Your search results

September 3, 2026

Barefoot Resort Norman Course: North Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation Guide

Published on September 3, 2026 by Lenore

Seven holes along the Intracoastal Waterway make the Barefoot Resort Norman Course one of the most scenic golf experiences at Barefoot Resort.

Official Barefoot Resort Norman Course website

Designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman, the par-72 course stretches to 7,008 yards from the Platinum tees. However, golfers shouldn’t assume this is the most difficult of Barefoot Resort’s four championship layouts.

In fact, Barefoot describes Norman as the most golfer-friendly of its four courses.

Generous fairways and spacious landing areas give golfers room to play. Meanwhile, sandy waste areas, strategic bunkering and water create enough trouble to keep the round interesting.

The setting is another reason to play it.

With seven holes bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, the Norman Course gives visiting golfers a distinctly coastal South Carolina experience without requiring them to travel far from the beaches, restaurants and entertainment of North Myrtle Beach.

Here’s what you should know before adding it to your Myrtle Beach golf trip.

About the Barefoot Resort Norman Course

Greg Norman designed the course around the natural features of the property.

Rather than dramatically reshaping the landscape, the layout incorporates mature trees, native vegetation, wetlands and the Intracoastal Waterway.

The result is a course that feels open in places while still requiring smart decisions.

Large sandy waste areas are one of its most recognizable design features. Inspired by landscapes of the Southwest, these areas blend into the fairways and create a look that separates Norman from the other Barefoot courses.

Strategically placed bunkers add another challenge.

Many feature the sloping white faces associated with Norman’s design style. Therefore, even though the fairways may give you room, the correct position still matters.

The greens use Champion UltraDwarf grass and are generally open enough to encourage aggressive approaches when you’ve put your drive in the right place.

What Is It Like to Play the Norman Course?

Norman is a good example of why “golfer-friendly” shouldn’t be confused with easy.

You have room to hit driver.

However, simply finding the fairway doesn’t guarantee an easy next shot.

Angles matter. Bunkers matter. Your position relative to the green matters.

In addition, the sandy waste areas can quickly turn a small mistake into a more complicated recovery.

Still, the Norman Course can be an appealing choice for a group with mixed handicaps.

Lower-handicap golfers have opportunities to think strategically and attack. Meanwhile, recreational golfers aren’t staring down narrow corridors on every tee.

That balance makes Norman especially attractive for a vacation round.

Seven Holes Along the Intracoastal Waterway

The defining feature of the Norman Course is its relationship with the Intracoastal Waterway.

Seven holes stretch alongside the water.

As a result, the course offers some of the most memorable waterway views among the four Barefoot layouts.

Boats may pass while you’re playing. Native vegetation frames the shoreline, and the water adds a distinctly North Myrtle Beach backdrop to the round.

Don’t let the scenery completely distract you, though.

Eventually, someone in your foursome still has to hit the golf ball.

Choose the Right Tees

The Norman Course offers five sets of tees, giving golfers a substantial range of playing distances.

From the Platinum tees, the course measures 7,008 yards with a rating of 74.2 and a slope of 141.

The Black tees play 6,520 yards.

From there, golfers can move forward to 5,874 yards, 5,348 yards or 4,831 yards.

Consequently, groups with different handicaps don’t have to play the same distance to enjoy the same course.

Choose the tees that fit your game.

A vacation is a strange time to suddenly decide you need to prove something from 7,000 yards.

Is the Barefoot Norman Course Open to the Public?

Yes.

The Norman Course is available for public play.

Official Barefoot Resort tee-time page

You don’t have to stay at Barefoot Resort to book a tee time. Therefore, golfers staying in vacation rentals throughout North Myrtle Beach can include Norman in a larger Grand Strand itinerary.

Spring and fall are especially popular golf seasons in the Myrtle Beach area. Booking your priority tee times before the trip is a good idea.

Where Is the Barefoot Resort Norman Course?

The Norman Course is part of Barefoot Resort & Golf at:

4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Road
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

The Norman, Love and Fazio courses share the Resort Clubhouse area. The Dye Course is located separately within the Dye Estates.

