left the Gang at home this month and went
over to Pinellas County to take a walk back in
history and visit the Dunedin Country Club,
a 1927 Donald Ross classic design that Mr. Ross
called “a masterpiece”. Bill Gilkes, the
Membership/Marketing Director at the
club and a good friend of the magazine,
invited me to be one of the first to experience
their latest improvements.
The greens were enlarged and planted
with Ultra Dwarf, the newest generation
of Bermuda grass, known as Mini-
Verde, the same grass that was used at
TPC Sawgrass, the home of the Player’s
Championship in their redo. Allen Brissenden
GCSAA, the Superintendent at
Dunedin, made sure the sprigging of
the greens and grow–in were complete
before allowing the Duffer and the other invited
media to step foot on the 6600 yard championship
layout. What an excellent job Allen and his staff
did! The greens were superb. PGA professional,
John Falcone, was extremely cordial and welcoming
and gave me a tour of the clubhouse and history
of the former home (1945-1962) of the PGA
of America. For those of you who have been to
our annual PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange
County Convention Center, the original was held
in 1954 in the parking lot at Dunedin.
We had an early morning tee time. My playing
partners for the day were Dunedin C.C. Treasurer,
Bob “Bubba” Bayer, retired Buccaneer punter and
ESPN Sports Radio host Mark Royals, and 3 time
Bucks Pro-Bowler, retired Center Tony Mayberry.
After hitting a bucket of balls on the practice
range, Bubba and I went over to the practice green,
which is adjacent to the first tee, to test out the
mini verde. This grass can tolerate lower mowing
heights for a much faster and truer putting surface,
plus it holds its color through the winter and
does not need any over-seeding.
The front nine is across the street from the elegant
and historical clubhouse, starting with two
dogleg left four pars. The number one handicap
hole is #2, at 446 yards from the back tees. Your
drive plays downhill to a receptive fairway, but
then turns uphill to a well-bunkered smallish
green. The fairways are lined with mature oaks
and pines that come into play particularly whenour two Buccaneer buddies
where spraying their drives everywhere but the short grass. The par 3
#6th hole has its own desert in front of it and will
be known from this day forward as ‘Dunedin’s
Duffer Desert’. Since I was the only one of our
group to land in it, I could have used the entire
grounds crew to rake my journey to and from my ball. The front has only one 5 par, the 522 yard 7th
which doglegs right and downhill to a tight green. One thing |
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most of the greens have openings that
allow for run-up shots if you are so inclined. It
took me all nine holes to get the feel of the greens,
but they are not crowned like Pinehurst #2, another
Ross design.
It was Miller time when we reached the tenth
tee box, which is adjacent to the clubhouse and
pro shop. Bubba made sure we had whatever beverage
we wanted to cool off with. After that we
forgave him for using those pink tees. Holes 10
through 13 are called the Loop, which play back
to the clubhouse and often used to determine the
winner of a tie after 18 holes. I don’t know if it was
the cold ones or I finally got my putting stroke, but
I three putted these four holes, holing out in front
of the clubhouse from off the green.
Can you guess which nine I liked the most? I
must say the back has a little more diversity, including
the Curlew Creek, which comes into play
on four holes, and a pond on 14 that challenges
the big hitters. Tony and Mark both drove it and
were a sand wedge to the green while Bubba and
I had to just play our normal drives down the fairway
and take the long way home.
After one of the most delightful rounds I have
played in along time, I was met by Dunedin Country
Club President Warren Wylie and had an informative
and delicious lunch with Allen, Bill, John
and Warren in the Grille Room & Lounge. The Club
was the site of the PGA Seniors’ Championship
from 1945 till 1962, which led to the formation of
what we now know as the highly successful PGA
Senior Tour. Some very famous Lady Professionals
played a benefit round for the March of Dimes
in February of 1947. Babe Zaharais, Louise Suggs,
and Peggy Kirk Bell were among them. The hallways
and trophy case at Dunedin are like reading
a history of golf. LPGA star Brittany Lincicome
plays in a Friday shoot out when she is home and
is an honorary member.
Dunedin Country Club offers a true country
club atmosphere but is actually semi-private. The
club offers a full array of social activities with excellent
luncheon and dinner menus, banquet facilities,
indoor and outdoor dining, fully stocked
lounge, and large men’s and women’s locker
rooms. There are ample practice areas and Head
Pro John Falcone and his staff are available for lessons.
John’s daughter is the poster child for the
Shriners Hospital 3rd Annual Pro-Am Scramble
to played at Dunedin Friday November 16th. Outside
play is permitted. Just call the Pro Shop at
727-733-7836 to make your reservation to play the
best greens in Tampa Bay. For information about
hosting tournaments or membership contact Bill
Gilkes at 727-733-2134, Extension 234 or check out
www.DUNEDINCC.com.
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