THE DUNES CLUB
🇺🇸 New Buffalo, MI, USA
Tucked into the lake-effect bluffs of New Buffalo, Michigan, The Dunes Club is an anomaly, a defiant rebuttal to the notion that championship-caliber golf must occupy hundreds of acres. This deceptively compact layout, a masterclass in maximizing limited space, offers a demanding and memorable golfing experience.
Designed in the late 1990s, the course embodies a modern approach to golf course architecture while incorporating traditional elements. The terrain is characterized by rolling fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens, demanding creative shot-making and strategic thinking. While not overly long, the course’s tight corridors and well-protected greens reward accuracy and course management rather than brute force. The Dunes favors a precise ball-striker who can navigate the subtle doglegs and read the tricky breaks on the greens.
While not currently a stage for major professional tournaments, The Dunes Club is a respected venue for regional amateur competitions and attracts a dedicated membership drawn to its challenging layout and intimate setting. The club fosters a close-knit community, known for its unpretentious atmosphere and a shared appreciation for the nuances of the game. A notable aspect of the club's lore is its fiercely competitive member tournaments, often decided by the slimmest of margins and celebrated with convivial gatherings in the clubhouse.
Reviews
Finally got to knock this one off the top of the bucket list. Mike Keiser's maiden course is an unsuspecting 9-hole club tucked along the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan, originally bought to save the land across from his beach home from condo development. The chainlink fence with no signage and the gravel parking lot add to the allure of the uber exclusive Jordan and Barkley playplace of the late 90s. Our caddies Ian, Russ, and Harv were knowledgeable beyond their years (except for Harv, who is 89(?) years old, a Vietnam vet, and has more 300 games bowled than years alive). The vast waste areas and plush beach sand make for a challenging but rewarding experience. There are famously no tee markers, and the winning team chooses where the group tees off on each hole. At the turn you're treated to a delicious Italian sausage while the grounds crew changes the pin positions for the "back" 9. We were told Mr. Keiser was coming out for Memorial Day weekend and had called ahead with his preferred pin positions, so they didn't move for us. They were rolling at about an 8. It's easy to see why this course is dubbed "The Pine Valley of the Midwest" and why there's such an attraction to it. Truly a world-class golfing experience and I can't wait to come back. Don't end up in the greenside pot bunker on 9, and you're due for a great time.
A great match play course! Pure serenity and great scenery. If you score an invite…GO!
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Dunes at The Dunes Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.8 out of 10 based on 9 explicit golfer ratings.
Dunes at The Dunes Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Dunes is 36.
Dunes plays 3,524 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Dunes is 148.
Dunes is a 9-hole course.
