Barefoot Resort & Golf

I played at the Dye Club with three friends on Thursday, March 27th. I have played other Pete Dye courses prior, but I have to admit, this one is my favorite so far. Before I start, I do have to mention the entire staff were extremely nice and professional on the day we played. Especially at the bag drop and the bartender / waitress. They were both hustling that day. The course itself is awesome and in fantastic shape. The greens were smooth. I feel the course itself is fair, but by no means a push over and each hole is unique. There is plenty of water, sand and waste areas to watch out for. You cannot spray your drives anywhere and not expect to be in trouble. I played the white tees, and the par 3’s were a good challenge for me, especially number 6, with water all the way down the right side of the hole and sand in front and back of the green. It is visually intimidating. If you do find yourself in some of the waste areas on the course, make sure to take extra clubs because you might not be able to see where you are hitting to. I would not hesitate to go back and play it again.

Played the Love Course at Barefoot the day after a considerable rain storm so it was cart path only and the fairways were pretty wet. However, this is such a great course that it was still really fun! The theme of the course is really wide fairways which have a hazard cutting through the middle of them which forces you to decide which way to navigate the hazard. One way is a harder tee shot but an easier approach. And the other is an easier tee shot but more difficult approach. The greens rolled great if maybe a tad slow, but really smooth. There are a couple of forced carries. But the design of the course allows average and high handicappers to enjoy the day without being miserable while being all the challenge you would want from the back tees. The inside staff was very friendly. And the guy who brought around cups of water made for great customer service. All in all great fun and well worth playing.

Played the Fazio Course at Barefoot on a cool very rainy day. At time the rain was hard enough to stop play. But by the time I got to the back 9 it had stopped. The layout is awesome. The fairways aren’t super wide. But the corridors are. There is plenty of room to hit the ball. The fairways and green are both lined with huge gapping bunkers. However. It was so rainy that you had to pretty much take the bunkers out of play so that saved me a few times. The fairways are very winding and have a lot of movement right and left. The hole may be straight from tee to green but the fairways move one way or the other. With a huge bunker in the straight line with the green. The greens were relatively subtle as far as break goes. And also pretty slow due to the amount of rain. It did seem like the overseed in the fairways was a little thin. But that may have been bc of the recent cold snap. A great course in good shape and very fun to play even in a cold rain.

I was very disappointed with the conditions and layout of this course based on the cost. I have been playing Myrtle Beach courses for 18 years and there are many courses that are nicer than this course and cost much less.

The tee boxes on the par 3 were in terrible condition with little grass left. The bunkers have a sand that is closer to mud than sand. The fairways also had a number of bare patches. On the plus side the greens were in fabulous condition.

The course layout goes out but does not come back to the club house at the turn, and there was one beverage cart that we saw once. In fairness we were informed of this prior to starting our round.

Played the Love Course at Barefoot for the 2nd time today. And I really love the layout. It is a big, grand, dramatic layout. A lot of huge mounds and swell. Big gaping bunkers natural waste areas. There are a few forced carries. But the course is relatively open. So it’s manageable for average or high handicap golfers. The course is visually pleasant and deceiving. It was in good shape. And the pace was ok. I got it for the afternoon rate of $80 which seemed like a fair deal for what I got. I really enjoyed the afternoon and would go again for sure. Many holes have bunkers or other obstacles in the middle of the fairway making you make a decision off the tee. One decision might make for an easier tee shot. But a harder approach. Or vice versa. It will make you think and hit good shots. But again. Open enough to forgive the stray ball for the most part. If you are looking for a great course in the area. Give it a shot.

No disrespect to the architect. Layout was very nice. Conditions however were not. Bunkers were absolutely unplayable, way too much sand. Greens weren't in good condition either. Would not recommend or return to this course.

A group of 30 had a pre-paid t-time of 9:08 am, 2 days before we were set to play we were told that our times had been moved to 1:28 pm; no explanation was given. We got to the course and it was mayhem, groups of players were all over. We were supposed to go out as a group front & back but other groups dispersed were put out between us. Long story short, it took 5 hrs and 50 minutes to play; again no explanation from staff. They did apologize but offered nothing else. Other golfers on the course walked off before completing the round. It was a nice course, not great and definitely NOT worth the premium we paid for playing it.

