Course Guide: Feedback from the pros on their first trip to The Dunes Golf and Beach Club was positive. Described by course renovator Rees Jones Jnr as the ‘coastal Augusta National,’ the Dunes certainly put up some resistance in 2024, in part due to extensive drainage and because it sits on a naturally sandy site, making the course drain quickly. 2024 saw The Dunes middle of the course pack for difficulty.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Designer: Trent Jones Snr 1948, Rees Jones Renovations 2003, 2013, 2018, 2023; Course Type: Parkland, Mid-Score, Carolina, Medium Length; Par: 71; Length: 7,347 yards; Holes with Water Hazards In-Play: 6; Number of Sand Bunkers: 72: Acres of Fairway: 30; Fairways: Ryegrass overseed; Rough: Bermudagrass overseeded with Perennial Ryegrass 2.5″; Greens: 6,000 sq.ft average featuring Champion UltraDwarf Bermudagrass.
Course Scoring Average + PGA Tour Difficulty Rank:
- 2024: 69.85 (-1.15), Rank 26 of 51 courses
Dunes Golf and Beach Club Fairway Widths (yards): Below are the fairway widths for Dunes Golf and Beach Club and how they compare to recent courses that we’ve seen on Tour:
- The Dunes Golf and Beach Club: 20 – 25 yards at 300 yards.
- Philadelphia Cricket Club: 30-32 yards at 300 yards.
- TPC Craig Ranch: 30 – 40 yards at 300 yards.
- Harbour Town: 250 yards from tee: 29 yards wide; 275:26; 300:22; 325:26; 350:22.
- Oaks Course: 250 yards from tee: 33 yards wide; 275:34; 300:29; 325:27; 350:26.
- Memorial Park: 30 – 40 yards at 300 yards.
- Copperhead: 250 yards from the tee: 24 yards wide; 275:20; 300:21; 325:23 350:19.
- TPC Sawgrass: 250 yards from the tee: 31 yards wide; 275:32; 300:30; 325:28 350:20.
- Bay Hill: 250 yards from the tee: 32 yards wide; 275:33; 300:33; 325:39 350:29.
- PGA National: 250 yards from the tee: 29 yards wide; 275:27; 300:25; 325:27 350:25.
- TPC Scottsdale: 250 yards from the tee: 33 yards wide; 275:30; 300:28; 325:27; 350:27.
- Pebble Beach: 250 yards from the tee: 33 yards wide; 275:33; 300:29; 325:30 350:26.
- Torrey Pines South: 250 yards from the tee: 26 yards wide; 275:27; 300:25; 325:24; 350:23.
- Pete Dye Stadium: 250 yards from the tee: 29 yards wide; 275:27; 300:26; 325:26; 350:24.
- Waialae: 250 yards from the tee: 34 yards wide; 275:32; 300:34; 325:37; 350:34.
- Plantation Course: 250 yards from the tee: 59 yards wide; 275:61; 300:65; 325:60; 350:62.
Course Designer Links: For research purposes, other Rees Jones designs include:
- Aronimink GC – 2010,2011 A&T National + 2018 BMW Championship
- Baltusrol – 2016 PGA Championship
- Bellerive CC – 2018 PGA Championship
- Bethpage Black – 2009 U.S Open, 2019 PGA Championship + 2012/2016 The Barclays
- Blue Course, Congressional CC – 2011 U.S. Open + 2012-2014 & 2016 National
- Blue Course, Royal Montreal GC – 2014 RBC Canadian Open
- Dubsdread, Cog Hill GCC – 2009,2010,2011 BMW Championship
- GC of Houston – Houston Open
- Hazeltine – 2009 PGA Championship
- Highlands Course, Atlanta Athletic Club – 2011 PGA Championship
- Medinah Number 3 – 2019 BMW Championship
Course Overview: The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is a 7,347 yard, par 71 Robert Trent Jones original dating back to 1949 and is one of the oldest courses in the self-proclaimed ‘Golf Capital of the World’.
