
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Photo submitted by u000005021421 on 04/23/2024
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Photo submitted by u000005021421 on 04/23/2024
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Photo submitted by u000005221683 on 03/06/2024
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Photo submitted by TyrelB on 01/06/2024
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Photo submitted by ricknok on 06/17/2023
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18th hole Photo submitted by u000007367496 on 04/19/2023
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Photo submitted by gregwascher on 03/31/2023
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Photo submitted by bluedog54 on 12/24/2022
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Good track Photo submitted by Lobo39 on 08/26/2022
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Bare spots and snake... Photo submitted by tarifachris on 05/27/2022
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Could have played all night with the full moon. Photo submitted by SteveJWyo on 03/23/2022
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Photo submitted by u314160287695 on 03/14/2022
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Photo submitted by Jbwills99 on 12/23/2021
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Birthday round Photo submitted by Jbwills99 on 12/15/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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Photo submitted by ThePeteyRich on 11/22/2021
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14th Photo submitted by u000004410047 on 02/16/2021
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Photo submitted by Mark6271553 on 01/29/2020
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Photo submitted by mikx3x3x3 on 08/25/2019
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Avoid the bunkers. Photo submitted by JasonDeeganGA on 01/14/2018
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Ak-Chin 2nd Photo submitted by Pizazz84 on 03/19/2017
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Ak-Chin 10th Photo submitted by Pizazz84 on 03/19/2017
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Photo submitted by Terry4060839 on 07/05/2016
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Hole 4 Photo submitted by salim on 03/19/2016
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Hole 2 Photo submitted by salim on 03/19/2016
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Photo submitted by Andyglad1 on 05/04/2015
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Photo submitted by Andyglad1 on 05/04/2015
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Photo submitted by Andyglad1 on 05/04/2015
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This guy wanted to play though... so we let him Photo submitted by yavo2596 on 10/07/2013
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Sand sand sand Photo submitted by strybosch on 02/20/2013
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Photo submitted by hottommy on 11/13/2012
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Photo submitted by hottommy on 11/13/2012
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some of the 109 bunkers Photo submitted by hottommy on 11/13/2012
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Photo submitted by jjrtdcaz on 10/12/2012
Solid
Great conditions, greens roll true but unique grass, takes some getting used to. Tees and greens in wonderful shape, seeded rough can add some difficulty, very well placed fw bunkers. What a great challenge and day.
Good condition, friendly locals
I was paired with a couple of regulars that really helped with tee box guidance. They were friendly as well. Staff was really friendly and helpful. Course was in good shape and was a lot of fun to play. Some sand traps could use more sand and a few were very wet. But that did not distract from my round. Definitely a course on my future play list
From the Tips: Best public Arizona course
I played in 105 weather. The course was not totally, but fairly empty. Tee time was noon. Staff was friendly, attentive, and even with my late, hot, discounted tee time, I never felt unwelcomed. Because of the open field, was given the choice to pair up or play alone (unheard of in my experience at any decent course) and with a single behind and in front, pace of play never was an issue. I didn't hit multiple shots from different lies, but I never once felt rushed or was waiting on the guy ahead.
Considering it was the end of June, course arriation was just a couple of weeks ago, and it's been excessively dry up until a monsoon the night before; conditions were amazing, and the putting surfaces were well taken care of and moved quickly and evenly throughout the course. I had to move a ball from a rough green side patch once. But in Arizona during this time of the year, most of these courses look like something you would see in a post apocalypse wasteland, and the greens are all on vacation up north or something.
The twilight green fee was an amazing deal if you're willing to deal with the heat (with the added bonus of a nice and empty course to play on) but I will definitely be back this winter to try the course on it's "cool" setting.
Restaurant and bar looked very nice, but I didn't stay for the happy hour. The course is way out of town. Coming from the northwest part of Phoenix, it was around a 1.15 hr drive each way, so be prepared to drive through some desert. But it 100% is worth the drive.
PS. The tee you decide to play will really have an effect on your round here. Playing the tips isn't just adding 10 yards to a hole like it is at most of the Arizona courses, but it usually changes the entire strategy of the hole. It is a really fun strategy
Some of the sand traps are really hard you're battling flies all round do to the nearby cattle ranches but one of my favorite golf courses in the Valley of the Sun
Great morning outing
Beautiful and challenging track, helpful staff, certainly worth the extra drive time.
Great Day
The course was in great shape..We actually decided to play 2 rounds. Worth the drive
Really great course
Great conditions , nice people , great course layout
Great course - Worth the drive
This was my 2nd time playing Southern Dunes. The course was in great shape. It was busy, but it did not overly impact pace of play. It wasn't too hot but hot enough and the complementary water bottles every few holes was much appreciated and just one more example to show that the staff at Southern Dunes really cares about your experience. On the turn, the staff greeted us with chilled towels to help beat the heat. The course played great - the tees, traps, fairways, and greens were all in great shape. Course difficulty is moderate. Many holes lend themselves for good scores, but there are a few where a single errant shot can really result in some ugly numbers, as was the case with my round. Overall, the course and staff were great and I will definitely be back.
Still great course - but course conditions are not like it was years ago!
Still great course. But course conditions compared to 5 years ago are no match. Years ago it was in immaculate condition at the same time of year. Greens were great and were running Stimp 12... Around the greens there are a lot of bare spots which makes it tough to go up and down. Sand traps are like compressed dirt. Pin positions were 18 tough pin placements. Played great and had even an eagle on number 13. Be careful there are a lot of snakes on the course at this time of year.
Great course
Amazing layout. Makes you think for each shot. My only complaint is more restrooms would be nice. Would definitely play again regardless. Lol
Greg the Starter was outstanding. He really helped all 4 of us have a good overview of the course and a brief history. Throughly enjoyed him.
And the gentleman who helped us upon arrival was great. He was really busy but reminded gracious and patient.
Desert Delight
Primo course conditions and a great pace all day! Highly recommend!
The Most Bunkers I Have Ever Seen
It took me the entire front nine to figure out I needed to avoid the bunkers at all cost. Two tier bunkers?OMG Once I did, back side was one over par. Fairways and greens were pretty lush for desert golf. Flies, bees, and other flying things were really annoying. There were quite a few gopher? holes too…see Caddyshack video attached LOL.
Best for money
the greens honestly made the course for me. so smooth and everything else was perfect. bunkers were great, all 180 of them. very fun course
Second time playing here
Love this course — might actually be my favorite course in the Phoenix area. Very fun, playable layout and the course was in great shape. Greens were rolling pure. Friendly staff. Only complaint was place of play, but that seems to be an issue at every course around here. 100% would play here again and would recommend this course to others.
The Triple Down Stay & Play Package
Whirlwind Golf Getaway Package