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4.6
1185 Reviews (1185)
5 Stars
816
4 Stars
275
3 Stars
59
2 Stars
28
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
94.2%
Recommend this course
1109 out of 1185 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
89 Reviews (89)
5 Stars
65
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
95.5%
Recommend this course
85 out of 89 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
149 Reviews (149)
5 Stars
102
4 Stars
36
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.3%
Recommend this course
139 out of 149 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Traditional/Links
Par 72
Length 7546 yards
Slope 142
Rating 76.4

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
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies 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

Reviews

4.6
1185 Reviews (1185)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 57
Patio Dining 46
Brunch 24
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 119
Forced Carries 54
Undulating Greens 54
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 88
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 48
A Weekend Splurge 44
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 100
In the 'Burbs 15
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 16
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

AK-Chin Southern Dunes

The course offers consistent fairways and greens. 100+ bunkers with different conditions, which is to be expected. Overall really good experience for the majority of players

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Playing surfaces are in very good shape. Green speeds are just a bit slower than expected especially considering most greens break far less than they appear to from afar. Several areas that are within and at the margins of and just beyond the rough but in play are in miserable condition and need attention. While relief is entitled there are too many burrowing animal scars in play and even on a few tee boxes. Enjoyable course with great teeing / length options.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Cool layout, feels more like a course in CA, nice pro shop, nice green complexes, good use of native areas.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Pure

Southern Dunes is pure. It’s a great layout and they keep it in immaculate shape in season. Greens could be a little faster, but they are true. Bunkers everywhere and certainly desert “sand” but if you know what you’re doing you shouldn’t have trouble getting out. Tee boxes in great shape, practice facility is very nice, and the breakfast sandwich I had was absolutely amazing.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Fun Course, Superb Design

This is a fun one. Great condition, greens were true. Wide fairways with lots of risk/reward par 4s. The par 5s yielded plenty of birdie chances, and a good mixture of long and short par 3s made for a really fun layout. Bunkers are perfectly placed to make you think through each shot from tee to green. I played from roughly 6500 yds (blue tees) as it was my first time seeing the course, plus heavy rain the day before made everything play longer. From the tips this course would be a beast given all the bunkers and fairly small greens.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great conditions

The course was in great condition. Greens were true. I will play here again!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 61
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Tough greens to hit, bunkers galore

Well watered course with thick rough out outside of a residential community. Really interesting layout with bunkers in the center of the fairways, sides of the fairways, on all sides of the greens. Makes you play target golf. Narrow greens with heavy slopes and bunkers on several sides.

Greens ran smooth all day. Some patchy spots on the course but that's to be expected. They don't cheap out on water or seed here. Tee boxes could be flatter and cut shorter though. Not much sand in the bunkers. Carts had good GPS, water bottles provided in cooler. Carts had good padding.

The greeter at bag drop off was over the top fake nice both before and after the round. Played as a single and the starter would not give me my own cart, seated me with a stranger who did not make the round pleasant. Ordered a hot dog and chips on hole 8 and had to go into the grille and wait 8 minutes until the hot dog was ready. Hot dog was burnt and maybe 6 inches long.

Pace of play was 4 hours 30 minutes which was OK. Had to wait on every par 3 for the group in front.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Worth The Drive From Scottsdale

Great challenging layout. Played the blue tees and it was plenty long for this 11 handicap. Bunkers everywhere ! Great value. I will be back for sure.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Nice course. In great shape.

Enjoyed playing Ak-Chin. Will come back depending on what the green fees are.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 82
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hidden gem

The staff was over the top inviting.

The coarse was challenging and in great shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Layout

A great course in all aspects. Love the layout and the course is in great condition. Thank you.

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