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. 

Review: Barefoot Resort - Dye Course (Part 1)

We return to Myrtle Beach itself for the third and final course in this little South Carolina foray, though that wasn't a decision made willingly. As you may have noticed, the weather was less than ideal the whole time we were there, and our fourth round (at the Legends-Heathland, an early Tom Doak design) got canceled because of the threat of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms which never came, I might add. So now my brothers and I have to go back to play there and to hit the two Mike Strantz courses in the area. So there's something to look forward to in the not particularly near future.

Anyway, Barefoot Resort. Specifically, the Dye course there. My previous Pete Dye experience at Bulle Rock was a bit of a mixed bag; the course was okay, but it hardly seemed worthy of Pete Dye's reputation. I wasn't expecting to play another Pete Dye golf course so soon, but here we are, at the Dye course at Barefoot Resort. This is also not one of his better known courses, in fact, I would say Bulle Rock is more famous, since that course held a professional golf tournament. This course is just one of dozens of Myrtle Beach golf courses, and just one of four courses at the Barefoot Resort, which also features courses by Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, and Davis Love III (I use the word "by" incredibly loosely). That's pretty low-key, compared with most other Pete Dye courses, which usually have no problem announcing their existence. Was there a good reason this course goes under the radar, comparatively speaking? Let's find out. 

Since the very back tees stretch past 7,300 yards, we'll be using the next tee up, which makes the first hole a 375 yards par 4. It's not the easiest opening hole, though it isn't a long one; the fairway is very well defended by bunkers right and a sandy waste area left. You'll be tempted to aim away from the waste area because it's more threatening then the far bunkers, but the second shot is easier from the left side of the fairway since the green is protected by a big bunker short and right. There's also a decent amount of fairway left of the green, which is small and fairly undulating considering the size.

The first hole. It felt a bit awkward taking a picture from the tee while there were ten strangers standing around, but you're not missing anything spectacular.

The first green.

The second hole is a fairly short par 4 at 350 yards that plays over a marshy area and a long waste area to a fairway that swings right. If you play out to the left, the drive will be easier, but the second shot will be tougher, since the green is narrower from that angle and there's a big bunker short and left. Hit your drive right, challenging the marsh and waste area, and you'll have a much better angle. Once again, the green is not large but it's got quite a bit of undulation, so two putts aren't easy.

The second hole.

The second green.

The third hole is a par 3 that's not quite short, but at 165 yards it's definitely not long. The big hazard on this hole is the large bunker left of the green, but something less obvious is a noticeable bump taking up real estate in the back middle portion of the green. When the flag is in the back, that bump is absolutely going to make putts tricky if you're not right next to the hole. You can birdie this hole, but you can quite easily three putt it as well.

The third hole.

The third green.

The fourth hole is another fairly short par 4, but this is the end to this course's mild start. The massive waste bunker right of the fairway is something you want to avoid, but you'll also want to flirt with it to get the best angle into the green. The second shot will hopefully be a wedge to a small green (which feels tiny considering it's surrounded by a lot of fairway) with a single tiny pot bunker protecting the left front section of the green. 

The fourth hole.

The fourth green.

The fifth hole is where things start to get really Pete Dye like. This is a massive par 5 in every sense of the word, sprawling over 565 yards across the landscape, making it Barefoot - Dye's longest hole. There are bunkers and mounds galore, so I hope you got off to a good start. If you have to favor a side on the drive, I'd say go left, since on the off chance you can go for the green in two, the angle will be slightly better. For most golfers though, it's more important to hit the fairway, because if you don't, it'll make the lay-up tricky. The fairway is pinched about 100 yards from the green by two clusters of bunkers, so if you don't get into a good position on the drive, you'll probably have to lay back further than you'd like. The green is only protected by one bunker to the right, but it's big and very deep, since the green is elevated. It's not the toughest hole on the course, but it's pretty sturdy for a par 5.

The fifth hole.

The fifth green.

The sixth hole is the classic Pete Dye par 3 with a pond just a few feet from the green. Bulle Rock had one, and so does this, though I think this one is ever so slightly easier. The penalty for bailing out left is slightly less here, and the pond is limited to the right, so you don't have to carry it at all. That said, there are a number of pot bunkers all along the left side, and if there's a shot to stress you out, it's probably a downhill bunker shot to a narrowish green with water just beyond. 

The sixth hole.

The sixth green.