Played the Norman Course at Barefoot today and really enjoyed it. I did not get the desert feel that they advertised. There are several natural waste areas. But I got more of a Carolina pine lined course. Anyway, I really enjoyed the layout. Relatively wide fairways lined with pines or waste areas. Several really big pot bunkers around the greens. Unlike the Love or Fabio course at Barefoot-it does wind through residential areas. There are several holes along the intracoastal waterway. But must offer only a fleeting glimpse. The par 3 10th being the one exception. The greens are small but rolled really good. And the tees and fairways were in great shape. Most forced carries are actually over waste bunkers not water. And there are a good mix of different holes. A couple of things to remember. The course is an out and back. It doesn’t go back to clubhouse at the turn. So you’ll need the cart girl for food and drink. Second there is a shuttle to the driving range. And it takes a couple minutes to get there and back. So plan on that when you factor in your arrival time. But again. It’s a fun layout and in great shape. It’s worth it, especially if you can get a deal on a tee time.

This course is one great hole after another. Fazio signature as being well bunkered but the fairways are inviting. Dont let the yardage on the card fool you this coursr plays longer so play the right set of tees for you so if you drive the ball in 225 range the whites are the right call.

I olay Barefoot annually and this is my Favorite of the three resort courses. The Dye is right there with it.

Play there you will enjoy it!

Layout was ok (not as goods as Dye course) and in ok condition. Don't think its worth the $ but was pretty good.

First time playing the Dye course and it was great. Best condition of any of the Barefoot Courses. Very playable with waste bunkers and difficult but fair test.

Played The Love Course at Barefoot Resort on a cool windy January afternoon. As a result the course was pretty empty and I was able to go out by myself and play at my own pace. So I can’t speak to the usual pace of play. The employees I encountered were friendly enough.

The course is in very good shape. I played the day after a 2 inch rain. So it was cart path only. But it needed to be. And the bunkers were unplayable. But that is understandable. The rest of the course was in as good of shape as could ever be expected in January. Well worth the $71 I payed to play. The layout is awesome. As an average golfer it was challenging but not miserable. It won’t beat you up. And it’s really fun. The fairways are enormous. Really wide. But many of them have waste areas or bunkers or natural areas in the middle of the fairway that split the fairway in 2. One of the splits in the fairway may result in an easier tee shot. But the harder tee shot may result in an easier approach. So it helps to have played the course before. But again. It was great fun. There is a lot of water well off the sides. And only a few forced carries. 8 and 9 come to mind. 8 is a par 5 with a pretty good forced carry on your approach. 9 is a long par 3 that requires a carry off the tee as well. The greens are generally small and decided into 2 section. With a huge ridge in it. So it helps a lot to hit the correct portion of them. All in all it was a great round. I know at Barefoot prices can get pretty high in the spring and fall. So if it’s in your price range it’s worth a play.

Place is spectacular. 4 great courses, great clubhouse, great staff. One of the top places to play in NMB

I live in this resort and play the Barefoot courses frequently. The experience, unfortunately, has been getting worse over time. Conditions have deteriorated, and pace of play is horrible. Unfortunately, management does little about either. There are other local courses in equal or better condition for a fraction of the retail rate. This course specifically has the worst bunkers in the area. Greens are inconsistent, and the little things, like GPS accuracy and rangers actually moving play along are missing.

The Love Course conditions were average for the Grand Strand, but greens fees are representative of a premier course. Tee boxes worse than average. Fairways were wetter than they should have been, given the lack of rain. Greens were okay, not fast, not really slow. Bunkers on this course, and throughout Barefoot, are among the worst in the area. Inconsistent to say the least. The layout is really nice, but the conditions are not keeping up. Clubhouse was understaffed, so getting served after the round was a little slow.

The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort was a late addition to my recent Myrtle Beach trip. I'd only played one Pete Dye design previously, so I took the opportunity to add another Pete Dye course to my resume.

While Pete Dye is famous for torturing tour pros at TPC Sawgrass and The Ocean Course (among others), The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort is a kinder and gentler Dye layout. Don't get me wrong, there is still quite a bit of Dye deception, but he gives the golfer a little more room for error on most holes.

