Five Things You Need to Know About the Norman Course at Barefoot Resort

Greg Norman is one of the most popular players in golf history, winning 91 tournaments around the world and finishing seven years ranked No. 1 in the world.  The Great White Shark has been equally successful off the course, particularly in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he has opened a restaurant, golf academy and, most importantly, a golf course.

The Norman Course is one of the cornerstones at Barefoot Resort, which also features layouts designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Davis Love III. So what do you need to know about the Norman design before making it part of your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation?

1. Do not over-read break in the in greens! The No. 1 mistake players make at the Norman Course is seeing more break in a putt than there is. Movement in the greens tends to be subtle, so don’t stand over a putt trying to see something that isn’t there.

2. The Norman Course isn’t the typical modern design that forces you to fly the ball onto every green. The two-time major champion crafted greens complexes that allow you a variety of options. Chip the ball, run it up, flop shot – they are all available to you. Low handicappers love the creativity it encourages while high handicappers appreciate the margin for error it builds in.

3. The course presents a straightforward challenge. Your sightlines off the tee are good and there are no tricked up holes. The Norman course also offers the least amount of elevation change at Barefoot and as a result, you will typically enjoy flat lies throughout the round. It’s an exceedingly fair challenge.

4. The take-home visuals are provided by the four holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway. Norman made great use of the water, particularly on the par 3 10th hole, which plays from an elevated tee to a green that runs along the Intracoastal.  It one of the most dramatic holes in Myrtle Beach and all of South Carolina.

5. The challenge grows throughout the round so be prepared on the first tee. Norman gives you a chance to get off to a good start, as No. 1 is the easiest par 4 on the course, but by the time you get to the sixth hole, a daunting par 4, buckle up and enjoy a layout that offers a little bit of everything.