Rees Jones has had his hand in renovating The Dunes on 4 occasions in 2003, 2013, 2018 and as recently as 2023 which has helped restore the greens to their original shape whilst replacing the old Bentgrass surfaces with Champion Bermuda. Bunkering was completely overhauled in the most recent work and what we’re presented with now is a golf course fit for the modern day. Jones calls this the ‘coastal Augusta National’ – high praise indeed.
The club is positioned alongside the Atlantic coastline with some exposed holes as well as others that have much more of a parkland feel with tight (20-25 yard landing areas), tree-lined fairways and water features. Talking of water, it’s abundant on this course presenting an omnipresent danger to those errant with both their drives and their approach shots, with water coming seriously into play on 6 of the holes.
The par of 71 is formed by 3 par-5s and 4 par-3s alongside the regular par-4s, with the long holes ranging from a generous 532 yards (4th hole) and 539 yards (15th) to an altogether different proposition at the 625 yard 13th named ‘Waterloo’.
The par-3s on the front 9 look the tougher pair at 216 and 219 yards versus 195 and 170 on the back, however it’s the par 4s which might ultimately shape this tournament given their diversity. The 14th at exactly 500 yards looks a brute, as does the 485 yard 2nd, however there’s a little respite on the 10th and 16th with both holes offering opportunities for the longest of hitters to take a few chances, particularly if tees are moved up on any given day.
Rough is up by 0.5” to 2.5” in 2025 and I’m expecting no pushover, unless there is literally no wind whatsoever.
Myrtle Beach Classic Winners: 2024: Chris Gotterup (-22).
- 2024: Chris Gotterup 66-64-65-67 -22/262
OWGR of Myrtle Beach Classic Winners: 2024: Gotterup 284.
Dunes Golf and Beach Club Cut Line: 2024: -2.
Lead Score Progression:
- 2024: Round 1 -7; Round 2 -12; Round 3 -18; Round 4 -22.
Path to Victory: Below are end of round positions for Myrtle Beach winners at Dunes Golf and Beach Club:
- 2024 – Chris Gotterup: Round 1: 7th, Round 2: 1st, Round 3: 1st.
Shots From the Lead: Below are Myrtle Beach Classic winners at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club and where they were positioned in terms of shots from the lead during the tournament:
- 2024 – Chris Gotterup: Round 1: 2 back, Round 2: 1 ahead, Round 3: 4 ahead.
Incoming Form of Myrtle Beach Classic winners since 2010:
- Chris Gotterup: 24th Byron Nelson/11th New Orleans/MC Corales/MC San Antonio.
Tournament Stats: We’ve published some key player statistics for this week’s event that are well worth a look. Naturally they’ll help to shape a view on players who could go well this week: FRL Stats | Combined Stats
My published predictor is available here. Top 10 of my published predictor are: 1) Chris Gotterup; 2) Henrik Norlander; 3) Ricky Castillo; 4) Vince Whaley; 5) Andrew Putnam; 6) Sami Valimaki; 7) Kevin Yu; 8) Danny Walker; 9) Luke List; 10) Davis Riley.
Myrtle Beach Classic Winners & Prices: 2024: Gotterup 50/1.
Historical Weather:
- 2024: Thursday: Mostly cloudy. High of 84. Wind SSW 10-18 mph with gusts to 24 mph. Friday: Partly sunny. High of 81. Wind SW 8-14 mph with gusts to 22 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny. High of 72. Wind SSW 8-12 mph. Sunday: Sunny. High of 77. Wind NW 8-12 mph with gusts to 18 mph.
Weather Forecast: The latest weather forecast for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is here.
Thursday looks like ideal conditions with 25 degrees Celsius – 77 Fahrenheit and no wind, so expect low scoring. From there things look worse with Thunderstorms a real threat on Friday, but with no accompanying wind, if they play, scoring remains low.
Across the weekend temperatures fall to 16-19 Celsius – 61-66 Fahrenheit – and a 20-mph gusting north-easterly wind arrives. The threat of rain showers can’t be ruled-out across Saturday and Sunday either.