Barefoot’s location makes it convenient for golfers staying in North Myrtle Beach, Windy Hill and surrounding areas.

You’re also close to the beach, Barefoot Landing and the Intracoastal Waterway.

That combination is one of the biggest advantages of building a golf vacation around Barefoot.

Where to Stay Near the Barefoot Norman Course

If you’re playing several Barefoot courses, staying nearby can save your group a lot of unnecessary driving.

North Myrtle Beach and Windy Hill are especially convenient.

Sea La Vie Villa 3BD Beach Retreat | fence yard

Shady Rest Too: Private Pool, Pet Friendly + Golf Cart Privileges in North Myrtle Beach

A vacation rental can also work particularly well for golf groups.

Instead of separating everyone into hotel rooms, the group can have shared living space while still having individual bedrooms.

Depending on the property, you may also have:

Multiple bathrooms
Full kitchen
Washer and dryer
Parking
Balcony or outdoor space
Room for golf clubs and luggage
Easy access to restaurants and nightlife
Beach access

Think carefully about the sleeping arrangements before booking.

“Sleeps eight” and “comfortably sleeps four adult golfers” can mean two very different things.

The same goes for bathrooms.

If four golfers need to leave for an early tee time, that second bathroom can suddenly become one of the most important amenities in the house.

Through VRMB Owner Direct, travelers can browse Grand Strand vacation rentals and connect directly with the local owners and managers behind those properties.

VRMB Owner Direct North Myrtle Beach/Windy Hill properties

Why Windy Hill Is a Good Base for a Barefoot Golf Trip

Windy Hill gives golfers an excellent combination of beach and golf access.

Barefoot Resort is nearby. At the same time, your group can stay close to the Atlantic Ocean.

Therefore, you don’t have to sacrifice the Myrtle Beach part of the vacation just because you’re here to golf.

Play early.

Head back to the rental.

Spend the afternoon on the beach.

Then, meet everyone for dinner.

Windy Hill can also work well for trips that include spouses or family members who aren’t golfing every day.

While you’re playing Norman, they have plenty of other ways to enjoy North Myrtle Beach.

Which Barefoot Resort Course Should You Play?

Now that we’ve covered all four, the differences become much easier to see.

Norman Course

Choose Norman if your group wants generous fairways, Intracoastal Waterway scenery and a course that can accommodate different skill levels.

Love Course

Choose Love for generous landing areas combined with challenging green complexes and the course’s distinctive recreated ruins.

VRMB Barefoot Resort Love Course Guide

Fazio Course

Choose Fazio if you enjoy natural scenery, strategic positioning, bunkering and a more traditional championship golf experience.

VRMB Barefoot Resort Fazio Course Guide

Dye Course

Choose Dye if you want the most demanding of the four Barefoot experiences, complete with Pete Dye’s visual intimidation, strategic bunkering and risk-reward decisions.

VRMB Barefoot Resort Dye Course Guide

Of course, there’s an easier answer.

Play all four.

Where to Eat After Playing the Norman Course

Golf and dinner should require very different levels of concentration.

Fortunately, you have plenty of choices nearby.

Putters Pub

The easiest option is Putters Pub at the Resort Clubhouse.

It serves golfers playing the Norman, Love and Fazio courses, making it convenient for a drink or bite immediately after your round.

Official Barefoot Resort Putters Pub/Resort Clubhouse page

If your group has another tee time the following morning, convenience may win.

Flying Fish Public Market & Grill

For seafood and waterfront dining, head across the area to Flying Fish Public Market & Grill at Barefoot Landing.

Official Flying Fish website

The restaurant serves seafood and sushi in a casual waterfront setting.

Afterward, your group can walk around Barefoot Landing rather than immediately heading back to the rental.

Umberto’s

A long day on the golf course can make Italian food sound particularly good.

Umberto’s at Barefoot Landing serves Italian dishes along with steaks, chops and seafood.

Official Umberto’s website

It’s a good option when the group wants a substantial dinner after the round.

Boardwalk Billy’s

For something local and on the water, head to Boardwalk Billy’s at Doc Holidays Marina.

Official Boardwalk Billy’s website

This locally owned North Myrtle Beach restaurant sits along the Intracoastal Waterway and offers a casual atmosphere, seafood, burgers, sushi and live entertainment.

