Pine Dunes Resort & Golf Club is a public, 18-hole championship golf course in the Piney Woods near Frankston, Texas, known for its sandy, pine-lined layout designed by Jay and Carter Morrish, with basic on-site lodging built for golf-focused group trips rather than resort luxury.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of the course, rates, rooms, dining, and everything else you need to plan your visit.
The Story Behind Pine Dunes
Pine Dunes started out as a modest 9-hole track called Dogwood Trails, until Jodi Lutz bought it in 1994. She wasn't a golfer at the time.
What drew her in was the land itself: rolling, sandy terrain covered in tall pines that reminded her of the northern Minnesota landscape she grew up around.
The course might have stayed a small regional stop if not for a chance visit a couple of years later.
PGA Tour pro David Frost happened to see the property and immediately drew a comparison to the sandhills of Pinehurst, North Carolina, home to some of the most storied golf real estate in the country. That comparison changed the trajectory of the project.
Frost connected Lutz with golf course architect Jay Morrish, and by late 1999, Morrish and his son Carter were reworking the layout from the ground up. The redesigned 18-hole course opened in June 2001.
Getting there took some creative financing. Morrish agreed to take his $750,000 design fee in monthly installments rather than a lump sum, and a Dallas-based investor stepped in with additional backing.
The construction budget was kept tight at roughly $3.75 million, with only about 100,000 cubic yards of dirt moved — lean numbers for a course that would go on to earn national attention.
Lutz added “Resort” to the name early on, betting on future growth rather than describing what existed at the time.
That vision included a planned 40-room boutique hotel and clubhouse upgrades, plans she's discussed for years but that remain largely aspirational even now.
What's kept Pine Dunes on the radar isn't a marketing budget — for most of its history, it didn't really have one. Instead, its reputation grew through:
- Word-of-mouth among traveling golfers looking for something off the beaten path
- National golf media coverage, including recognition from outlets like Golf Digest and Golf Channel
- A pro shop wall lined with photos of well-known visitors, including Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and former President George W. Bush
That mix of an unlikely origin story, a big-name architect, and organic buzz is a large part of why Pine Dunes gets called a hidden gem instead of just another public course in East Texas.
The Golf Course Experience
Jay Morrish spent years as Tom Weiskopf's design partner, and that partnership shaped how he approaches a course like Pine Dunes.
Rather than stretching holes out for big hitters, Morrish leaned into shorter, strategic par 4s — the kind that reward smart shot placement over raw distance.
As he put it himself, most architects today design reachable par 4s because that's the concept he and Weiskopf always preferred: strategic golf that's more fun than long par 4s only young power players can reach in two.
Golf Digest's Ron Whitten has even noted the resemblance between Pine Dunes and Weiskopf's Forest Dunes in Michigan, since both were carved out of pine-covered sand dunes.
Layout and yardage
The course plays to a par 72 across 18 holes, with four tee options depending on how much challenge you want:
- Gold (back tees): 7,117 yards, rating 74.4, slope 131
- Blue: 6,537 yards, rating roughly 71.3–74, slope roughly 126–135
- White: 5,819 yards, rating roughly 68.1–70.1, slope roughly 119–129
- Red: 5,150 yards, rating roughly 67.4–72.0, slope roughly 122–127
Rating and slope numbers shift slightly depending on the database, but the back-tee 74.4/131 figure is the one most commonly cited.
Terrain and playability
What sets Pine Dunes apart is the ground it's built on. Sandy soil supports fairways that wind through century-old pines and dogwoods reaching up to 80 feet tall, with four small lakes scattered across the property. More than 80 bunkers dot the course, including large waste areas filled with distinctive rust-colored sand.
Greens are Tifeagle, fairways are Bermuda, and the design keeps forced carries and water hazards to a minimum — making it playable for a wide range of skill levels.
Off the tee, though, it tightens up fast, with penal pine-lined rough that punishes wayward shots and rewards players who can shape the ball intentionally. The greens are large but slope subtly, which makes them deceptively hard to read.
Holes worth knowing before you play
- Hole 2 and Hole 15 (“Hideaway”): short, strategic par 4s, with 15 featuring a punchbowl-style green
- Holes 3, 6, 12, and 16: a strong four-hole stretch of short holes
- Hole 5: a split-fairway par 5 that forces a strategic tee shot decision
- Hole 11: a par 5 with a sandy cross-hazard crossing the fairway
- Hole 17: a tough par 3 and the only hole on the course with grass bunkers
- Hole 18: a dogleg-right par 5 that plays past water to a green sitting beside the lodging
Dallas native Justin Leonard holds the course record at 69. David Frost, the pro who first connected Lutz with Morrish, summed up the course's ambition directly: there's no need to travel all the way to Augusta National or Pine Valley for a superb round when Texas has its own right here.
That comparison shows up often in how the course is talked about — not because Pine Dunes matches those courses in luxury or prestige, but because of the feel it delivers on the ground.
