Myrtle Beach Golf Hole of the Week: No. 18 on the Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort

​Beginning with some of the biggest names in golf design, Barefoot has it all. The quartet of courses were designed by Tom Fazio, Davis Love III, Pete Dye and Greg Norman. Determining which course is “best” is largely a matter of opinion, as there is an argument to be made for each. 

The Fazio Course, which hosted the championship match of Big Break Myrtle Beach, has more than a few supporters. The design is superior and it rewards quality in every facet of the game. 

A round at the Fazio Course concludes with our Myrtle Beach golf hole of the week – the par 4 18th. Here is a closer look at hole that provides a fitting conclusion on one of Myrtle Beach’s best layouts. 

No. 18
Par 4
Yardage: Platinum tees – 453 yards, Black tees – 427 yards, White tees – 305 yards, Green tees – 292, Gold tees – 284 yards.
Handicap: 12

The most commonly played tees on the Fazio Course are the blacks, which stretch to 6,350 yards, so we will look at No. 18th from that perspective. 

The 18th hole plays 427 yards, and let’s get this out of the way: no matter what the scorecard says, it isn’t the 12th hardest hole on the course. The challenge is much more substantial. 

Water runs up the left side of the fairway so any tee shot that is pulled will almost certainly find a watery grave. 

So, what is a golfer to do? 

Success on No. 18 begins with a quality drive and a smart approach. A 250-yard tee shot leaves approximately 175 yards to the green, which is a substantial challenge for the average player. If you bomb your drive, hitting the green, which is flanked by bunkers on the left and mounding on the right, will require an outstanding approach. 

If, for whatever the reason, your drive leaves you 200 yards or more out, the recommendation here is to be smart. Play your second shot to the distance you are most comfortable with and try to chip up and one-putt for par. Worst scenario is you two-putt and walk away with bogey. 

More often than not, bogey will earn you at least a halve of the hole. 

The 18th on the Fazio Course is tough, but it’s an outstanding test and a good way to finish a memorable round.