Even among star-studded Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, the Fazio Course stands out

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- There is no universal favorite golf course at the star-studded Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C., host to designs by Davis Love III, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Tom Fazio.

A large number of golfers familiar with the Grand Strand agree, however, that Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is as good as any course in the area.

Fazio's Barefoot design is one of three designs he has on the beach, the other two being Wachesaw Plantation Club (private) and the TPC of Myrtle Beach, built with PGA Tour veteran Lanny Wadkins. As you'd expect with a Tom Fazio design, his Barefoot course is big, bold and plenty scenic.

Bunkers are plentiful - from waste bunkers spanning tee to green, to smaller clusters of steep-faced pots. The golf course features wide fairways on most holes, though this is a course that's anything but easy. Golfers must load up on the par-4, 499-yard fifth hole that plays uphill to boot, and all the par 5s feel like they go on forever.

Save some juice for the 18th hole, too: It's a par-4, 450-plus-yard hole that, on warm days, has a full gallery on the clubhouse porch watching the action.

Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 2

The par-4 second hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is a tight, dogleg left.

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Barefoot Resort - Fazio golf course - hole 3

No. 3 on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is a par 3 over water and plays 170 yards from the back tees.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 5

The fifth hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is a gargantuan par 4 - 499 yards uphill.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 6

The par-3 sixth hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is a 191-yard shot over water to a large green.

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Barefoot Resort - Fazio golf course - hole 8

The par-3 eighth hole at the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is 173 yards over wetlands.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 9

A massive waste bunker lines the right side of the par-4 ninth hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 11

The par-3 11th hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course is a 197-yard shot over water on the left side.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course - No. 14

No. 14 can be a deadly par 4 if you find the waste bunker lining the entire left-hand side of the hole at the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course.

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Barefoot Resort - Fazio golf course - hole 15

The short, par-4 15th hole plays 346 yards from the championship tees at the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course in Myrtle Beach - No. 16

The par-3 16th hole at the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course plays over marsh and waste and is 198 yards long.

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Barefoot Resort's Fazio golf course - No. 17

A collection of bunkers sit to the right of the par-4 17th hole at the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course.

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Barefoot Resort - Fazio golf course - hole hole

No. 18 is a stern finishing hole on the Barefoot Resort's Fazio Course: 453 yards long to an elevated green.

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Barefoot Resort clubhouse

The Barefoot Resort's clubhouse is one of the Grand Strand's finest, overlooking the 18th on the Fazio Course.

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