Can You Conquer the Three Best Holes on the Norman Course?
The Norman Course at Barefoot Resort features four holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway and the design prowess of Greg Norman. It’s a highly regarded layout, a fixture on many South Carolina beach golf vacation itineraries, but what are the best of the best at the Norman Course?
We consulted with Barefoot head pro Mike Ross, who shared his list of the layout’s three best holes.
— One of the toughest holes on course is also one of Ross’ favorites. The sixth is a bear from the back (448 yards) and platinum tees (431 yards). It’s a much more manageable 339 yards from the whites (a message to Norman from all of us high handicappers: Thank You!), but it requires an accurate drive into one of the course’s tighter fairways. A large green awaits, but if you are playing from one of the two back sets of tees, a long approach will be required.
“It’s one of those holes if you play it well and hit two good shots and come away with birdie or par, it’s as satisfying as it gets,” Ross said.
— The 568-yard, par 5 ninth hole was a no-brainer. From the tee it plays to a slightly elevated fairway and finishes downhill into a green protected in the front by a hazard and framed by bunkers.
This is typically a three-shot hole, unless your name is DJ, Tiger or Bubba, but for the brave souls who go for it in two, the hazard requires you to carry the ball to the green. It’s best to play it smart, leaving a wedge into a green that tilts from back to front.
“I just love the hole,” Ross said. “It’s very pretty and it has a lot of character.”
— The 203-yard 10th hole is one of the best and most scenic par 3s in Myrtle Beach. It plays from an elevated tee box and requires a dramatic shot down to a large green that saddles up to the Intracoastal Waterway.
The 10th plays just 135 yards from the white tees, but wind is a significant factor in how the hole plays.
“You probably hit, depending on weather conditions, anything from a 5 iron to a wedge,” Ross said. “Weather conditions are paramount and they change almost every time you play the hole … It’s the one hole most people remember. It’s a beautiful tee shot.”
What are your favorite holes on the Norman Course?
