A Grande Time

Enjoy a day of play at Grande Dunes Resort Golf Club in Myrtle Beach.

- Francis X. Gallagher

THE GRANDE DUNES RESORT GOLF CLUB often appears on our must-play list when we take our annual Myrtle Beach golf excursion, but it seems it never made the pages of Global Traveler. Surprising, as it is a well-maintained and well-run course, perhaps one of the better courses we played over the five-day trip to the East Coast golf mecca. The course is part of the Founders Group of courses, many of which we played during our trip, and most boast a stellar reputation. Grande Dunes opened in 2002 during the top edge of the golf craze when courses were opening like wildflowers, with no end in sight. In 2003 Golf Digest named the course among the top 100, followed by the 2009 National Golf Course of the Year award. It hosted the PGA National Championship in 2014.

For nature lovers, 14 of the 18 holes offer water views, and seven holes include views of the intracoastal waterway for nice boat admiring. You will also find dramatic elevation changes and long distances from tee box to green on many holes. (Carts are a must.) The Roger Rulewich Group designed the course, taking into consideration the topography while using the natural vistas when possible. Rulewich is best known for his involvement with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, comprising 24 courses in 10 different locations in the state.