Practice facilities
Before you tee off, the practice setup alone is worth arriving early for:
- A large double-sided driving range, roughly 120 yards wide and 300 yards long, with both grass and mat tee options
- Two separate short-game and chipping areas
- A large putting green for reading practice before you head to the first tee
For a public, daily-fee course, this level of practice infrastructure is unusual — and it's one of the most consistently praised parts of the entire property.
Booking Your Round — Rates, Policies, and Tips
Greens fees: check before you trust what you see online
Pine Dunes' own site currently lists greens fees at $99 Monday through Thursday and $149 Friday through Sunday, both including cart fee and range balls. Twilight rates kick in starting at 4 pm, dropping to $79 on weekdays and $99 on weekends.
That said, plenty of third-party booking sites still show older pricing — around $59 weekdays and $79 weekends — which no longer reflects what you'll actually pay.
Given that gap, it's worth calling the pro shop directly to confirm current rates before you book, rather than relying on whatever number shows up first in a search.
Booking window and payment
- Tee times open up to 14 days in advance
- Full payment is required at the time of booking, not on arrival
- Solo golfers can only book online when a group already has one or two open spots
- Reservations can be made through the club's website or by calling the pro shop directly
Cancellation policy
The cancellation rules shift depending on the day you're booked:
- Sunday through Friday tee times: cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable
- Saturday tee times: cancellations within 7 days are non-refundable
- The credit card holder is responsible for every player in the group, not just themselves
- Cancellations can be made online through “My Tee Times” or by phone during daylight hours
Dress code and cart policy
A collared shirt is required on the course, and dress shorts are fine — denim isn't. Carts come included with your greens fee, and the fleet has been recently updated to electric carts equipped with towels and a canopy. Pull carts and rental clubs are also available if you'd rather walk or didn't bring your own set.
One thing to know ahead of time: cart paths are mostly unpaved, with concrete only near tees and greens and sand covering the rest.
Some golfers describe the ride as rougher than what you'd expect from a course of this caliber, so it's worth factoring in if smooth cart paths matter to your round.
Player Card membership
For golfers who play often enough to justify it, Pine Dunes offers a Player Card membership at $135 per month with no initiation fee. Availability is limited, so it's worth asking directly if you're considering frequent visits rather than one-off rounds.
Where to Stay On-Site
Lodging at Pine Dunes comes in three flavors, and all three are built with golf groups in mind rather than couples looking for a romantic getaway. No pets are allowed at any of them.
Condominiums
Ten condo units sit right alongside the 18th green. Each one has two bedrooms and sleeps up to four people — one bedroom with a full bed, the second with two full beds, plus a living-area futon that folds out for a fourth sleeper.
Every unit includes two full bathrooms and a kitchenette stocked with a mini-fridge, microwave, and coffee maker, along with satellite TV.
Guests also get access to a shared charcoal grill, though you'll need to bring your own charcoal. On peak weekends, triple occupancy is required rather than optional.
Double and single rooms
Twelve motel-style rooms — six doubles and six singles — sit in the same area near the condos, alongside the 18th green.
Doubles come with two full beds, while singles have one. Each room includes a full bathroom, microwave, mini-fridge, TV, and coffee maker.
These rooms open onto a shared cement courtyard equipped with a charcoal grill and fire pit, making them a natural gathering spot for group trips.
Double Eagle Lodge
Added around the course's 20th season, Double Eagle Lodge is the newest and most upscale lodging option, located near the driving range.
It offers ten rooms, each built for two guests with two queen beds and a more updated bathroom. Amenities step up here too — mini-fridge, K-cup coffee maker, TV, and a hair dryer — plus access to a shared sports court, patio, and courtyard with views over the 18th green and range.
One thing to note: room rates don't include golf, and the Double Eagle Great Room — a lounge space with a kitchen, fireplace, and large meeting table — is reserved for members only.
Group capacity and peak-weekend rules
Combined, Pine Dunes can host groups as large as 40 across all its lodging types, with some sources citing capacity up to 80 players for larger outings. Peak weekends come with their own requirements:
- A two-night minimum stay on Fridays and Saturdays
- A golf package required for every guest staying on-site, not just some of the group
- Rates for rooms and packages aren't published online — you'll need to call the pro shop directly to get current pricing
Setting realistic expectations
Here's the honest read on the rooms: they're clean and functional, but plain and dated rather than resort-caliber.
Refrigerators are mini-fridge sized, not full kitchens, so plan to bring groceries, charcoal, grilling utensils, and firewood if you intend to cook during your stay. This is lodging built around convenience for golf trips, not comfort as the main event.
If comfort matters more than convenience
Some travelers skip on-site lodging altogether and stay about 25 minutes away in Palestine, often at the historic Redlands Hotel, then drive in for their rounds.
If polished accommodations are a priority for your trip, this off-site approach gives you a more comfortable home base while still putting Pine Dunes' course within easy reach.
Dining, Amenities, and Group Outings
Clubhouse Grill
Food and drink at Pine Dunes comes from a single source: the Clubhouse Grill, a small on-site restaurant with a full bar.
It covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and offers three ways to eat during your round — sit down in the clubhouse, have food delivered out on the course, or have it ready and waiting when you finish.
