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Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Dunes Golf and Beach Club celebrates its 60th anniversary as one of the United States’ most renowned golf courses on October 29th. On that fall day back in 1947, a group of prominent Myrtle Beach area business leaders gathere at Chapin’s Cabin, a small building formerly located on the property near what is now the 11th tee, in the first of several organizational meetings to discuss the formation of a corporation to build the area’s second golf course (Pine Lakes International Club, 1944).
After selecting Robert Trent Jones to steer the design, course construction began in the spring of 1948 with 18 months of arduous construction required due to the course’s proximity to the ocean. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club opened the first nine holes for play on October 22, 1949, followed by the second nine holes in December of 1950. The Club was the first Myrtle Beach area golf course to feature views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Since opening, The Dunes Club has developed into one of the area’s most exclusive golf clubs with more than 650 social and golf members. Tee times are reserved for the members with the remaining times open to guests of the Club’s hotel and resort accommodation providers. The Dunes Club has been a consensus “Top 100 Course” selection, according to Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine and Golfweek. “Waterloo,” the famed 13th hole, was selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the “Best 18 Holes in America.”
The Dunes Club has hosted many professional and amateur golf tournaments during the last six decades. The Dunes Club played host to the finals of the 1973 PGA Tour Qualifying School, the 1962 USGA Women’s Open Championship, the 1960 Southern Golf Association Championship and Senior Championship, the 1957 South Carolina Women’s Amateur and the 1953 Carolinas Golf Association Championship. The PGA Senior Tour Championship began its six-year run at The Dunes Club in November 1994. The first Golf Writers Association of America held its initial tournament at The Dunes Club in 1954 with the event held at the club each year through 2005. For 17 years, The Dunes Club has served as the host site of the championship round of the World Amateur Handicap Championship, the world’s largest amateur golf tournament.
“The Myrtle Beach area has changed considerably since that 1947 meeting but Robert Trent Jones’ masterpiece continues to improve with age,” said Dennis Nicholl, Dunes Club head golf professional. “We’re excited to celebrate this anniversary and look forward to hosting golfers for an additional 60 more years.”
About The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
The idea to build the Dunes Golf and Beach Club was formed in 1947 by the area’s local businessmen. Since its inception, it has proved to be a world-class course, offering the best in golf and service. It was the host to the prestigious Energizer Senior Tour Championship for 1994-1999. The Robert Trent Jones course has been named one of the nation’s “Top 100 Courses” by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek, and the famed 13th hole, known as “Waterloo”, has been selected by Golf Digest as one of the “Best 18 Holes in America.” The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, the premier golf course in Myrtle Beach, is located at 9000 North Ocean Boulevard. For more information, visit www.TheDunesClub.net
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