Review: Barefoot Resort - Dye Course (Part 2)

It's time to take a look at the back nine at Barefoot Resort's Dye course, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is a short par 4 that, at 315 yards, the longest hitters of the world could probably have a go at. However, I'm not sure that's the smartest move in the world, and actually I think driver in general to get close isn't the greatest idea. For one thing, the water that runs down the entire left side is absolutely a big threat. Also, the green is elevated and angled almost perpendicular to the fairway, meaning the further right you go, the more green you'll have to work with. Half wedges from 50 yards short are going to be really tough to keep close to the hole and may even run over the green into a less than prime position. Chipping uphill from a fairway lie is tricky even for professionals. An iron or fairway wood aimed down the right side of the fairway takes the pond mostly out of play, and it also gives a better angle. That's the smart thing to do here, in my opinion.

The tenth hole.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is about 400 yards, and like the seventh has a long waste bunker running down the entirety of the right side. This hole's much flatter though, so I prefer the seventh. However, the bunker here functions in a manner similar to a Cape hole, in that the more of it you carry, the shorter your second shot will be. If you have a wedge in, the approach to the green, protected by three bunkers, isn't that tough, but if you've got a mid iron in, it's decidedly less easy.

The eleventh hole.

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is another sprawling par 5 in the same vein as the fifth, though at just under 500 yards it's much more reachable. From the tee, it really doesn't look like there's much fairway out there, just a big mound of bunkers right and more mounding left (plus a couple of volcano bunkers in the distance). That's an illusion though, this fairway's actually one of the widest on the course. Ideally, you'll aim your drive over the biggest bunker on the right; this'll give you the best angle to go for the green in two. The second shot is a long iron or wood to a fairly open green, only protected by a small pot bunker to the left. So long as you avoid the mounding right, this is a good opportunity for a birdie.

The twelfth hole.

Approaching the twelfth green.

The twelfth green.

The thirteen hole is a relatively short and straightaway par 4, playing 350 yards. There's a big bunker left of the fairway, the only one on the hole. While you do have a better angle into the green from the left side, close to the bunker, the only defense the green offers is a bit of elevation, and this is a pretty flat green as well. Not the most exciting hole in the world, but it's nice to have breather holes on occasion.

The thirteenth hole.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is a long par 4 at 430 yards, and like the seventh, it also has a massive bunker running down one side of the hole, though this time it's on the left. The fairway is pretty wide at first, but a couple of bunkers on the right side narrow things down roughly where a driver would end up. Some might be tempted to lay back, but since the hole's pretty long, you'll have an even longer second shot. The green is nestled among some bumps and hollows, and there are several bunkers surrounding it, so it's a tough approach no matter what, but especially if you're 200 yards away.

The fourteenth hole.

Approaching the fourteenth green.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole doesn't have the exact Redan green, but this is basically a Redan, but one on the longer end, since it's just over 200 yards. In between you and the very narrow, sloping green are many deep bunkers. Go in them, and you won't be able to see the green or flag at all; I know that from experience. The play here is a gentle draw aimed at the right side of the green. This is not a hole to get aggressive on, because it will fight back, and it's very capable of doing so.

The fifteenth hole.

The sixteenth hole is the final par 5 on the Dye course, and it's on the longer side at 525 yards, so not really reachable unless you're a long hitter. The tee shot's a bit unusual in that there's trees on both sides, and while there's plenty of distance between them, the mere fact that they're there may be enough to make the golfer (i.e., me) feel a bit claustrophobic and snap hook a driver into them. For most, the long fairway bunker right is more of a concern off of the tee. The fairway is pinched by sand about 75 yards from the green, right where many golfers would lay up, so you either need to make the carry or accept that you'll have a full wedge into the green, which is flat but has bunkers protecting it on both the left and right sides.

The sixteenth hole.

Approaching the sixteenth green.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is a medium-length par 3, which isn't a big surprise for a Pete Dye course, but it's definitely not a seventeenth at Sawgrass situation. There is a hazard in the form of a marshy area around the right and back of the green, but it's not the most threatening thing in the world, and you could definitely play out of it. What's more interesting is the rather freeform nature of the green, which is amoeba shaped and protected by three small bunkers. Considering most of the other greens here are small and pretty simple in shape, this one sticks out.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is the classic long par 4 with water all along one side. I'm not a fan of it, but it's a staple for Pete Dye courses, so it's something you have to live with. The strategy is pretty straightforward: The closer the drive comes to the lake, the shorter the second shot will be, and you'll have a better angle. Bail out right and you'll have a longer iron over a small bunker protecting the right section of the green. 

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

Overall, I would say that Barefoot is a clearly superior course to Bulle Rock, which is kind of weird if you think about it. Barefoot is entirely manufactured, whereas Bulle Rock had the advantage of typical Mid-Atlantic rolling terrain. Then again, many of Pete Dye's most famous golf courses were carved out of essentially featureless terrain, so he clearly had a gift for it. What I especially liked about this course is how there really isn't that much water. Oh sure, the ponds would be around, that's just a fact of life for Myrtle Beach, but they only come into play on five holes, which really isn't too bad.

What really elevated this course into the next level for me was the greens. They were small most of the way through, but there was some artistry to them, which I didn't get a sense of at Bulle Rock. They did their job well without being too extreme. I also liked the general aesthetic of the course, it reminded me a bit of Royal New Kent in that regard but without the rather forced comparison with Irish links. 

While I did enjoy the course a lot (though it falls just outside my personal top 10 as of May 2021), there is a stumbling block: the price. On the cheapest day they had, it cost $130 to play here, and that is an awful lot of money for a course that's good but not great. I'd put Royal New Kent just ahead of it, and that's less, plus you get a much more of a unique experience while staying in the same general modern style of design.

With that, we come to the end of this little Southern excursion. It's unfortunate that the weather was uncooperative the whole week, and that the threat of rain canceled our last round, because now my brothers and I have to go back to finish what we started. It may not be for a while, but Myrtle Beach will be back.