 MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- The Dunes Beach and Golf Club
was but a dream for a group of leading Myrtle Beach citizens in the 1940s. On October 29,
1947, the first meeting was held to discuss the building of a recreational facility that
would include a golf course and other facilities.
During the next several months, the citizens continued
to work and dream about the building of the golf course. On May 31, 1948, another meeting
was held at Chapin’s Cabin to organize the corporation to build the club.
Chapin’s Cabin was a small building located on the property near what is now the 11th
tee. It has been referred to as the first Dunes Club’s first clubhouse.
A few weeks later on June 14, 1948, the first board of
directors was established for the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. A Declaration for Charter was
submitted to the Secretary of State of South Carolina. The charter was granted on June 22,
1948.
On February 10, 1949, the Myrtle Beach Farms Company,
for the sum of $10.00 and other valuable considerations, conveyed approximately 269.8
acres to the Dunes Golf and Beach Club for the operation of a recreational facility to
include golf, tennis, swimming, dancing and other forms of recreation.
Two major conditions were attached to the conveyance:
(1) a guarantee that within three years from the date of conveyance an 18-hole golf course
would be constructed on the premises; and (2) the club operation would continue for a
period of not less than 10 years. (Both conveyances were met.)
Construction began on the Dunes Club, and opening day
was Saturday, October 22, 1949. Only nine holes were ready for play. Today those holes are
the back nine holes. These holes were constructed first because of the difficult terrain.
The second nine holes opened for play in December 1950.
On November 4, 1948, Jimmy D’Angelo became the
first head professional at the Dunes Club. D’Angelo is known for his commitment to
promoting golf along the Grand Strand. The original Dunes Clubhouse was completed in 1949.
It was updated in 1954 when the lounge and dining rooms were enlarged and air conditioning
was added. In 1960, a large swimming pool and dressing rooms were added to the clubhouse.
In 1967, the existing facilities had a major renovation, adding a new wing with a new
dining area and complete redecoration of the clubhouse. The new facilities opened in 1967.
In 1970, tennis became a major part of the Dunes Club
with four tennis courts being constructed. In 1990 six additional tennis courts were
added, along with renovations to the Pro Shop and restrooms. The Dunes Club is considered
to have one of the best tennis facilities on the Grand Strand.
By the early 1980s, the Dunes’ membership had
outgrown the existing clubhouse. On August 11, 1984, a "Demolition Party" was
held and members helped to tear down the old clubhouse and collected souvenirs of the
"Old Dunes." The first phase of the new clubhouse opened in July 1985 and
featured a new swimming pool complex, Pro Shop, locker rooms, and the Mixed Grill. The
completed clubhouse opened officially in January 1986.
The course has a rating of 74.0 and a slope rating of
138. Robert Trent Jones was the course architect. Trent changed the original course design
somewhat in 1976-77 with modifications to holes 3, 4, 11, 15, and 18. In 1992, putting
surfaces were changed to Penn Links bent grass.
Each hole has its own individual name. After some
course modifications during 1976-77, some of the original names were changed. Each hole
has been named to aptly describe the hole, giving the golfer an idea of what to expect.
"Waterloo," hole 13, is the signature hole of the Dunes Course. Famous
worldwide, it is a forbidding hole where the Lake Singleton comes into play.
"Waterloo" has received practically every accolade and award as one of the
greatest golf holes in the world.
The Club was host to the PGA Senior Tour Championship
1994-1998, after which it moved to the new Tournament Players Club course which is
designed to accommodate a large gallery.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club has been named in the
"Top 100 Courses" by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and Golfweek's
"Top 100 Classical Courses in America" several times, including for 2000.
"Waterloo", the famed 13th hole, has been selected by Sports Illustrated
as one of the "Best 18 Holes in America".
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