The condition of the course is really good, with firm, fast fairways and true greens. The greens were a bit on the slower side the day we played. All of the bunkers are played as waste areas, allowing the player to ground their club and take practice swings.

For a resort course with 8 minute tee times, the pace of play was terrific. We played in under 4 and a half hours, which was unexpected.

I would definitely play this course again on a return trip to Myrtle Beach and I highly recommend that all golfers considering playing the Dye Club at Barefoot resort.

My favorite hole on the course is the 16th, which is a medium length par 5 surrounded by waste bunkers and mounding. On the day I played the pin was up front and two good shots got me on the fringe of the green, where I made eagle. So it has to be my favorite hole.

I had the opportunity to play this golf course on Wednesday, April 21. In spite of the fact that Spirit Airlines failed to load my checked bag (golf clubs and clothes), this course made my date. The price at $136 was high, but worth every penny as this tract is well maintained. This course is challenging, but not overwhelmingly. The winds did make play tougher but the exquisite layout makes this tract probably the best of all the barefoot courses.

Played all the Barefoot courses this week, Dye course was total opposite from the other happy, pleasant three. Right from the start at the entrance gate we were getting attitude about showing up 2 hours + early. Then the wait staff in the restaurant seemed like we were an inconvenience. So then on the course the was maybe 10 foursomes total on the course, one group in front of us, nice group of younger players. We had a 1:08 tee time but there was no one there so we teed off at 12:30. Got through 3 holes with just the group in front of us, at a good pace. There was no one behind us at all so we drove over to the clubhouse to get some ice to keep the drinks cold and give a little room between us and the only other group in front of us. We got a visit from the ranger asking us to speed up play. There was absolutely no one on the course behind us, nor on the practice area near the 1st tee. Why did the ranger feel he needed to push us along with no one behind us. Besides according the cart gps we were only 5 minutes behind... but with a group in front of us. So in the end we finished our round in less than 4 hours.

The attitude from the staff was so unpleasant that we will not ever return to the Dye course. This course is so opposite from the other courses across the street.

The Love course at Barefoot Resort is hanging on to the tail end of one prominent Golf magazine’s Top 100 American public course rankings. It has been my experience that the bottom 20 percent of these rankings are often controversial.

My sense is that the artificial Antebellum plantation ruins at the confluence of the fourth and sixth greens that offer an anomaly rarely seen on golf courses is polarizing. Some haughty reviewers will label it gimmicky, contrived, and in today’s climate maybe even intolerant. I’m in the “loved it” camp. It made for some intriguing photo ops and created an interesting green-side element.

I feel this element likely singularly keeps this course among “America’s Greatest” lists. Detractors will say, in addition to the negativity above, that this is textbook resort golf, and I don’t disagree with that. But I rather enjoyed it.

Davis Love III offers roomy corridors off the tee box. You will find elements of a place he has been very successful at throughout his career - Harbour Town - in the green complexes. Most are small and feature subtleties that can make first putts look either misread or misjudged.

It is the kind of course where you can walk off the 18th green having shot 82 and wonder how you didn’t shoot 72.

One of four options at the Barefoot Resort, this is the site for Darius Rucker’s “Monday After the Masters” celebrity pro-am.

Sam Puglia, the owner of the Dye Club, famously recounted a story that sums up the approach taken by the architects designing the offerings. “There was a big press conference when we announced that we were building four courses simultaneously at Barefoot Resort... One by one they talked about how they were going to build enjoyable, playable resort courses that would appeal to players of all abilities. Then Pete took the microphone. He said, ‘My golf course won’t be like theirs. It’s going to be so d%*n hard that people are going to hate it!’”

Having played many of Pete’s courses all over the country, I’m not willing to say it was excruciatingly hard. I did join the brothers whom I were paired with in playing the white tees, which were pretty benign, and probably one set up from where I should’ve played. Dye induces the usual self-doubt and second guessing off the tee, drawing the player’s eye toward vast waste bunkers and other hazards.

But he gives ample scoring opportunities with a handful of short par 4s and lightweight par 5s. Like many of Dye’s tracks, the par 3s stood out for me.

Uniquely, all sand traps, including green side traps are played as waste areas. Make a practice swing and ground your club, but don’t bother looking for a rake. You won’t find one!