Windswept Dunes Golf Course Location and Vibe
Where is Windswept Dunes? Tucked away in Freeport, Florida, just 20 minutes north of the South’s favorite beach destination, the 30A corridor, Windswept Dunes Golf Course is a serene standalone facility that feels worlds away from the resort-heavy Emerald Coast. Located between Destin and Panama City Beach, this hidden gem offers a peaceful alternative to the area’s more trafficked courses. The course is named because it features wide fairways, some as high as 20 feet, well-guarded bunkers, and water hazards.
Why Golfers Play Here: Serious players pilgrimage to Windswept Dunes for its uncrowded fairways, exceptional value, and most importantly, a pure golf experience in the Links tradition, free from surrounding development. The course’s 750 acres of rolling terrain showcase dramatic elevation changes (unusual for Florida) and expansive waste areas reminiscent of coastal Carolina’s most celebrated layouts. For architecture enthusiasts and value seekers alike, it represents the Emerald Coast’s best-kept secret of a Hidden Gem!
What a cool course! Tees for every skill level, dunes outlining every fairway and green making each hole seem secluded from the next, strategic bunkers placed adding just enough challenge in every shot, and greens that challenge the best of putters…. To top it off, every employee was warm and welcoming, wishing you the best round and lots of fun! Recommend to anyone that is capable of driving while visiting the Destin area! Pictures never do justice, as always.. –Locals Guide Scott Rienholt
Doug o’Rourke Links Inspired Traditionalist Course
Architect: Doug O’Rourke, aka “Dozer,” a protégé of Pete Dye, whose minimalist approach reflects the influences of both his mentor and links golf traditionalists, crafted some of the Midwest’s finest golf courses.
Signature Style: O’Rourke’s design philosophy shines through with wide landing areas that belie the strategic precision required for optimal scoring. Inviting fairways are well bunkered, and rough punishes errant shots, making this a must-play course in all of Florida.
Windswept Dunes Awards and Accolades
✔ Named #15 “Best Course You Can Play in Florida” by Golfweek (2020)
✔ Recognized among Golf Digest’s “Best New Affordable Courses” upon opening
✔ 4.4/5 star average rating on GolfPass with a 93% recommendation rate
✔ Consistently ranked among the top value golf experiences in the Southeast
The Dunes Golf Course Stats by the Numbers
Yardage/Slope/Rating: Par 72, 7,752 yards from the championship tees, Slope 143, Rating 76.8
Key Features: True to its name, wind significantly impacts play across this exposed layout, with holes arranged in various directions to ensure unique and challenging conditions on this track. Six sets of tees accommodate all skill levels launching onto the Bermuda grass fairways. The course features dramatic dunes —miles of it, a rarity in Florida golf. Discover more about Walton County.
SIGNATURE HOLES
The Dune Trio (6-8): This spectacular stretch features the course’s most dramatic dunes and elevation changes. The par-5 8th presents a split fairway where brave players can attempt to reach in two by challenging a vast sandy area, while the conservative play presents its own subtle challenges.
15th Hole: Perhaps the most photographed hole, this par-4 plays dog-leg to a green nestled within a massive dune complex with striking native vegetation creating a desert-like aesthetic uncommon in the Southeast.
19th Hole Options Near Windswept Dunes
Dining: Great burgers, dogs, and other good choices to get you through a round, along with the best Bloody Mary in the area.. Horse Power Pavilion is 15 minutes down Route. 20 (check hours) for good BBQ, burgers, wings, pizza, and local craft beers. For a Bayside treat and some of the best eats in South Walton County, North Beach Social, and just across the street, The Bay, is where you can unwind after a round for a 19th hole.
Pro Shop: The modest but well-stocked shop offers quality basics and course logo merchandise, which has become a status symbol among Emerald Coast golf cognoscenti.
Extras: A spacious practice facility includes a comprehensive driving range, short game area, and putting green. While lacking the bells and whistles of resort facilities, Windswept excels where it matters most—delivering exceptional golf at reasonable rates. Stay and Play options, area amenities, and Things to Do are available.
Local Pro-Tips
Emerald Coast Golf Staff: The greens are deceptively quick with subtle breaks, but in great condition. Check the scorecard before you play, as you might want to tee it forward if you aren’t getting along with your driver. Fairways are wide with plenty of strategic bunkers to think about, and the rough can be punishing. The greens are huge and undulating, and the green speed was perfect to make them challenging but not painful.
Stay and Play Options at Windswept Dunes
📍 11 Club House Dr E. RT. 20 & US-331, Freeport, FL 32439. (Stay and Play Options)
⏱ Peak season (April through the Summer) rates top at $135, with $125 Twilight or $80 for nine holes.💡 Insider Hack: Just off the hustle and bustle of Destin golf courses and Scenic 30A Beachgoers, you’ll find Windswept Dunes uncrowded and with a nice pace of play. Truly a hidden gem, only minutes from the road to the beaches.
FINAL VERDICT
Windswept Dunes delivers an actual links-inspired experience where strategic design and natural beauty converge—the rare course that exceeds expectations while remaining Florida’s most underrated golf value. A long hitter’s treat in this most unique golf course on the entire Emerald Coast Golf Trail.
Contact Information & Directions
Windswept Dunes Golf Course
Phone: (850) 835-1847
Website: Windswept Dunes Golf Course
