How To Conquer the Three Best Holes on the Love Course

Davis Love III burst onto the golf course architecture scene with his design at Barefoot Resort & Golf, crafting a layout that has been ranked among the nation’s top 100 public courses by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest.

The Love Course has been hailed for its strength throughout, but certain holes stand above, creating the type of memories and challenges that make a course great. We consulted Barefoot’s head pro, Mike Ross, for his thoughts on the Love Course’s three best holes and he gladly provided us a list of the best of the best.

– The 294-yard fourth hole is the shortest par 4 on the Myrtle Beach golf scene. It’s also one of its most fun to play. With the faux ruins of an old plantation home backstopping the green, the visuals are as dramatic as a player’s choices off the tee.

The green, which is only 265 yards from the white tees, is reachable for a significant number of players. But the collection areas and bunkers will punish errant drives.

“If you are comfortable with the driver, I see nothing wrong with challenging the green,” Ross said. “It’s obviously a risk-reward hole, but I always think of it as a birdie hole.”

– The 484-yard 13th hole is an outstanding par 5. The hole is framed beautifully with water on the right and a sandy waste area meandering up the left side. The 13th has a split fairway and drives to the narrower right side offer a better shot into the green, but greater risk off the tee.

“It’s reachable but you have a big bunker on the right side guarding the green and an undulating green,” Ross says. “Two real solid golf shots will give you a chance at birdie or even eagle, but you don’t want to go wayward on either of the first two because you could make a bigger number … Your options are varied but you have to execute.”

– The fourth and 13th holes reward creativity and execution, but another Ross favorite, the 15th, favors muscle. The 228-yard par 3 plays to an elevated green and presents one of the course’s most challenging tee shots. With a waste area on the right and sand on the left, margin for error is limited.

“The only bailout room is short,” Ross said. “You have to be accurate because there is little leeway. I enjoy the challenge. The most satisfying shots are the ones you can pull off.”

Mid to high handicappers can rest a little easier because the white tees play from a less demanding 154 yards.