“Breaking Par with Charlie Rymer” Episode 16: The Love Course at Barefoot Resort

Can he make it two birdies in a row? Charlie’s headed across the property at Barefoot Resort & Golf to check out the Love Course, and take on another par 5 at No. 18. Let’s see what “The Big Timer” can do on this challenging finishing hole!
 

Cancer knocked me down, but not out. Now, I’m cancer free. The recovery? It’s been tough. I’ll need patience, a lot of humor …

(You can only keep talent down for so long!)

… And support from friends and family. Over the last two years, I haven’t played much golf, but there’s no better place to get back in the game than on 66 courses in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We’re keeping score, but just teeing it up means I’ve already won!

(You’re not going to believe where this ball ended up!)

Join me on my journey to break par!

Charlie Rymer:

Davis Love gives us three features on his signature design. A traditional golf course with plenty of Lowcountry charm and highlighting elements of his own Carolinas golf experience. If it feels a bit like Donald Ross, it should, with its crowned greens. Aiming your approach for the middle of the green, regardless of pin placement, is never a bad play here.

We are here in North Myrtle Beach at the Barefoot Resort. Amazing golf facility, 72 holes. They got Pete Dye, they got Greg Norman, they got Tom Fazio. This is the 18th tee on the Davis Love course. That sounds like a pretty familiar name. Yeah, 1996 on the PGA TOUR. Third round of the Byron Nelson out in Dallas. I was paired with Davis. I beat him by 10 shots. Actually I did, I shot 61. This Davis Love course here at Barefoot Resort, on more than one occasion has been voted the best golf course in Myrtle Beach by the locals. That says a lot.

Cool par five goes around to the left, water sits by the green. Let’s just cruise it up there. Little around the corner. I might have a chance of getting home in two here today. Old man’s moving pretty good!

The 61 I shot, the day I beat Davis Love, that wasn’t net, it was gross. It was third round on the PGA TOUR. It’s actually a par 70 course. I was nine under and there’s a really nice hotel there, the Four Seasons. My wife was sleeping in that day. It’s pretty rare for me to even make a cut play on Saturday, and they called her in the room. They said, “Your husband is on ’59 Watch.’ He’s three under with three holes to play. You better get out and watch,” and she said, “Obviously, you’ve called the wrong room.” Yeah, we’re still married 32 years.

I’m just going to lay up with a five iron. A lot of people make the mistake and not picking a target when they hit a layup. Layups are important. I’m aiming that big pine tree in the distance. Yeah, that one right there. That’ll be good. Nothing worse than hitting a bad layup shot.

All right, so here’s the deal. I’m right at 115 yards. This is a back hole location. Never hit a hard full shot to the back hole locations. You want to hit something easy. If you hit it easy, it’ll fly a little lower. It’ll land in the middle of the green and it’ll release back. Remember, the harder you swing at the golf ball, the higher it’s going to go, the more it’s going to spin, and the quicker it’s going to stop, which is good on the front, but it’s no good on the back.

That’s tracking a little low release on back there for me, baby. Might’ve released a little too much, but that’s all right. I’m off the back, but I’m not too far from the hole.

All right, so we got this one a little bit long. I got, I don’t know, six or eight feet of green to work with here. A lot of times when you’re watching golf on TV, you’ll see the pros chip from here. You ain’t a pro. You probably got a job. They practice this all day long. Use a putter. There’s no shame in it. No problem there. Easy par. Got a little too aggressive with that third shot. Beautiful hole, solid par. I’m good!

Davis Love kept me honest on this hole, but enough of that, we’re off to the next Barefoot stop and it’s time to go shark hunting! Who’s with me?

Miss an Episode? Just Click the Links Below to Catch Up!

Episode 15: Barefoot-Fazio

Episode 14: Arcadian Shores

Episode 13: Blackmoor

Episode 12: Wachesaw Plantation East

Episode 11: Willbrook

Episode 10: Tradition Club

Episode 9: TPC Myrtle Beach

Episode 8: River Club

Episode 7: Litchfield Country Club

Episode 6: Caledonia

Episode 5: True Blue

Episode 4: Pawleys Plantation

Episode 3: Founders Club at Pawleys Island

Episode 2: Heritage Club

Episode 1: Wedgefield Country Club

Series Trailer