The seventh hole isn't quite the longest par 4 at the Dye course from the tips, but it is from the next set up, playing 435 yards. And it is quite a hole as well, probably my favorite here. The fairway rolls and tumbles over thoroughly artificial yet still compelling terrain, and there's a waste bunker of massive proportions running along the entire right side. On the left, there are several bunkers scattered around which pale in comparison with the one on the other side. If you do hit the undulating fairway, you'll have a short or mid iron slightly uphill off of an uneven lie to the green, which is perched high above the big waste bunker. You really don't want to be over there. Left isn't much better though, since there are more small bunkers over there. 

The seventh hole.

Approaching the seventh green.

The seventh green.

The eighth hole is a short par 5 that's only 485 yards, so it's definitely a hole that many golfers can reach in two. The hole bends right at first, so in order to have the best shot at the green, you'll need to hit a fade around a big bunker. Then you need to hit a draw around a pond to have the best shot at holding the green. Laying up here is a tricky prospect too, since there's a Principal's Nose group of bunkers about 20-30 yards short of the green, right where the fairway is at its widest point. The lay-up area is all surrounded by sand too, so really, if you can go for the green, I'd say you should. There's not really a distinctly better choice, though you can at least make sure you don't go in the water.

The eighth hole.

Approaching the eighth green.

A bit short of the green.

The eighth green.

The ninth hole is a classic Pete Dye finisher: the long par 4 with water in play. Yes, I know it's only the ninth, but it applies here. You can take the water a bit out of play if you aim the drive close to the big bunker left; bailing out right will mean a long second shot over the pond. It's a decent enough hole, if nothing revolutionary. It is worth mentioning that approach shots hit a bit left of the green will bounce off the mounding and come back down onto the green, so that's nice.

The ninth hole.

Approaching the ninth green.

The ninth green.

That's it for this week, next week we'll check out the back nine.

Review: Bulle Rock Golf Club (Part 2)

It's time to take a look at Bulle Rock's back nine, go here to see the front.

The tenth hole is a very wide hole, measuring about 370 yards. The ideal drive, in my opinion, is a fairway wood out to the right, avoiding the bunkers down the left side. Sure, it lengthens the hole a bit, but this isn't a long hole, so it's a difference between a sand wedge and, say, a pitching wedge. The green has the usual bunker protection and there is a fair amount of undulation, but nothing crazy.

The tenth hole.

The tenth green.

The eleventh hole is, by any definition of the word, a brute. From the tips, it's 665 yards, and from the golds it's still 625 yards. That is a lot of golf to cover in one hole. To make matters even more fun, it was playing into a fairly stiff breeze the day we were there. It's not a tough tee shot, and the fairway is pretty wide, but there are quite a few bunkers around so it's not a case of being able to blast away without worry. A series of small bunkers narrows the fairway about 175 yards from the green, and if you don't hit a good drive, they're definitely a concern. There's a big cluster of bunkers right of the green that extends about 75 yards into the fairway, plus a few bunkers left, so if you are a long hitter, it's probably still best to lay up about 100 yards away. No need to leave yourself a 50 yard bunker shot. The green is pretty big and a bit deceiving, since it looks like there's a pond right behind it. In reality, the water is 50 yards away and is nothing to worry about. Yes, I got fooled and ended up in one of the greenside bunkers because I didn't want to go in the water.

The ridiculously long eleventh hole.

Approaching the eleventh green. 

The eleventh green.

The twelfth hole is the sort of par 3 you expect to see at a Pete Dye course. The pond is just a few feet from the right edge of the green, and yes, it's got railroad ties. Clearly, you'll want to avoid the water, but there are three bunkers left that make it a less palatable spot to bail out. The green is not large and fairly flat, so that's something at least. This is just one of those par 3s where you hit the green, or you risk making a big number.

The twelfth hole. Note the pond shored up by railroad ties.

The twelfth green.

The thirteenth hole is, in my opinion, the best hole at Bulle Rock. Yes, it is the longest par 4 from the gold tees, playing a not-at-all-friendly 462 yards. The hole doglegs right around a small ravine filled with jungle and a stream at the bottom. You can play away from that, but that turns the hole into a par 5 (though that's not the worst way to play the hole, it must be said). If you keep your drive close to the ravine, you'll have a mid to long iron into the green, which is not big and is guarded by a big bunker left and a few smaller ones right, not to mention the ravine further right. You even get to hit over a rock outcropping on the second shot, so there are all sorts of hazards available on the thirteenth. A fade aimed at the left bunker is the ideal shot here, since the green is tilted from left to right. This is a very tough hole, but it's not excessive, and there's room to breathe if you're not so keen on challenging hazards. The fairway even widens out 50-100 yards from the green so you can lay up without worry.

