Dye Course at Barefoot Resort Delivers a Top 100 Experience

October 26, 2010

In addition to his reputation as one of the game’s towering architectural figures, Dye is known for the difficulty of his golf courses. The reputation is well deserved and the Dye Course at Barefoot Resort is certainly a challenge, but it is very playable, especially if you choose the right set of tees.

The Dye Course challenges players to believe as much in their swing as they do their eyes. The mounds and fairway bunkers appear to leave little place to drive the ball, but that’s just perception.

“Each hole is framed in that respect,” head pro Jeff Diehl said. “Waste bunkers on one side, high mounds on the other and then its reversed coming back in … You could set out there with a canvas and paint (with the way the holes are framed).”

One thing golfers have to do is identify their sight lines, because of the perceptions created by the mounding. Once a player identifies those sight lines, the course is a pleasure.

The layout’s visuals are stunning. The sixth, ninth, 10th, 15th and 18th holes all standout amidst an impressive lineup.

The 18th is among Myrtle Beach’s best finishing holes. Measuring 415 yards from the member tees and 368 from the whites, No. 18 plays into the prevailing wind and water runs along the left side from tee to green. With the clubhouse veranda serving as the backdrop, it’s a fitting end to a top 100 round of golf.

The Dye Course, a links style design, has over 200 bunkers and players shouldn’t enter the large waste areas expecting to find perfectly maintained sand. The course was designed with the Scottish coast in mind and the waste bunkers have that raw feel. The sand is packed with sea shells and other naturally occurring fragments. The upside for players is that it’s relatively easy to play from and it’s not difficult to spin the ball out of the waste bunkers.

The golf course has L93 bentgrass greens that feature subtle undulation and typically give players a variety of options. Despite the summer heat, the course’s greens are in superb condition as the heart of the fall season arrives.

The Verdict: The Dye Course at Barefoot Resort is a superior design. The course challenges everyone who plays, but it’s not overwhelming. Players that find their sight lines and trust their swing will have a good day. The mounding and waste bunkers conspire to create a course that is memorable from a visual and playability standpoint.

If you play the Dye Course once, you will want to return, just ask Darius Rucker and the guys from Hootie & The Blowfish.It's one of the best course in Myrtle Beach and the nation.