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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
1431 Reviews (1431)
5 Stars
973
4 Stars
335
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
13
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
88.7%
Recommend this course
1329 out of 1431 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
48 Reviews (48)
5 Stars
27
4 Stars
11
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
79.2%
Recommend this course
38 out of 48 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
95 Reviews (95)
5 Stars
54
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
86.3%
Recommend this course
82 out of 95 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
1431 Reviews (1431)

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 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

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.

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

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

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

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

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

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

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 10
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great morning outing

Beautiful and challenging track, helpful staff, certainly worth the extra drive time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Day

The course was in great shape..We actually decided to play 2 rounds. Worth the drive

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Really great course

Great conditions , nice people , great course layout

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 44
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Desert Delight

Primo course conditions and a great pace all day! Highly recommend!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

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

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

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.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
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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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