The menu sticks to casual grill fare like burgers, chicken strips, fries, and sandwiches, with healthy options also advertised.
Reviewers consistently call out the burgers and fries as standouts, even while acknowledging the operation itself is small and simple rather than a full-service restaurant.
Hours run roughly 7 am to dusk for both the golf shop and grill, stretching later on weekends — until 10 pm Friday and Saturday.
Since hours can shift seasonally, it's worth confirming by phone if you're planning around a specific mealtime.
The Clubhouse Grill also handles catering for group outings, with food-and-beverage packages arranged directly through the pro shop.
Pro shop
The pro shop is fully stocked with apparel and rental clubs, and a teaching pro is available for lessons if you want to sharpen your game before or during your visit.
It's also where you'll find the printed yardage guide, priced around $40 — a genuinely useful tool given the course's limited on-course signage and lack of cart GPS.
On-site recreation beyond the course
Outside of golf itself, amenities are modest but purposeful:
- The Double Eagle sports court, available to guests staying in that section
- A shared fire pit and grilling courtyard near the condos and motel-style rooms
- Abundant wildlife, including deer, across the secluded grounds
Corporate and charity outings
Pine Dunes actively markets itself as a host for group events, and the flexibility here is one of its stronger selling points:
- Accommodates both shotgun starts and standard tee times
- Works with formats ranging from scrambles to medal play
- Offers catering through the pro shop for outings and banquets
- Scales from smaller groups up to large gatherings, with contact through the pro shop needed to plan logistics
What you won't find on-site
Despite the “resort” name, several amenities travelers might expect simply aren't part of the property:
- No swimming pool or spa
- No dedicated wedding venue
- No RV park or campground
- No marina, though nearby Lake Palestine offers water recreation separately from the golf property itself
If any of these matter for your trip, they're worth arranging elsewhere — Pine Dunes' focus stays squarely on golf.
Planning Your Trip — Location, Timing, and What to Know Before You Go
Getting there
Pine Dunes sits at 159 Private Road 7019 in Frankston, Texas, and drive times vary quite a bit depending on where you're coming from:
- From Dallas: roughly 95–100 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours. Take US-175 east toward Frankston, then TX-155 south for about 6 miles to County Road 319, following it about 1.2 miles to the course.
- From Tyler: about 25 miles, roughly 30–40 minutes south via TX-155.
- From Houston: around 3 hours.
The nearest commercial airport is Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR), which makes Tyler a practical base if you're flying in rather than driving.
Nearby attractions
The property itself is remote, with limited curb appeal that the operators openly acknowledge. But there's more to do in the surrounding area than the course alone suggests:
- Lake Palestine, just north of Frankston, for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping
- The WaterPark at The Villages in Flint
- Antique shops scattered through Frankston and the greater Tyler area
- The historic Redlands Hotel and downtown Palestine, about 25 minutes away
- The Texas State Railroad, for a different kind of day trip
When to play
Spring (April through May) and fall (September through October) draw the biggest crowds, and for good reason — the course looks its best and the weather cooperates.
These windows book up fast enough that some groups reserve a full year ahead. Summer play is common too, and the course reportedly holds its green color and playability even through July heat, though expect real East Texas humidity alongside it.
Winter rounds are possible year-round, but Bermuda fairways go dormant and turn brown in colder months, and early-spring rounds before green-up can reveal bare spots on the turf.
How far ahead to book
- Tee times: up to 14 days in advance
- Stay-and-play packages: weeks to months ahead, especially for peak spring and fall weekends
- Peak weekends carry a two-night minimum (Friday/Saturday) and require a golf package for every guest in your group
What to pack
A few items make a real difference once you're on-site, given how remote the property is:
- Charcoal, grilling utensils, and firewood if you plan to cook
- Groceries and personal supplies, since rooms only have mini-fridges and the area doesn't have much nearby shopping
- Golf attire that meets the dress code — collared shirt required, no denim
- Consider picking up the printed yardage book at the pro shop, since on-course signage and cart GPS are limited
Who Pine Dunes is really for
If your priority is course quality, value, and a genuine golf experience away from crowds, Pine Dunes delivers on nearly every front.
If you're expecting upscale lodging, dining, or resort-style amenities to match the name, you'll want to either stay off-site in Palestine or Tyler, or adjust your expectations going in.
Before you book anything, one phone call to the pro shop at (903) 876-4336 handles the details that aren't reliably posted online: current greens fees, room and package rates, grill hours for your travel dates, and any minimum-stay requirements tied to peak weekends.
That single call will save you from surprises once you've already made the drive.
Conclusion
Pine Dunes delivers a genuinely distinctive golf experience — a sandy, pine-lined layout that punches well above its remote East Texas location — paired with lodging that's best described as functional rather than luxurious.
Golfers who come for the course and keep their expectations about accommodations realistic tend to leave impressed, while those chasing a polished resort experience may want to stay off-site in Palestine or Tyler instead.
Either way, one call to the pro shop before you travel will confirm the details that matter most and set your trip up right.
