The Invitational’s Home: The Dunes Golf & Beach Club

The Robert M. Clinger III Invitational was established with a simple but deliberate goal: to create a competitive event worthy of both the setting and the players who gather here each year. From its beginning, it was intended to be challenging, thoughtful, and rooted in respect—for the game, for one another, and for the traditions that endure when they are carefully preserved.

The Invitational has remained intentionally small and personal. While the field of players has evolved, the principles that define the event—integrity, camaraderie, perseverance, and respect for the game—have remained unchanged. The 20th Annual Robert M. Clinger III Invitational marks not only a celebration of what has come before, but a renewed commitment to carrying this tradition forward.

That commitment finds its natural home at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club. Long regarded as a steward of the game’s enduring values, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club offers a setting where golf is played as it was intended—thoughtfully, respectfully, and steeped in tradition. Its history reflects a broader dedication to preservation, excellence, and continuity. These values align seamlessly with the spirit of The Invitational and are central to why this tournament has found a permanent place here.

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club’s dedication to maintaining both its course and its culture ensures that tradition is not merely remembered but actively lived. Year after year, players are tested not only by the demands of the course but by conditions that have become part of The Invitational’s character. These elements are not incidental; they are part of what has shaped the event’s identity and the shared experience of those who have chosen to compete.

Equally essential are the professionals of The Dunes Golf & Beach Club whose dedication, preparation, and quiet excellence make this event possible year after year. Their stewardship—often unseen, always indispensable—ensures that the standards of The Dunes Golf & Beach Club and the character of The Invitational are upheld in every detail.

As we celebrate this milestone year, we do so with gratitude—for the freedoms we enjoy, for the traditions that bring us together, and for the staff and membership of The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, whose care and commitment ensure that what was built with purpose continues to endure with meaning.

About The Dunes Golf & Beach Club

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club: Myrtle Beach’s Cornerstone of Classic Coastal Golf

Set along an oceanfront stretch of the Grand Strand, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club has long been regarded as the most storied “original” of Myrtle Beach golf—equal parts seaside beauty, architectural pedigree, and competitive bite.

A club born from a local vision

The club traces its beginnings to the late 1940s—an idea sparked by local businessmen who wanted to build a world-class private club for the area. The origins of the club began in 1947 as a dream that took shape at Chapin Cabin near Singleton Swash, overlooking the Atlantic.

From the start, the golf course was intended to be more than another coastal layout. The design was entrusted to legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., whose bold, modern style helped elevate both the club’s reputation and Myrtle Beach’s identity as a golf destination.

The course: scenic, strategic, and famously demanding

Golf writers and panelists often describe the course as a rare combination for the region: true championship test conditions with memorable seaside visuals. Its defining stretch is the water-laced run through holes 11–13—often nicknamed “Alligator Alley”—with the par-5 13th (“Waterloo”) wrapping dramatically around a lake.

Tournament pedigree and national attention

The Dunes has hosted major championships and high-profile events over decades, including the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, among other USGA championships.

In recent years, the club gained an even brighter spotlight as the host venue for the Myrtle Beach Classic—a PGA Tour event first played in 2024.

Accolades and rankings

The Dunes’ reputation is also reflected in major publication rankings. In Golf Digest’s course lists, it appears as #21 “Best In State” (South Carolina) and #79 in “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.”

Visit the Dunes Club Website