The Barefoot Resort and Golf Club is located on the Intracoastal Waterway in North Myrtle Beach and features four spectacular golf courses from four big names in golf; three of them in one location. The Fazio, Love and Norman designs are all on display here and a fourth Pete Dye design is located just a short distance away.
The Norman, Fazio and Love courses all operate out of the same clubhouse, which features a pro shop, restaurant/lounge and a changing area with shower, so you can get in that last round and freshen up before your flight home. The Dye Clubhouse has similar amenities as well as its own driving range; both properties have practice greens. On site, there are three fabulous restaurants for both homeowners and resort guests. The golf clubhouse is open to the public and offers fantastic views and excellent dining.
Practice Faciities: Located just a short shuttle ride away from the main clubhouse is Barefoot’s practice facility and it is massive and well-equipped. This 30-acre facility is lighted and home to Golfsmith’s Callaway Performance Center. You could stay there all day and into the night and not go hungry – or thirsty; there is a New York style pizzeria and deli sports bar on site as well.
Fazio Course Review
The Fazio Course opened in 2000 and has not gone without its share of accolades from several prominent sources including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek as well as the SC Golf Course Ratings Panel. Most notable of these is #6 on Golf Digests 2005 list of the Top 50 Courses of Myrtle Beach and more recently Golf Magazines #9 ranking of the Best Public Courses You Can Play in SC in 2014.
From the back (Platinum) tees, the Fazio Course plays 6,834 yards to a par 71. The course rating is 73.2 with a slope of 145. The Black tees at 6,350 (70.8/136) will give most golfers all they can handle and still maintain a certain amount of dignity and respect. Five sets of tees make the Fazio Course enjoyable for players of all skill levels and offers them the chance to play a championship caliber course and still be challenged and have fun.
You’ll find the Fazio Course located between the Dye Course and the Love Course at Barefoot Resort. When building the course, Fazio used a lot of what the existing land had to offer in the way of bringing live oaks and pine trees into play and weaving its way around several lakes. The natural elevation changes of the land helped his cause and adds a nice touch in terms of making you think about your next shot and club selection. Fairway bunkers have been carved into the mounding throughout the course and native pampas grasses can wreak havoc with errant tee shots.
Like many courses in the Home of Golf (aka Scotland), the Fazio Course does return you to the clubhouse after nine holes. I wouldn’t characterize it as a links course; it’s more of a Lowcountry course. 
Lots of waste areas and bunkers have been strategically placed in landing areas and also add to the overall visual effect. You’ll find water on about 15 holes, although again, many are for a visual effect and don’t – or shouldn’t – come into play. Like most other Fazio courses, the green complexes place a premium on the short game. The closer you are to the hole the less undulation you’ll have to deal with on these greens.
Most Memorable Hole: Number 5. Par 4, 467 yards. As long as this daunting par 4 is, it’s not the toughest rated hole on the course; or on the front side for that matter! Hit the drive of your life over the water and down the left side and you’re still left with a monstrous approach shot to an elevated green protected in front by sand. It will take two of your best shots to get on in regulation, however a chip and putt after an errant approach shot still looks the same on the scorecard. Par is an outstanding score here.
Favorite Par 3: Number 11, 185 yards. A par 3 that is not without its share of trouble. Carry the water off the tee and clear the bunkers and you’re well on your way to a good score. The green is long and not really wide; it is easily a two club difference between a front or back pin placement. If necessary, you can bailout short right of the green and go for the up and down for par.
Favorite Par 4: Number 13, 361 yards. This hole can make or break your round, depending on which green is in play at the time. The hole uses two greens, one that plays straight ahead, while the alternate green creates a dogleg left around marshlands and then over water. A drive of 250 plus down the left side of the fairway is best regardless of the green, and leaves an easy approach. The green to the left is going to require a carry over water and the green straight ahead has wetlands on the right. The green on the left isn’t as deep so choose your approach club wisely.
Favorite Par 5: Number 12, 511 yards. A large waste bunker protects the right side of this dogleg right. The sand gives way to water as you near the green and to complicate matters further, the fairway slopes to the water. A safe bet is to play down the left side from tee to green. It may play a little longer but you’re more likely to tee off on the next hole with the same ball. Nice golf hole.
Last Word: The Fazio Course provides a great deal of fun and excitement no matter what level of golfer you are; just be sure to select the tees that best suit your game. Try to bite off too much and your likely to shoot a high score and have a miserable time.
There are no overly long carries required from the Black tees, although a couple of the par 4s play utterly long (#2, – 432 yards, #5 – 467 yards; #18 – 427 yards). They will definitely test your ability to hit long approach shots. The Champions Ultra Dwarf Grass greens putt true and roll nice and are set at just the right speed that you won’t be banging everything by the hole or leaving it way short. There’s quite a bit of undulation in these greens, so the shorter the putt, the better (isn’t it always)?
For more information on the Fazio Course or any of the other courses at Barefoot Resort, visit their website at www.barefootgolf.com.
