The Player’s Digest: The Love Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf

The Player’s Digest is back! PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com’s David Williams takes us on an aerial tour of one of Barefoot Resort & Golf’s most requested tracks, the Love Course, where architect Davis Love III sets the course for adventure – and your mind on a new golf romance!

By David Williams

Barefoot Resort & Golf is home to four championship golf courses. The Dye, Norman, Fazio, and Love course are all unique in their own way.

The Love Course was built by Davis Love III and is one of the most popular courses in town. When I ask people what their favorite course at Barefoot is, it’s always “the Love Course, hands down.”

One thing you’ll notice throughout the video is the size of the greens. Accurate approach shots are the name of the game when you play here.

The first hole is a middle of the road par 4 with a raised green. The miss here is short right. Anything will leave you looking straight up at the green, or in a hazard.

Probably the most famous hole on the Love Course is the drivable 4th. Only playing 294 yards from the back, almost everyone gives this one a run. If you want to layup off the tee, make sure you avoid the lone fairway bunker on the right. No matter what you do off the tee, do whatever you have to do to avoid the heart shaped bunker and ruins that surround the green.

The number 1 handicap hole on the entire course is the mammoth 5th hole. This par 4 plays at 400 or more yards from every tee except the gold. Tee shots need to be down the left side in order to have a clear shot to the green. A couple catch basins surround this small, elevated green.

You get another look at the ruins when you get to the green on the 6th hole.

The 9th hole is a long par 3 with a forced carry, but not to worry. There is a ton of room to miss around this small green.

The 10th is a favorite of mine. It’s not overly long and you can get away with a long iron or hybrid off the tee. If you want to get aggressive you take 3-wood or driver and leave yourself a much easier second shot.

The 11th is just a flip wedge to a green that seems like it’s the size of a penny. It’s a fun chance for an ace.

The 13th is where the golf course gets really fun, in my opinion. Playing less than 500 yards, this par 5 is perfect start to this stretch. Tee shots up the left are safe, but leave a longer shot. If you take on more of the creek you can leave yourself a shorter shot in. (I made birdie here last time. Not to brag or anything. Please don’t turn the video off.)

The 14th is my favorite hole on the course. You ever just want to stand on a tee box and decide to send driver or something? Yeah, me too. If you do that here, make sure you send it right over the middle of that bunker. This will prevent you from ending up in the waste area near the path. On the approach, unless you’re comfortable chipping off tight lies like me, don’t end up here.

No. 16 leaves you two options off the tee. It all depends on where the pin is. If you want to leave it up the right, avoid the water (Great advice David!).

No. 18 is a brute of a par 5 that will more than likely require three shots. The third shot will require some extra attention. I know most of you don’t miss wedge shots, but if you do, miss right and short.

The Love Course at Barefoot Resort can be summed up in one word for me: lovely (See what I did there?), Make sure you play here on your next Myrtle Beach golf trip!