Featured Golf Course

In this section learn more about the history of the course and its hometown, see a selection of historic and current images of the course, learn about what the course is like today, and discover nearby historic sites.

Dunedin Golf Club

History

The Dunedin Golf Club is located in the City of Dunedin in Pinellas County. In 1925, the Michigan firm of Frischkorn-Florida, headed by Ephraim S. Frischkorn, purchased 1,500 acres for the development of the Dunedin Isles Subdivision. In February of 1926, Frischkorn-Florida announced it would construct an 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary golf course architect Donald Ross. Work on the course started in 1926 when Ross and his staff visited Dunedin to look over the site. The golf course was finished ten months later, although some details remained to be completed. On New Year ’s Day, 1927, Frischkorn officially opened the golf course with a drive from the 1st tee.

Fred Rigden served as the first golf professional at Dunedin and also worked at the Country Club of Detroit during the summers. Rigden was a noted club maker who made golf clubs under the name “Rigden Perfect”. The course was very popular with golfers including Gene Sarazen, who played the course regularly and set the course record in 1929 with a 65.

In 1945, the PGA of America signed a lease with the City of Dunedin to turn the course into the PGA National Golf Club. With that distinction, the golf course hosted 18 Senior Tour Championships, leading to the beginning of the Senior PGA Tour.

In February 1946, the biggest names in golf at that time, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Harold “Jug” McSpaden, known as the big four, played in an exhibition match to benefit the rehabilitation fund for PGA war veterans. Both Snead and Hogan were military veterans, Snead having served in the Navy and Hogan in the Army. Prior to the match, each golfer was given a deed to a home site in the Dundedin Isles subdivision. Before a gallery of several thousand fans, Snead and Hogan won 4 and 2 with Snead shooting a course record 66.

In 1954, a handful of golf merchandisers assembled in the parking lot at PGA National Golf Club at Dunedin during a series of winter tournaments. From humble beginnings in Dunedin, the PGA Merchandise Show, has become the world’s largest and most influential golf business event. In a few short years, the Show became so large, with nearly 50 manufacturers’ representatives, that PGA officials leased a tent to house the growing event. Today, the PGA Merchandise Show has become a global gathering. Held annually in Orlando, the marketplace occupies nearly 10 miles of aisles, featuring more than 1,000 companies, and over 40,000 PGA Professionals, buyers, and industry leaders from 81 countries.

Two years later in 1956, the PGA of America moved its national headquarters from Chicago to Dunedin. In 1962, unable to build a second 18-hole golf course due to lack of land, the PGA of America moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

On June 4, 2014, the Dunedin Isles Golf Club became the third golf course in Florida to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dunedin Isles Will Have Sporty Course

1926 Doanld Ross Paln for Dunedin Isles

Workers at the Dunedin Isle Golf Course

Aerial View of 10th Fairway in 1926

Bridge to the 11th Hole at Dunedin Isles

Opening Drive by Ephraim Frischkorn

Bunker Guarding a Mashie-shot Hole

Gene Sarazen at Dunedin Isles

Skilled Female Golfers Including Mrs. Rigden

Donald Ross Calls Dunedin Isles His Masterpiece

Hogan, Nelson, McSpaden and Snead

Golf's Big Four at Dunedin

Scorecard for the Big Four Exhibition Match

1954 PGA Merchandise Show at Dunedin

1959 PGA Merchandise Show at Dunedin

PGA National Golf Club at Dunedin

Today

The Dunedin Golf Club includes an 18-hole, par-72 golf course featuring five sets of tees playing from 4,700 to 6,600 yards, making it an enjoyable golf course for all levels and abilities of golfers. In 2008 the club was named "2008 Country Club of the Year" by Tampa Bay Magazine, and in 2014, Dunedin was voted the best golf course in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.

  

Florida Historic Marker at the Dunedin Golf Course

6th Green at the Dunedin Golf Club

10th Fairway at Dunedin Golf Club

12th Fairway at Dunedin Golf Club

13th Hole and Clubhouse at Dunedin Golf Club

16th Hole at Dunedin Golf Club

View of Golf Hole at Dunedin Golf Culb

Scorecard for Dunedin Golf Culb

Local Knowledge

In 1928, Dunedin golf course was the site of a new record in golf. Dunedin Isles assistant golf professionals Johnny Raimondi and Fred Sladden (the nephew of Fred Rigden, head golf professional) set a new record for the number of holes played in one day at Dunedin. They played 263 holes in 16 hours and 12 minutes!

How did they play that many holes so quickly? Instead of walking, they rode motorcycles from shot to shot and from hole to hole, breaking the old record by 20 holes!

Sladden, Raimondi and Motorcycles

Sladden and Raimondi with Their Golf Bags in the Motorcycles

Inside the Leather

Dunedin’s Celtic/Scottish heritage - In the 1800’s Scottish families settled and brought their customs to the area. The name “Dunedin” is taken from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh, the capital  of Scotland.

Dunedin has maintained its strong Scottish roots throughout its history, with its charming village–like setting and many Scottish societies, traditions, and stores can be found throughout the city, including the Famous Dunedin Pipe Bands and highland dance groups.

The City celebrates their heritage annually with a number of events, including the Dunedin Highland Games & Festival in the spring and the Dunedin Celtic Festival in the fall. Visit Dunedin Highland Games & Festival for more details.

Welcome to Dunedin Sign

Past Highland Games at Dunedin

Dunedin Pipe Band at the Highland Games

Dunedin Pipe Band

Dancers at Dunedin

Celtic Music and Craft Beer Festival

Visit - Contact

Dunedin Golf Club

1050 Palm Boulevard
Dunedin, Florida 34698

1050 Palm Boulevard
Dunedin, Florida 34698

View the Website

Phone: 727.733.7836