Alright, so I wanted to share a bit about my recent trip out to play some golf. Ended up at a place called Southern Dunes, down in Arizona. I’d heard a few things, mostly about how it’s a bit different, so I figured, why not, let’s give it a shot.
Getting There and First Look
Woke up pretty early, wanted to beat the worst of the sun, you know how it is out there. The drive itself wasn’t too bad. Pulled in, and yeah, it definitely had a vibe. Not your typical lush, tree-lined course I’m used to seeing sometimes. This was more rugged, more… well, desert-like, which I guess makes sense given the name and location.
Checked in at the clubhouse, pretty straightforward. Staff were friendly enough, got me sorted out with a cart. The practice area was decent, hit a few balls to try and get loose. Even then, I could tell the wind might be a bit of a thing to watch out for.
Out on The Course
So, I finally got started. Right from the first tee, I could see this was gonna be a thinker’s course. It wasn’t just about hitting it long. You really had to pick your spots. Lots of waste areas, and the bunkers, man, they were everywhere, and some of them were pretty deep. They weren’t kidding with the “Dunes” part of the name.
I remember one hole on the front nine, a par 4, I think. I hit what I thought was a decent drive, maybe a little bit off to the right. Ended up in this massive sandy area. Took me a good shot just to get it back into something resembling a fairway. That was a bit of a wake-up call. You gotta be precise, or this place will eat your ball for lunch.
The greens were interesting too. Pretty firm, and they had some tricky slopes. Took me a while to get the hang of the speed. Had a few three-putts that I wasn’t too thrilled about, let me tell ya. But that’s golf, right? Some days you’re the bug, some days you’re the windshield.
The layout itself, I actually quite liked it. It flowed pretty well. Each hole felt distinct, which is always a plus. Didn’t feel like I was playing the same shot over and over again. There were some risk-reward opportunities, which I always find fun, even if the risk doesn’t always pay off for me. I tried to go for one of the par 5s in two and ended up in a spot I’d rather not talk about. Let’s just say my scorecard took a hit on that one.
The Conditions and Overall Feel
Course conditions were good. The fairways were nice to hit off, and like I said, the greens were quick. It’s clear they put work into keeping it playable despite the desert environment. It’s a tough track, no doubt about it. I wouldn’t say it’s for the faint of heart, or for someone just starting out, unless they’re really patient.
I played by myself for most of the round, which was nice. Just me and my thoughts, and the occasional cuss word after a bad shot. The views were pretty cool too, especially with the mountains in the distance. It’s a different kind of beauty than your parkland courses, but it’s got its own charm.
Wrapping Up
Finished up the round, definitely felt like I’d played 18 holes. Grabbed a drink at the clubhouse afterwards, just to cool down and reflect a bit. My score wasn’t anything to write home about, but that’s not always the point, is it?
Overall, I’d say it was a solid experience. It’s a challenging course, and it makes you think. If you’re looking for something a little different, something that will test your game, especially your accuracy, then Southern Dunes is probably worth checking out. I might head back someday, try to get my revenge on a few of those holes. But next time, I’m bringing a few extra balls, just in case.
