Barefoot Resort Golf Review: 4 Championship Courses, 1 Legendary Destination

The ruins appear out of nowhere. One second you’re riding down a manicured cart path, the next you’re staring at crumbling brick columns and stone walls wrapped in ivy, rising right out of the fairway like ghosts of a plantation that time forgot. Your playing partner stops mid-conversation. Somewhere across the water, an osprey shrieks. The whole scene feels more like discovering an archaeological site than playing the 5th hole on the Love Course — and that’s before you notice the Intracoastal Waterway glittering behind the green.

That’s one morning at Barefoot Resort. Multiply it by four courses from four legendary designers, all within a five-minute drive of each other and ten minutes from our condo at Ocean Keyes. This Barefoot Resort golf review breaks down all four — Norman, Love, Fazio, and Dye — so you know exactly which personality fits your group.

The Four Courses: A Quick Comparison

Greg Norman Course

The Norman Course is all about the Intracoastal Waterway. Seven holes run directly along the ICW, and Norman left the original vegetation intact throughout the layout, giving it a more natural, undeveloped feel than the other three courses — palmettos crowding the cart path, wax myrtles brushing your arm as you pass, the faint diesel smell of a shrimp trawler puttering up the channel. There are generous scoring opportunities here — wider fairways and more forgiving angles — which makes it a smart choice for mid-handicappers who want a premier experience without getting beaten up.

The waterway holes are stunning, especially in the late afternoon when the light hits the water just right and the ICW turns molten copper. If your group likes to take photos, this is the course.

Davis Love III Course

The Love Course is probably the most popular of the four, and it earned a spot on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses ranking from 2003 to 2007. The standout feature is the ruins — crumbling tabby walls and brick columns wrapped in resurrection fern, standing right in the middle of the course like a set piece from another century. You can feel the cool air pooling around the old stone as you walk past. You won’t see that anywhere else.

What I appreciate about the Love Course is the variety. No two holes feel the same. It mixes wide-open holes where the wind pushes hard off the waterway with tight, tree-lined fairways where the canopy swallows your ball flight from view, water carries with safe bailout areas. It’s challenging enough to satisfy good players but playable enough that your whole group will enjoy it. If you’re only playing one course at Barefoot, this is usually the one I recommend.

Tom Fazio Course

The Fazio Course is the most visually appealing of the four. Tom Fazio is known for his eye for aesthetics, and it shows here — towering loblolly pines casting long shadows across sculpted fairways, strategically placed lakes that mirror the sky like glass, and white waste areas that glow against the deep green turf. Fifteen holes feature water, but the course plays fair if you pick the right tees. The smell of fresh-cut grass hangs heavier on the Fazio than the others — the maintenance crew keeps this one immaculate.

One thing to know: the Fazio plays longer than the yardage suggests. At 6,834 from the tips, it looks manageable on paper, but the elevated greens and well-protected pin positions add effective distance. Don’t be surprised if you’re reaching for one more club than usual.

Pete Dye Course (Semi-Private)

The Dye Club is semi-private and it’s the longest of the four at 7,343 yards — a true Pete Dye creation with all his trademark beautiful-but-punishing features. Roughly 200 bunkers (many decorative), waste areas that border white sand Carolina Bays where the sand feels sugar-fine under your shoes, and greens that demand precision. The 18th hole is reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass — you stand on the tee staring at an Cape-style par 4 with water guarding the entire left side, your heart thumping a little louder than it should for a golf shot. That tells you everything you need to know about the drama level.

This course is for golfers who want a serious test. If your group includes single-digit handicaps who are tired of “resort golf,” point them to the Dye. Everyone else might want to stick with the Love or Norman.

New for 2026: The Dye Club is opening luxury Dye Club Cottages for an on-site stay-and-play experience.

Why Barefoot Packages Are Smart

A Barefoot Resort golf package is one of the best values in the Myrtle Beach area. Multi-round packages drop the per-round cost significantly, and playing two or three of the four courses during your trip lets you experience different design philosophies without ever leaving the resort. The courses are consistently in excellent condition — top-tier maintenance across all four.

Barefoot has earned major recognition: 2017 North America Golf Resort of the Year (International Association of Golf Tour Operators), #1 in the Top 50 Courses of Myrtle Beach, Golf Channel’s “Big Break Myrtle Beach” host, and perennial Golf Digest “Best Places to Play” honoree.

Course Details at a Glance

• Location: 4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Rd, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
• Holes: 72 (four 18-hole courses)
• Designers: Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye
• Par: 72 (Norman, Love, Dye) / 71 (Fazio)
• Price Range: Higher end — multi-round packages offer best value
• Drive from 601 Hillside Dr N: ~10 minutes

Tips for Playing Barefoot

1. Book a package. The multi-round pricing makes a huge difference. Playing two or three courses in one trip is the way to go.
2. Start with the Love Course. If you’re only playing one, Love gives you the most complete Barefoot experience.
3. Save the Dye for your best ball-striking day. Don’t play it hungover or tired. You’ll want your A-game.
4. Take the Norman at sunset. Those Intracoastal Waterway holes in golden hour light are unreal.
5. Hydrate. These are full-length championship courses. In summer, they’ll take a lot out of you.

Who Should Play Barefoot?

Everyone. That’s the beauty of having four courses. Mixed-skill groups can split up — send the competitive players to the Dye while the rest of the group enjoys the Love or Norman. Golf trip groups that want three or four days of championship golf without repeating a course can do the whole rotation. It’s the most versatile golf destination on the Grand Strand.

For a contrast experience, pair a Barefoot day with a round at Thistle Golf Club — the intimate Scottish-links feel is the perfect counterpoint to Barefoot’s scale. See all the courses worth playing in our North Myrtle Beach golf course guide, and use our trip planning guide to map out the rest of your days between rounds.

Four Courses, Four Designers — You’ll Need More Than One Day (and a Place Worth Coming Home To)

After golden-hour light on the Norman’s waterway holes, or that TPC-Sawgrass moment on the Dye’s 18th, or wandering through the plantation ruins on the Love Course, you don’t want to drive an hour back to a forgettable hotel. Our condo at 601 Hillside Dr N in Ocean Keyes is just 10 minutes from Barefoot Resort — close enough to be back before your post-round beer loses its chill. Three bedrooms means your whole foursome has room to spread out, swap scorecards, and plot tomorrow’s course rotation over the kitchen counter.

Check Availability & Book Your Stay

Norman, Love, Fazio, or Dye first? I’ve played them all dozens of times and I’m happy to help you build the perfect Barefoot lineup.