The Love Course at Barefoot Resort and Golf Review

Posted On February 17, 2019

Introduction

We played the Love course at Barefoot Resort and Golf as our third round of our Myrtle Beach trip, and second of the day after the Fazio course. The Love course played the easiest out of the three course we played at Barefoot Resort and Golf (Dye Club and Fazio), but that definitely doesn’t mean it was easy. We also played through some rain. Playing at just over 7,000 yards at 7,047 from the back tees, it has plenty of length, including 3 par 4’s over 450 yards. The par 4 16th was my favorite hole, as you get to choose between two different fairways.

Range and Practice Area

The range is located a little ways from the clubhouse. While we didn’t use the range before we played the Love course but did earlier that morning. The range is really nice, with plenty of room. I would advise that you stop off at the range before going to the clubhouse (may need to check in but drive yourself). We were put on an old tram car pulled behind a small truck. I’m not quite sure it was OSHA approved but we made it there and back.

The Front 9

Hole 1 is a fairly straightforward par 4. I preferred to hit a driver off the tee to clear the bunkers, but you could lay up short of them and have a 150 yard approach. Right is the miss on the approach, with long being a tough up and down off the steep back. You ball could also bounce forward past the cart path into the woods as well.

Hole 2 is a par 5 that dog legs to the right. If you are aggressive off the tee, you can have a good look at making the green in 2. Anyone who shapes it left to right will enjoy this hole. There’s not much trouble so if you are laying up, hit it to the number you want into the green. Just avoid the smaller bunker on the front right on your approach. There is water on the right but you will have to be far right to get close to it. This is why a good tee shot can get to the green in 2.

Hole 3 is tough par three playing at just over 200 yards. Water runs all the way down the right side, and along the back. Left over the trap is the only miss on this green, but is still a tough up and down. You really need to hit the green on this hole.

Hole 4 is one of the more photographed holes on the course. At 294 yards, it is drive-able for the longer hitters. The key here is to be short rather than long when going for it. Anything against the ruins along the back of the green will be trouble. Just make sure you avoid the bunker in the middle that can be very penal.

Hole 5 is the longest par 4 on the course and rated the toughest, and readily so. At 463 yards it will take two good shots to put yourself on the green. You should be able to hit it over the bunkers along the right side off the tee, so don’t worry about them too much. Being a long hole, the green isn’t protected that well. Just one bunker short of the green on the right. Just avoid the trees that are well left of the hole.

Hole 6 is a fun par 4 without too much trouble. This is the other well photographed hole on the course as you head back towards the ruins. Keep your drive down the left side of the fairway for the best angle into the hole. On your approach, just make sure you don’t end up in front of the wall just below the green. Left would be the preferred miss.

Hole 7 I found to be tougher than it looks. Take your tee shot straight over the bunkers ahead, just not going to far left. This green is well protected with a large bunker to the right next to the water, and deep bunker on the front left. Short or behind left would be the two misses. You need to hit this green if at all possible.

Hole 8 is the second par 5 on the front, and plays more to a 3 shot hole. If you do want to go for it in 2, you need to take it down the left side, avoiding the 2 smaller fairway bunkers. The strategic play is to take your tee shot just left of the middle fairway bunker. The preferred lay up would leave you about 10 yards short of the last fairway bunker on the left. The green isn’t protected other than a bit of elevation and a penalty are in front, so take dead aim!

Hole 9 ends the front 9 with a fairly boring long par 3. At 235 yards, you will need a good shot to put yourself close. There are no bunkers for you to worry about either, so take aim.

The Back 9

I didn’t get as many photos on the back because it started raining pretty decent and just didn’t to chance ruining my camera.

Hole 10 starts the back off with a pretty easy par 4. Ideally you want your tee shot to be down the right side, but you need to avoid the bunkers on the right as well. Really long hitters may reach the sand waste area that lies between the fairway and green. There is more room to miss on the left side, but missing just left will likely give you more room to get up and down.

Hole 11 is a par 3 that actually has 2 different greens. I prefer the one on the right as I like to shape it left to right. A little bit long is a lot better than being short on these greens.

Hole 12 is a long par 4, 453 yards to be exact. You will need a really good tee shot here. Just avoid the long bunker that runs down the left. The green has a couple bunkers along the left that aren’t too close, but your miss will be the right side.

Hole 13 is a short par 5 at 484 yards but has a creek that runs across and down the right side of the fairway. Anyone who fades the ball may be a little nervous here. Just hit your drive into the fairway on the left. There is plenty of room to go for it on this green. Anything on the left side or just short of the green is fine. Just avoid from hitting your ball into the bunkers on the right side of the green.

Hole 14 is a devilish par 4. Keep your tee shot left of the bunker and brush that sits on the right side of the fairway. The hill on the right of the green will push everything back down towards the green, so don’t be afraid to miss there with your approach. So anything long or right will be fine.

Hole 15 is a long par 3 that is elevated and long, at 228 yards from the back tees. Although it might be hard here, don’t be long. You will want to be short if anything. Also make sure you avoid the bunker that is short right of the green.

Hole 16 was may favorite hole like I mentioned earlier. It is a par 4 that you can chose to go to the right or left of a bushy area that sits in the middle of the fairway. The right side is a bit more dangerous with water down the right but gives you a better angle into the green. The left is safer but has a tougher approach shot. Just avoid the bunker short right, as an up and down is too tough from anywhere else.

Hole 17 is a tough par 4 that plays 448 yards. In fact, 17 and 18 are 2 of the three hardest holes on the back 9. The tee shot here will be the hardest all day. You will need to hit it to the top of the hill, avoiding the bunkers on the left and the loan bunker on the right. While there are bunkers short of the green, the shouldn’t come into play. As long as you don’t miss the green terribly bad, it won’t be a tough up and down. A little long would be the best miss here.

Hole 18 has you finishing with a long par 5, just under 600 yards. There isn’t much trouble off the tee, but any wayward shot will likely find the trees. This is a 3 shot hole. I won’t even go into trying to go for it in 2. Hit your layup shot about 10 to 15 yards short of the bunker on the left. This is a tough approach, so have confidence when you hit it. Short right is the best miss. Avoid the bunker next to the water. Just right or a little long will leave you with an easy up and down.

Conclusion

The Love course at Barefoot Resort and Golf was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone. It has some cheesy holes around the fake ruins, but they were still dun to play. The drive-able par 4 and the 16th with two fairways will be 2 holes that stay with me for a long time. There are some forced carries for those who don’t like them, but you will find that at most top resorts around the country. Overall, my experience at Barefoot Resort and Golf was a memorable one and I’m sure I will be back here to play again sometime.

Read our reviews on two of the other courses we played at Barefoot Resort and Golf