Title: The Unforgotten Legacy: An Insight into “The Ruins” at The Fourth Hole of Barefoot Resort’s Love Course
Any golfer visiting Myrtle Beach is sure to have the Barefoot Resort & Golf on their radar. Boasting four signature golf courses designed by respected architects Davis Love III, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, it is a must-visit destination for golf aficionados. Today we delve into the intriguing story behind an iconic symbol of the resort — “The Ruins” on the fourth hole of the Love Course.
Constructed in 2000, the Davis Love III Course at Barefoot Resort stands as a testimony to modern architectural brilliance blended with respect to the area’s natural and historical essence. And nowhere is it more evident than in the notable interpretation of “The Ruins” on its fourth hole.
“The Ruins” are a tribute to South Carolina’s storied agricultural history. Replicating remnants of an old plantation home, Love’s desolate depiction pays homage to the state’s historical homes which succumbed to the ravages of time, but still command a certain respect in their ruinous nature.
Delving into the story of “The Ruins,” South Carolina was one of the major producers of rice and indigo in America during the 18th and 19th centuries, with these plantations often being palatial, elegantly structured homes. However, changes in the agricultural landscape and the atrocities of the Civil War led to their inevitable decay, leaving them in ruins across South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
The design for “The Ruins” on the fourth hole of Love Course started as a sketch on a rainy day. Love, who apart from being a world-class golfer has had a long career in golf course design, was looking to add a unique element that blended the golf course’s design with South Carolina’s rich history. He used the prevalent ruins of the old plantation homes in the region as his source of inspiration.
Love, along with his brother Mark, recreated a brick structure overlooking the fourth hole that reflected the aesthetics of those fallen dwellings. Yet, instead of perceiving it as a mere aesthetic marvel, golfers frequently face an exciting challenge to keep play within the ‘safe’ confines and away from the foreboding plantation ruins. It merges the historical element of the course into the play itself, making the Love Course truly one-of-a-kind.
Striking the imagination and providing a sense of nostalgia, “The Ruins” stand as an echo of South Carolina’s grandeur of the bygone era. As Love once stated, it’s a melding of “the contemporary and the historical,” establishing a connection between the game of today and the history of the region.
Since its creation, the fourth hole of the Love Course with its grand ruins has hosted countless matches and tournaments. It’s these ruins that set the Love Course aground from other golf courses in the region. They have now become a defining symbol of the golf course and integral to the golfing experience at Barefoot Resort.
When visiting the Love Course at Barefoot Resort, don’t simply pass by “The Ruins” on the fourth hole. Allow yourself a moment to look, feel, and understand. Remember the grandeur that it represents, and the lost era it pays tribute to. As you set up your swing, take in the surroundings, and the history echoing around you. When you make your shot, you’re not just playing a hole — you’re stepping back in time.
“The Ruins” on the fourth hole of the Love Course is a reflection on both the progress that South Carolina has made over the centuries and nostalgia for a time long past. It is a masterpiece of design intersecting with history, offering us a poignant reminder of how the architecture of the past is a muse for the future.
And so, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a leisure golfer, “The Ruins” gives added depth to your game, imbuing it with a storied sense of history and a reflection on time’s uncompromising march. For many, the fourth hole at Barefoot Resort’s Love Course is not just another hole on the green, but an embodiment of history, the spirit of golf, and the inherent inducing of South Carolina heritage.
Excellent write-up. As an architecture buff and a golf enthusiast, I find the historical context fascinating! But gotta say, strategically playing around ‘The Ruins’ definitely takes a bit out of my scorecard. So here’s a question for fellow golfers, any tips on how to improve your game on this one-of-a-kind hole? Or am I destined to always remain nostalgic over the balls lost to ‘The Ruins’? 😂
Thanks for the insightful read! I have always been intrigued by ‘The Ruins’ on the fourth hole. Never knew there was such a deep history behind its creation. It really does add a whole new dimension to the game when you’re there. Being reminded of a time long gone whilst playing is a pretty surreal experience. Definitely makes the Love Course my favorite out of the four at Barefoot Resort.