Of the four courses at the renowned Barefoot Resort and Golf in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Fazio Course is sometimes overlooked. The Dye Course draws most of the attention, and the other designs — Love, Norman and Fazio — can feel like the quieter siblings of a celebrated family. Yet the Fazio Course offers a distinct Lowcountry experience, combining natural beauty with thoughtful routing and strategic features.
Unlike many American layouts, the Fazio Course does not return to the clubhouse after the front nine. Instead it winds through a prized parcel of Lowcountry land filled with live oaks, pines, sand dunes and native sea grasses. Nestled between the Dye and Love courses, the Fazio makes use of the property’s natural elevation changes and scenic buffers to create a course that is both visually dramatic and thoughtfully challenging. The routing includes more than 100 soft bunkers, plenty of waste areas and several lakes that demand thoughtful shot selection.
The course is a par 71 and measures 6,834 yards from the back tees. Tees and fairways are planted with GN-1, a hybrid grass developed by Greg Norman Turf. Approach areas are Tif-Sport Bermuda, while the rough is 419 Bermuda—grass that tends to grasp the club and rewards a committed follow-through.
In 2009 a significant wildfire swept through parts of the resort, damaging trees and nearby homes. Although the landscape recovered, the course still bears marks of that event while remaining a favorite among golfers. My playing partners that day were Jimmy Sprat and Gerry Patrick.
Hole 1 | 390 yards, par 4
The opening hole bends right, with a large pond guarding the inside of the dogleg that most players can avoid but should respect. Tee shots pushed too far left can find trouble, and those on the right fringe risk trees and thick rough. The green sits elevated and is flanked by pines and live oaks, with bunkers ready to punish poorly judged approaches. A conservative tee shot that finds the fairway sets up the best angle into an elevated green.
Hole 2 | 458 yards, par 4
This is one of the most difficult holes on the course and is rated the No. 1 handicap. The fairway requires you to clear a marshy area off the tee, which can be intimidating. The hole plays as a long dogleg left, crowned toward the approach, so shots that drift left are likely to run off the putting surface. Accuracy and distance control are essential to avoid trees and stay in play.
Hole 4 | 548 yards, par 5
A true risk-and-reward par 5, this hole invites a big swing from the tee but punishes wayward shots with bunkers and waste areas. The fairway requires a carry over marsh to reach the primary landing areas, and bunkers line both sides. The terrain is relatively flat but includes numerous moguls and ledges around the landing zones. Planning each shot and choosing landing areas carefully will keep you out of the sand and in position for a birdie opportunity.
Hole 6 © Francis X. Gallagher
Hole 6 | 191 yards, par 3
A visually striking short par 3, the sixth features water right and left and a pond cutting across the front of the green. The green is elevated and two-tiered, adding complexity to club selection and putting. Staying dry off the tee is the priority; erring short or wide forces recovery shots that make par difficult.
Hole 13 | 379 yards, par 4
Hole 13 is memorable for its cross-fairway waste bunker and for the care required when navigating near it. The waste area cuts across the landing zone, and carts can get stuck if you try to shortcut across it. From the tee, aim short of the waste to leave a clear approach. Complicating matters, the hole features two greens that are alternated, so confirm the correct target before hitting your approach.
Hole 14 | 380 yards, par 4
Another hole that features marshland, this par 4 asks players to carry wetland off the tee while negotiating a left-turning dogleg. A waste bunker runs along the entire left side and wraps around the front of the green, making the left side of the hole especially unforgiving. Accurate tee shots and conservative approaches are rewarded; otherwise you can spend a lot of time in the sand.
Hole 16 | 198 yards, par 3
This is a bunker-heavy par 3 with water and waste on the right. The hole is picturesque and demanding—reaching the green leaves a good chance at a par, while missing short or right often means a delicate bunker recovery and a bogey. Club selection and a trusted swing are important here.
Hole 18 | 453 yards, par 4
The finishing hole is dramatic: a long tee shot must clear marsh to find the fairway while a lake hugs the left side the entire way to the green. Many well-struck shots that carry the left bank can take an unlucky bounce into the water. The green complex is guarded by multiple bunkers on both sides, and the left-side bunker is particularly penal. Play conservatively off the tee and aim for the safe landing areas to avoid a big number to close out your round.
The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort and Golf
4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Road
North Myrtle Beach
SC 29582
tel 843 361 3145
barefootgolf.com