Player Strokes Gained Rankings: These top 25 in the field rankings are based on an 8-tournament window that stretches back to the Players Championship which includes both PGA Tour and DP World Tour events, where recorded. Player rankings are based on performance relative to the rest of the field:
- Top 25 SG Off The Tee: 1) Norman Xiong; 2) Pierceson Coody; 3) Thomas Rosenmueller; 4) Kevin Yu; 5) Jesper Svensson; 6) Aldrich Potgieter; 7) Niklas Norgaard; 8) Lanto Griffin / Kevin Tway; 10) Rico Hoey; 11) Hayden Springer; 12) Emiliano Grillo / Thorbjorn Olesen; 14) Hayden Buckley / Chris Gotterup; 16) Jeremy Paul; 17) Carson Young; 18) Mackenzie Hughes / Alex Smalley; 20) Trevor Cone; 21) Patrick Fishburn / Harry Higgs / Antoine Rozner; 24) Luke List; 25) Ricky Castillo.
- Top 25 SG Approach: 1) Scott Gutschewski; 2) Henrik Norlander; 3) Sami Valimaki; 4) Norman Xiong; 5) Lee Hodges; 6) Cameron Champ; 7) Kevin Yu; 8) Matti Schmid; 9) John Pak; 10) Steven Fisk / Chandler Phillips; 12) Antoine Rozner; 13) Alejandro Tosti; 14) Carson Young; 15) Danny Walker; 16) Thorbjorn Olesen / Jackson Suber; 18) Emiliano Grillo / Max McGreevy / Victor Perez; 21) Hayden Springer; 22) Rico Hoey; 23) Andrew Putnam / Adam Schenk; 25) Mackenzie Hughes.
- Top 25 SG Around The Green: 1) Matteo Manassero; 2) Dylan Wu; 3) Trace Crowe / Taylor Montgomery; 5) Davis Riley; 6) James Hahn; 7) Ricky Castillo; 8) Paul Peterson; 9) Chan Kim; 10) Jesper Svensson / Alejandro Tosti; 12) Aaron Baddeley / Seamus Power; 14) Andrew Putnam; 15) David Lipsky; 16) Doug Ghim / Harry Hall / Ryo Hisatsune; 19) Beau Hossler; 20) Steven Fisk; 21) Chandler Phillips; 22) Mackenzie Hughes / Mac Meissner; 24) Rico Hoey; 25) Braden Thornberry.
- Top 25 SG Tee to Green: 1) Norman Xiong; 2) Steven Fisk; 3) Ricky Castillo; 4) Rico Hoey / Kevin Yu; 6) Lee Hodges; 7) Chandler Phillips; 8) Thorbjorn Olesen / Dylan Wu; 10) Davis Riley; 11) Alejandro Tosti; 12) Chris Gotterup / Mackenzie Hughes / Antoine Rozner; 15) Joel Dahmen / Ryo Hisatsune; 17) Cameron Champ / Harry Hall / Sami Valimaki; 20) Trevor Cone; 21) Pierceson Coody; 22) Doug Ghim / Max McGreevy; 24) Hayden Springer / Carson Young.
- Top 25 SG Putting: 1) Adrien Dumont de Chassart; 2) Chesson Hadley; 3) Trace Crowe / Sam Ryder; 5) Cameron Champ; 6) William Mouw; 7) Henrik Norlander / Nick Watney; 9) Sami Valimaki; 10) Mackenzie Hughes; 11) Brandt Snedeker; 12) Jesper Svensson / Vince Whaley; 14) Camilo Villegas; 15) Victor Perez; 16) Harry Hall; 17) Mac Meissner / Davis Riley; 19) Quade Cummins / Chad Ramey; 21) Emiliano Grillo; 22) Ryo Hisatsune / Hayden Springer; 24) Jeremy Paul; 25) Patrick Fishburn / Thorbjorn Olesen.
