MYRTLE BEACH FEATURE

With these designers, Barefoot is something to behold

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 17, 2003) -- The project was as bold as it was grand. Four courses designed by some of the golf’s biggest names – Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye and Greg Norman – opened at the same time at the same resort. Three years after the opening of Barefoot Resort & Golf, the quartet of courses are thriving while offering a golf buffet attractive enough to rival anything down the street Thee Dollhouse.

With on-site accommodations that range from two-bedroom condos to four-bedroom luxury units in the North Tower, Barefoot offers golfers a complete upscale experience without ever leaving the property. One of the resort’s primary strength’s lies in its diversity. All four layouts deliver high-end golf but each does so in a unique manner.

With seven holes that play along the Intercoastal Waterway, the Norman Course offers the resort’s most stunning visuals. The 7,200-yard layout follows the natural contours of the land and features the spectacular waste bunkers and coastal South Carolina’s natural vegetation.

Prior to the opening of Barefoot, Love III was perceived as the least accomplished architect of the group. So all Love does is design the resort’s most popular course. With the faux ruins of an old plantation home visible on holes four through seven, the PGA Tour star carved an unforgettable layout that remained true to his North Carolina roots. The layout features expansive fairways and devilish greens.

Fazio is one of the game’s most respected architects and he didn’t disappoint in his first effort along the Grand Strand. The Fazio course is chock full of live oaks, native grasses and water, and he did a masterful job crafting the layout’s bunkers. He used the bunkers not just as a hazard but also to aid sight lines and to frame the stunning course.

Pete Dye is notorious for the difficulty of his courses and this layout isn’t for the faint of heart but it’s not impossible. At 7,343 yards, golfers need to know what set of tees to play from and to hit the ball straight. If those two things are accomplished, a golfer can enjoy a beautiful course that features mounding, long waste bunkers and the unforgiving bunkers Dye is renowned for.

If a trip to Myrtle Beach affords you the opportunity to play at Barefoot Resort & Golf, here are some things to do and look for:

If you play one, play them all: One of the Grand Strand’s primary attractions is the diversity of its courses and many golfers like to sample a little bit of everything. Take the opportunity to experience the courses and resort at one time. There is something to be said for a drive of less than a mile to the Grand Strand’s nicest clubhouse and four magnificent courses. Not to mention, it gives you additional time to sleep off last night.

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Most Difficult Greens: The Love Course features greens that are reminiscent of those at Pinehurst No. 2, and that means a lot of movement and very few one putts. Before you tee it up on the Love Course, tune up your iron game and pay close attention to the GPS system in the carts, because you don’t want to be above the hole.

Don’t Believe The Urban Legend: The Dye Course is not an easy layout, particularly for a high-handicapper, but don’t let its reputation dissuade from playing it. Dye is the master of visual intimidation and he employs it effectively in Myrtle Beach. Standing on the tee it often appears as if there is little to no landing area but that typically isn’t the case. When you arrive on each green at the Dye Course, look back at the fairway; you will be shocked at the amount of landing area. The layout may not be for everybody, but if you play Dye once, you owe it to yourself and the course to play it twice, because it becomes more playable with experience.

Most Memorable Feature On A Course: The faux plantation ruins on the Love Course are one of a kind. The ruins are between the fourth and sixth greens and offer a stunning and unforgettable start to a very good round of golf. The ruins aren’t a typical feature, but Love blends them seamlessly into the course.

Most Unique Hole: The 13th hole on the Fazio Course features an alternate green. The 379-yard, par-4 has a green straight away and one that is a severe dogleg left and is protected by water in the front. It’s an interesting twist that completely changes the complexion of the hole. With the dogleg left, there is a premium placed on accuracy off the tee and an exact approach shot. When the hole plays straightaway, long hitters can unload and setup a realistic birdie opportunity.

Shotmaker’s Dream: As you might expect, the Norman Course places a premium on shotmaking. A noted gambler, Norman designed a course that rewards creativity, particularly with short irons. The layout has open greens, providing golfers with a bevy of different shots. From the bump and run to a delicate flop, the Norman Course will demand every shot in the bag.

Favorite Course: With four layouts of the quality offered at Barefoot, it’s a matter of preference, but the money here is on the Fazio Course. The course runs through the heart of the resort, has more elevation change than the other layouts and water is visible on 15 holes. The par-71 layout isn’t particularly long at 6,834 yards, but if offers a stern test for golfers of all skill levels.