The thirteenth hole.

The thirteenth green.

The fourteenth hole is 100 yards shorter than the previous hole and much friendlier. Most golfers will take the fairway out to the left, leaving a wedge or short iron into the green. However, the cluster of bunkers right of the fairway can be cleared if you can carry a driver about 300 yards. That leaves just a little half wedge in, and the angle is better too. For most, however, the second shot will be from the left to a pretty small green with a bit of a hump in the middle. 

Not much to see on the fourteenth tee.

A little more of the fourteenth hole.

The fourteenth green.

The fifteenth hole is a bit out of position; usually Pete Dye has his short gambling par 5 as the sixteenth hole. The task on the tee shot is fairly simple: the closer you get to the stream running to the left of the fairway, the better angle and shorter second shot you'll have. Miss wide right like I did and it becomes a struggle even to carry the stream over to the second half of the hole. If you're in a good position, you can go for the green in two. It's not an easy second shot, as the green is narrow and defended by the creek (and more railroad ties) just a few yards to the right. The green does have a fair amount of bumps and humps, so it isn't the easiest green to putt either. Even so, this is a very birdieable hole, though it's also one you can make a big number on. I can attest to that personally; if it hadn't been for the triple I made on this hole I might have broken 90.

The fifteenth hole. The lighting got a bit weird toward the end of the round.

Approaching the fifteenth green.

The fifteenth green, complete with railroad ties.

The sixteenth hole is a mid-length par 4 that plays downhill the whole way, so it practically plays 10-20 yards shorter than the 387 on the scorecard. It's a fairly wide fairway and the only trouble for most people is the pair of fairway bunkers right. If you're me, you'll manage to find a little stream in the left trees. The green is small and protected by a bunker right and four left, and there's a rise short that will kick run-up shots right, keeping them from reaching the green, which is incredibly annoying after you've hit a really good punch shot out of the trees.

The sixteenth hole.

The sixteenth green.

The seventeenth hole is 175 yards, plays uphill, and has some reverse Redan characteristics. A fade is definitely the shot to hit here, as it gives you a lot more green to work with, plus the slope will lead the ball closer. Go straight for the hole and the green is very shallow, and that front bunker is fairly intimidating. There are bunkers left though, and if you get caught up in the rough you'll have a downhill chip to a green sloping away. Not an easy hole, but at least it's not an island green.

The seventeenth hole.

The seventeenth green.

The eighteenth hole is a classic Pete Dye finishing hole: a long par 4 with water running down one side. The fairway isn't overly generous, but it's not narrow, and there's plenty of room to miss right. Of course, doing that means getting to the green in two isn't guaranteed. The green isn't too big and has a fair amount of undulation to it; once again, you can bail out right so long as you don't go long, as the pond does curl around the back of the green. Not too much to say about this hole, it's a long, tough eighteenth hole, exactly what you'd expect. Not my favorite thing in the world but it hardly comes as a surprise.

The eighteenth hole.

Approaching the eighteenth green.

The eighteenth green.

I am obviously unfamiliar with Pete Dyes broader work, but nevertheless, I feel fairly confident in saying that Bulle Rock was not his best work. Was it bad? No, of course not. There was no hole that I thought: "Gee, this is dumb." Not even the 620 yard par 5, because that's more a product of me being stubborn and playing from too far back (though that hole is still just under 600 yards from the next set up). It's long, but it's wide. However, other than the second shot on 13, I didn't really feel like there were any standout holes. It was solid but unremarkable golf the whole way through. And compared with the reputations of his other designs, Bulle Rock lacked a lot of that Pete Dye je ne sais quoi. It didn't feel like a golf course a professional golfer would balk at. The greens especially were disappointing; again, not bad, but nothing memorable.

That brings us to the price. A round at Bulle Rock used to cost well over $100, but after the course was sold in 2017 (Bulle Rock and its associated housing community was supposedly losing six figures a year) to new owners the price dropped significantly. The most you'll pay now is $100, but that's still quite a lot. And you're not paying for pristine conditions either. Once again I'll say this: It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I was expecting more for the price point. Overall, I'd say that I'm glad I played it and if someone asked me to I'd go there again (and pay for it), but I'm in no hurry to do so, and I have no plans to go back. Once was enough for me.