by Tim Gavrich
Mt. Pleasant, SC, offers all the modern conveniences and access to necessities of a mature suburban haven. At 10 miles from downtown Charleston, the town appeals to both young families and retirees who prefer the offerings of an urban area without the high-density neighborhoods. Mt. Pleasant also appeals to golfers with a yen for variety.
The town offers a diverse array of courses, most of them taking advantage of the surrounding marshland and nearby ocean. The marvelously marshy Rees Jones-designed Charleston National Golf Club and Arnold Palmer layout at RiverTowne Country Club, which hosted an an annual LPGA event until this year, are two excellent public golf options; and those who want the excitement of a couple of finishing holes on the ocean can pony up three-figure green fees for a shot at nearby Wild Dunes and its recently restored 18th green, which had fallen into the ocean two summers ago.
Water protects the 4th green at Dunes West's first par 5. It is short, but the hazard makes even the gutsy golfer think twice about going for it in two shots.
A few days ago, we played the nearby Dunes West Golf Club, an Arthur Hills track of 1991 vintage. Dunes West, which is surrounded by a large planned development, enjoys a Low Country parkland setting with scenic views of Wagner Creek, a tributary of the Wando River, and the adjacent marsh. The layout holds up well to the standards set by its competitor courses. And it certainly drains well; Dunes West took on three inches of rain in a few hours two days before we played it, yet carts were allowed on the fairways the day we played and there was no evidence of the rain except for a few deep bunkers where the sand on their facings had washed down the slopes.
Hills courses are quite distinct from those of other designers, emphasizing second-shots more than other strokes. Dunes West follows suit, its greatest demands being approach shots rather than tee shots. Also, Arthur Hills, who will never reasonably be called a minimalist à la Doak, Coore & Crenshaw and others of their ilk, sculpts and scoops out mounds that factor into the player's strategies at Dunes West. Those mounds cause either infuriating or rewarding bounces, which is to say shot making on a Hills course is typically fun and exciting. Dunes West fits that pattern; it is an enjoyable and well-balanced layout with a challenging set of green complexes that can change the approach to approach shots day to day.
A drive on the left side of the 5th fairway at Dunes West will force an approach over or around a tree on the par 4.
The four par 3s at Dunes West are not the most eye-catching one shotters in golf, but their varying distances -- from the 168 yard 6th to the 214 yard 17th - make you reach for four different clubs. The 17th is the best of the four, with a light-bulb-shaped green guarded by a pond to the right and grass hollows and a bunker on the left. Coming at a critical juncture in most matches, it will reward a "clutch" long iron or fairway wood, with a par likely to win the hole in a match. The 12th is another compelling one-shotter; it requires a 173-yard stroke to a deep green angled from front-right to back-left and guarded by menacing bunkers on the left. A low right-to-left shot is the best for accessing a middle or rear pin position.
The two-shot holes at Dunes West are an intriguing bunch as well, a combination of clear birdie opportunities -- like the 357 yard 3rd hole - and more difficult king-size par 4s, like the 470-yard 14th. The last two par 4s at Dunes West are the gems of the set. At first sight, the 412-yard 16th appears to peel off to the right, but on closer inspection, the hole actually leans to the left, with a green
set about 15 feet below the landing area. A pond to the right and a bunker and mounds short and left add up to a scary second shot, even with a short iron in hand. The finishing hole is a 456-yard brute with a shallow, pitched green guarded by marsh from the front left to the rear; just beyond, a huge live oak provides a nice backdrop (chairs were set up there facing the tree and water beyond, the likely scene of an impending wedding ceremony). Reaching the 18th in regulation is a tall order but will put a lot of pressure on one's opponents if a match is close.
The par 5s at Dunes West are not particularly long, but they can make big trouble for players who are overly aggressive. The par 5s on the front side are under 500 yards from the back tees, but water figures prominently on both-by the green at the 489 yard 4th hole and off the tee of the 497 yard 8th. The three-shot holes on the back nine are decidedly longer. The 561-yard 15th hole features two angled strings of bunkers that can gobble up aggressive plays from the tees and on the lay-ups. Playing into the teeth of the prevailing wind, the 15th is a difficult par five and should be respected rather than attacked.
Dunes West is worth a stop for any golfer visiting the Mt. Pleasant, SC, area or for someone considering a permanent home there. Despite being relatively benign off the tee, it will test everyone's iron and short games thoroughly, making for a good mix of fun and challenge. The surrounding gated community of nicely landscaped homes in the $350,000 to $1 million range, which attracts retirees and growing families alike, never encroaches on the course; out of bounds stakes only infrequently demark the boundaries between private property and golf course property.
With memberships in the semi-private club starting at just $2,500, and with dues at a low $252 per month (full-family), Dunes West is a bargain.
Dunes West by the numbers (tees/rating/slope):
Black: 6,859/73.7/139
Gold: 6,508/71.5/131
Blue: 6,100/69.3/122
White: 5,424/66.1/106
Red: 5,208/69.2/118 (W)
If you would like more information about Dunes West or any of the communities in the Charleston/Mt. Pleasant area, please contact us.
The Dunes West clubhouse is beautifully maintained, right down to the perfectly sculpted hedges.
Tim Gavrich, a collegiate golfer, maintains his own blog site at the Hartford (CT) Golf Examiner, where he reviews golf courses and comments on other issues related to the game.