Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - no. 9
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - no. 9
The new Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club lost none of its old charm and beauty, just a few bunkers after its recent renovation. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 1
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 1
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club opens with a 449-yard par 4. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 3rd
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 3rd
The no. 1 handicap hole at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is the par-5 third. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 5
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 5
The par-4 fifth at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. has an interesting nickname -- "Wind Coming From All Directions. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 7th
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 7th
No. 7 is another long par 5 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 9
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 9
From the tips, the par-4 ninth at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is 483 yards. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 10th
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 10th
The par-4 10th at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is a dogleg right around water with plenty of bunkers guarding the green. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 14
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 14
Big hitters can drive the short par-4 14th at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, but there's plenty of treachery for those who can't hit the green. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 15th
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 15th
The 15th, at 496 yards from the back tees, is another long par 4 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 17
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. - no. 17
Perhaps the biggest change at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. came on the par-3 17th, which used to have a huge green with blind pin placements. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 18th
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - 18th
The finishing hole at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. is a 463-yard par 4 with an approach over water. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes - Mini-Dunes golf course
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes - Mini-Dunes golf course
The new range at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes G.C. has a six-hole short course called Mini Dunes. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - fireplace
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Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club - fireplace
The clubhouse patio is a great place to hang out before or after a round at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. Mike Bailey/GolfAdvisor
13 Images

AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club just south of Phoenix, Arizona: Looking better than ever

MARICOPA, Ariz. -- There are still plenty of bunkers and plenty of length at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, but now there's more room in the fairways, and an opportunity to practice your game.

The course, which was designed and renovated by Schmidt-Curley design with Fred Couples consulting, remains one of the best daily fees in Arizona after a 2014 renovation that reduced the bunkering by 83,000 square feet, widened the landing areas and provided an expanded practice area that now includes a short course called Mini Dunes.

There are still, however, more than 100 bunkers on the course, many of them quite difficult. Fortunately, six sets of tees make Ak-Chin Southern Dunes player friendly for all levels, especially the forward tees, which allow shorter hitters to find the speed slots to set up shorter approaches.

The biggest change on the course probably came on the par-3 17th, which used to play as long as 240 yards with a blind shot to the back of a huge green. Now the 17th, which is heavily bunkered, plays to a smaller green with a maximum distance of 204 yards.

The golf course is still long at 7,546 yards from the tips, but does play firm and fast.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, which has sort of an Australian links look, originally opened as an all-male private club, but was purchased in 2010 by the Ak-Chin Indian community -- which owns the nearby Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino and the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle. Managed by Troon Golf, there's not a home to be seen anywhere from the course.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club just south of Phoenix, Arizona: Looking better than ever