- Top 25 SG Total: 1) Scott Piercy; 2) Thorbjorn Olesen; 3) Mackenzie Hughes / Henrik Norlander; 5) Davis Riley / Sami Valimaki; 7) Ricky Castillo; 8) George McNeill; 9) Harry Hall; 10) Pierceson Coody; 11) Sam Ryder; 12) Steven Fisk / Rico Hoey / Kaito Onishi / Chandler Phillips; 16) Ryo Hisatsune; 17) Trace Crowe / Emiliano Grillo / Norman Xiong; 20) Cameron Champ / Kevin Yu; 22) Joel Dahmen / Hayden Springer / Dylan Wu; 25) Theo Humphrey.
Trends & Key Factors: Analysing the Strokes Gained Stats of the Myrtle Beach Classic winners here gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2024, Chris Gotterup (-22). SG Off the Tee: 44th, SG Approach: 4th, SG Around the Green: 6th, SG Tee to Green: 2nd, SG Putting: 3rd.
Statistically from a Stroke Gained perspective Gotterup gained 9.53 strokes from Tee to Green (56%) and 7.51 Putting (44%).
Tournament Trends & Key Factors: Analysing the final stats of Myrtle Beach Classic winners gives us a little more insight into the requirements for this test:
- 2024, Chris Gotterup (-22). 289 yards (46th), 48.2% fairways (60th), 76.4% greens in regulation (13th), 70.6 % scrambling (19th), 1.66 putts per GIR (8th).
Let’s take a view from players as to how Dunes Golf and Beach Club sets-up and what skill sets the course favours:
Chris Gotterup (2024): “Yeah, it’s a little tricky when you’ve got the wind going on some cross-wind holes, but I definitely can take advantage on a couple holes with some length. Obviously you’ve got to hit it straight to do that. But yeah, I think there’s some good holes that I can get after that some guys may have trouble with some bunkers here and there. But just got to keep my pedal down and keep going.
I Yeah, the wind was kind of funky all four days. It would switch here and there. It made the course play different every day, which is fun. Obviously the course is in amazing shape. Greens were great. There’s not a whole lot wrong with what’s going on out there. There’s definitely some tough holes. I really, really enjoyed playing it. It just looked good to my eye.”
Davis Thompson (2024): “Actually I played a college event here my sophomore year, so I was kind of familiar with it. I had kind of forgotten a few holes. But yeah, it’s an interesting course because the greens are kind of like turtle backs, so sometimes if you miss, if you short-side yourself it’s okay because you’re chipping back uphill, so it’s not too bad. It’s a good course.
Robert MacIntyre (2024): “To be honest, coming into this week, not a lot. But I made a few tweaks in the last two days, and I’ve been rolling the ball really nice on the greens. The greens are absolutely perfect out there on the course. Today I done everything pretty well. Drove it well, iron play well, wedges. It’s not really a wedge golf course, so don’t have too many of them, but yeah, overall, all around good game.
Yeah, we had 147 yards to the pin, about 132 to the front, and I’m in the bunker and I’m looking at it going, there’s a lip in front of me, I can’t flight it. I’m trying to calculate how far, how much hurt the wind has been having. I’ve grown up in wind, so by the sea here just now, you know it’s going to affect it a lot when it goes into the sky. Knowing that I couldn’t flight it down, that’s a full pitching wedge normally if it’s flat calm, and I went with my 7-iron and hit it as high as I could. I knew it was going to get hurt 30 plus yards. It worked out better than I thought it would.
Yeah, it’s different. You’ve not got as much room to manoeuvre it. I like to shape the ball. Off the tees there’s some funnels you’ve got to play it through. The golf course needs a bit of breeze, and I think it’s a good test when it comes up.”
For the record, here’s the breakdown of Bermudagrass PGA Tour victors in the field since 2008:
- 4 – Bill Haas, Ryan Palmer, Camilo Villegas.
- 3 – Kevin Kisner, Brandt Snedeker.
- 2 – Mackenzie Hughes, Peter Malnati, Scott Piercy, Davis Riley.
- 1 – Aaron Baddeley, Jonathan Byrd, Rafael Campos, Cameron Champ, Tyler Duncan, Chris Gotterup, Lanto Griffin, Nick Hardy, Tom Kim, Patton Kizzire, Luke List, Taylor Moore, Seamus Power, Adam Svensson, Nick Watney, Kevin Yu.
