Southern Dunes is a public course in Haines City, south-west of the Disney area, and one of the most distinctive designs within reach of Orlando. Architect Steve Smyers started with an open site that had no trees, streams or rolling hills, and built the drama himself, with big flowing bunkers, swales and hollows. He drew on Alister MacKenzie’s Royal Melbourne. The result looks more like a sand-belt course than a typical Florida layout. It is a good pick for golfers who care about architecture and do not mind a slightly longer drive.
Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club green fees and tee times.
Book on the club’s online tee sheet, linked from southerndunes.com, or call 863-421-4653. Tee times open 180 days ahead. Prices are dynamic and change with demand, and the club’s advice is that the earlier you book, the more you save. No rate card is published, so the price for your date shows on the tee sheet. A 7% sales tax is added to all rates. Every player must check in at the golf shop before the round. Groups are limited to four. The club also sells a loyalty programme and memberships, but visitors do not need either to play.
The round, in perspective.
The land was once a 350-acre citrus grove. It was lost in the freeze of 1989, and the owners chose to build a golf course rather than replant; the project was first called Lost Grove. Smyers designed it in 1993. The club says the course stretches beyond 7,200 yards with five sets of tees. Its course page cites about 100 feet of elevation change, though the architect page says the original ground was only subtly sloped and that Smyers cut into it to create the contours. Large fairway bunkers bend the holes and frame the landing areas. Golf Digest’s Ron Whitten wrote that not since MacKenzie or Tillinghast had an architect used bunkering to make such bold statements. The par 3s play downhill, five par 4s exceed 420 yards from the back, and the par 5s give a chance to get home in two. The property belonged to brothers Terry and Roger Donley with partners the club describes as of Las Vegas fame: Doyle Brunson, Dewey Tomko and Jack Binion.
Know before you go.
Booking window
Up to 180 days ahead
Pricing
Dynamic; plus 7% sales tax
Walking
Not allowed; carts are mandatory
Cart drivers
Must be 18 or older
Spikes
Soft spikes only, all year
Dress
Golf attire; no T-shirts, tank tops or cut-offs
Make the trip work.
Walking is not allowed, and only players aged 18 or over can rent a cart, which matters for family groups with teenagers. Bring your own bag and clubs, or rent a set from the golf shop. Soft spikes are required all year. Food and drink must be bought on site, at the Tavern on the Dunes. The club also has Trackman bays, which are useful on a stormy afternoon.
The club is at 2888 Southern Dunes Boulevard, Haines City, FL 33844. From Orlando International (MCO), allow about 50 minutes by car. From the Disney and ChampionsGate areas, the drive is about 25 to 35 minutes south along Interstate 4 and US-27. Tampa International (TPA) is about 70 minutes west.
The club has no hotel. Golfbreaks pairs Southern Dunes with the vacation-home resorts nearer Interstate 4: ChampionsGate rentals, which come with access to the Oasis Club water park, Windsor Hills Resort, Encore Resort at Reunion and Hilton Vacation Club Mystic Dunes. These keep the drive to Southern Dunes under 40 minutes while staying close to the parks.
Make a trip of it.
Providence Golf Club in Davenport is a short drive north and makes a sensible second round on the same day. ChampionsGate and Reunion Resort are within about half an hour, and both add more resort-style golf. For a contrast, Orange County National in Winter Garden adds 36 public holes north of the Disney area. Legoland Florida and Bok Tower Gardens, near Lake Wales, are both within about half an hour.
Find your season.
With dynamic pricing, the winter months from January to March are the most expensive time to play, because that is when demand peaks. Spring and fall are a good balance of weather and price. Summer brings the lowest demand but also heat and afternoon storms. Book early for winter, because the 180-day window fills.
Yes. Although the club sells memberships and a loyalty programme, anyone can book a tee time on the online tee sheet or by phone on 863-421-4653. Tee times are released 180 days in advance.
Who designed Southern Dunes golf course?
Steve Smyers, an American architect and former ASGCA board member who joined the USGA Executive Committee in 2006. He designed the course in 1993 and took his lead from Alister MacKenzie’s work at Royal Melbourne, using large flowing bunkers to shape the holes.
How far is Southern Dunes from Disney World?
About 25 to 35 minutes by car, south along Interstate 4 and US-27 to Haines City. Orlando International Airport is about 50 minutes away.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
