Barefoot Landing Norman Course Review – South Carolina

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Barefoot Landing Norman Course
Grade: B+
Teacher’s Comments: A pleasant resort / development course.

The Greg Norman course at Barefoot Landing was my first introduction to South Carolina golf.  As with Michigan, there are so many golf options in South Carolina that the mind boggles. I read a lot of reviews and promotional materials and this is the one that got the nod. It didn’t hurt that it was pretty much across the street from where we were staying on the beach.

Several promises in the promotional literature caught my attention, and all were fulfilled in the round. Seven of the holes have views of the intracoastal waterway. The holes have a natural look to them, with vegetation growing in and about. And the large greens are set up bump and run shots—my favorite to play.

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While the Barefoot Landing Norman course was mostly flat, I enjoyed the different looks of the holes created by the waste areas and large bunkers. In that terrain, I think it would be easy for holes to acquire a certain sameness.

I will say that I was shocked when the guys I was grouped with—course regulars—drove their carts into what appeared to me to be an enormous bunker. It was my first introduction to that sort of waste area.

As probably befits a resort course, the Norman Course’s landing areas were wide and well behaved. Wayward tee shots are likely to find a waste area, but I found that was more annoyance than penalty. What hitting one typically meant for me was that after the second shot, I ended up with a little longer pitch to the green than I would have liked.

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The greens are quite large—averaging 6,300 square feet— so players should have plenty of opportunity to get on to use their flat sticks.

I think the bogey golfer will have a good time with Barefoot Landing Norman Course, and score well. This isn’t to say that it is easy—there’s plenty to wreck a round, but careful play for me was rewarded.

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The only negatives for me were the holes that passed through residential areas. I understand the economics that demand this, but I hate the encroachment of civilization on my golf courses.

The Norman Course has five sets of tees. From the back (Platinum) tees, it stretches to 7,035 yards and plays to a 73.9/136. That’s tough. The White tees are more reasonable, coming in at 5,718 and a 67.8/116.

Conditions on the day I played were fine. There were some dead areas, and some soggy areas, but I think that may just be the nature of golf in the area. I noticed the same thing at Dornoch. Most importantly, the greens were smooth.

 

There are so many courses in the Myrtle Beach area that if I were fortunate enough to get to return, I don’t know that I’d play the Norman again.

 

The Barefoot Landing Norman Course Review was first published July 24, 2013. Updates and more recent impressions are welcome in the comments.

3 thoughts on “Barefoot Landing Norman Course Review – South Carolina”

  1. Seems like a very ho-hum course. Looks like I wouldn’t mind playing it if someone invited me, but I’d definitely seek out somewhere else.

    Reply
    • Its far from ho hum and the Barefoot courses offer Love, Fazio and Dye designed courses. All unique and challenging. The Norman course is very scenic with wood lined holes, intercoastal waterway veiws. Lot to like and will challenge you in a way that awards smart play.

      Reply
  2. The writer pretty much nailed this course. I have a condo on the Norman course and its still as he describes it today. All the Barefoot courses are very nice and playable for a bogie golfer. There are many great courses on the Grand Stand and also plenty of average or below average courses as well. Lots of options for every level of golfer.

    Reply

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