It’s also a chance to get away from the resort area and experience another side of North Myrtle Beach.

What to Do Near the Norman Course Besides Golf

One advantage of staying near Barefoot is that you don’t have to create a complicated itinerary for the hours you’re not golfing.

There’s plenty nearby.

Spend an Evening at Local on the Water

For an evening along the Intracoastal Waterway, check out Local on the Water.

Official Local on the Water website

The North Myrtle Beach waterfront venue combines dining, drinks and live entertainment.

Check the music schedule before your trip. Depending on the night, dinner can easily turn into an entire evening by the water.

After spending the morning playing alongside the Intracoastal Waterway at Norman, it’s a fitting way to finish the day.

Explore Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing offers restaurants, shopping and entertainment along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Official Barefoot Landing website

Because everything is concentrated in one area, groups don’t need much of a plan.

Walk around, find somewhere to eat and see where the evening takes you.

Catch a Concert at House of Blues

House of Blues Myrtle Beach hosts concerts and other live entertainment throughout the year.

Official House of Blues Myrtle Beach website

Check the schedule before traveling. If a band you like is playing during your golf trip, you’ve already solved one night’s entertainment.

Spend the Afternoon on the Beach

The Atlantic Ocean is only part of the reason golfers have been coming to the Grand Strand for generations.

However, it’s a pretty good reason.

An early tee time can leave plenty of time for an afternoon on the beach.

For mixed groups, this also gives non-golfers something to enjoy while you’re on the course.

Get Out on the Water

After looking at the Intracoastal Waterway for 18 holes, you may decide you want to get on it.

Fishing charters, boat trips and other water activities are available throughout the North Myrtle Beach area.

Official Destination North Myrtle Beach visitor information

Consider using a non-golf day for the water, especially if your itinerary already includes three or four rounds.

Other Golf Courses Near the Norman Course

Barefoot Resort gives you three obvious choices without leaving the property.

Start with Love, Fazio and Dye.

VRMB Barefoot Resort Love Course Guide

VRMB Barefoot Resort Fazio Course Guide

VRMB Barefoot Resort Dye Course Guide

Then, head north toward Cherry Grove for Tidewater Golf Club.

Its tidal marsh setting creates a completely different Lowcountry golf experience.

VRMB Tidewater Golf Club Guide

With those five courses alone, you already have the foundation for an excellent North Myrtle Beach golf vacation.

Build a Four-Day Barefoot Golf Trip

Here’s one way to structure the trip without spending the entire vacation driving.

Arrival Day: Check into your North Myrtle Beach or Windy Hill vacation rental. Then, spend the evening at Barefoot Landing.

Day One: Start with Norman. Its more golfer-friendly design can be a good introduction to Barefoot Resort.

Day Two: Play Love and compare its green complexes with Norman’s more open approach.

Day Three: Take on Fazio. Afterward, spend the evening at Local on the Water.

Day Four: Finish with Dye and find out how much confidence you have left.

If you have another golf day, head north to Tidewater.

Better yet, consider taking a day off somewhere in the middle.

The beach isn’t going anywhere.

Is the Barefoot Resort Norman Course Worth Playing?

Yes, particularly for groups that want a championship golf experience without choosing the most punishing course at Barefoot Resort.

The generous fairways make Norman approachable. Meanwhile, strategic bunkering, sandy waste areas and thoughtful angles keep better golfers engaged.

Then there’s the scenery.

Seven holes bordering the Intracoastal Waterway give the course an identity that’s difficult to confuse with the other Barefoot layouts.

For groups with mixed handicaps, Norman may also be one of the easiest Barefoot courses to agree on.

Everyone gets to play a championship course.

Not everyone has to suffer equally.

Planning a North Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation?

Choose your courses first.

Then, find a place to stay that makes the entire itinerary easier.

If you’re playing Norman, Love, Fazio and Dye, North Myrtle Beach and Windy Hill can provide a convenient home base near Barefoot Resort, restaurants, entertainment and the beach.

VRMB Owner Direct connects visitors with Grand Strand vacation rentals and directly with the local owners and managers behind those properties.