DUNEDIN COUNTRY CLUB (727-733-7836)
Florida Golf Course Review
Dunedin Country Club in Dunedin, just south of Palm Harbor, is an 18-hole Donald Ross designed championship facility that was the original PGA of America's national
headquarters course from 1945 until 1962. The layout has been graced with the strokes of many of the legends of golf including Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Sam
Snead, Byron Nelson, Paul Runyan and others.
One can quickly discern that this is a Don Ross design, evidenced by the raised green complexes protected by sand bunkers on both sides and sometimes behind the medium
sized, mildly sloping putting surfaces. The well conditioned fairways are outlined by rows of trees (pines, palms and hardwoods), which serve to shape the holes. Golfers are
enticed to cut off distances on many of the doglegs, which provide risk/reward opportunities.
There are 45 sand traps located greenside, or strategically situated near the landing zones off the tee. Water comes into play only marginally on the front nine - on the perimeter of
the left to right bending par four 4th. A wide river/pond cuts across the fairways on four holes on the back side, creating the need for a short carry off the tee or on the approach. A
small lake also rests to the inside of the dogleg left par five14th.
Four sets of tee boxes afford golfers with the opportunity to choose from distances and slopes that measure 6605 yards/123 slope, 6245 yards/119 slope, 5370 yards with a slope
of 121 for women, and 5267 yards with s slope of 109 for men playing from the alternate forward tees. On course yardage markers are present at 100, 150, and 200 yards on both
the fairways and cart paths, and color coded flags indicate front, middle and back pin placements. The par threes also have measurements posted to the center of the green.
Rear covers are featured on each cart, to provide protection for clubs during inclement weather. On property is a clubhouse with pro shop, restaurant/lounge, locker rooms with
showers for men and women, plus banquet/outing facilities. The practice area includes a grass range, short game area with sand bunker, plus large putting green. The course
was well conditioned from tee to green on our mid-November visit. High handicappers will appreciate generally wide landing zones, and scratch players will find that a good mid
iron game is necessary to reach these greens in regulation.
Dunedin is an interesting layout, and price wise is one of the better values in the Tampa Bay area. If you like Don Ross Designs, you will certainly enjoy this course. We
recommend it! For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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