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Forbes
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Golf And Luxury Among The Clouds At McLemore Resort
Above the clouds in northern Georgia lies one of the country's most unique golf destinations, Cloudland at McLemore Resort. At the southern tip of the Appalachians, with an elevation of around 2,400 feet lies Lookout Mountain. It is atop this ancient mountain, worn down over millions of years by erosion, where you will find golf and luxury accommodations that stand out in the 'mountain golf' genre, which can be polarizing among golf enthusiasts. The Keep at McLemore Resort. In 2019, McLemore enlisted famed golf course architect Rees Jones and Georgia native Bill Bergin to remodel a golf course formerly called Canyon Ridge, which had opened in 2005 and featured multiple holes at the cliffs edge. With the hiring of these men and the work they did, McLemore's first course, the Highlands was born. The Highlands course plays to a par of 71 and can stretch out to 7,005 yards, giving a variety of options to golfers of all abilities. A feature of the Highlands course that makes it stand out from other mountain golf courses is the variety of holes it provides. There are canyon holes that are regarded as some of the most challenging holes on the golf course and feature deciduous forests, natural areas and boulders that help shape the holes on this portion of the golf course along the eastern side of Lookout Mountain. These canyon holes also offer some extreme elevation changes that are both scenic and challenging for even the most skilled player. Highlands course at McLemore Resort The majority of the holes of the Highlands course sit atop Lookout Mountain and play like a lot of typical golf courses, with one striking difference, incredible views of the surrounding valleys. Part of playing the Highlands course is getting away and enjoying nature, and to let life slow down as you take it all in while playing this portion of the golf course. Far and away the showstopper of the Highlands course are the cliffs edge holes, especially the 18th. A dogleg-left along the cliffs edge, the fairway slopes from right-to-left, towards the cliffs edge and McLemore Cove, providing a finishing hole that is both scenic and a daunting challenge. Regarded as one of the best finishing holes in America, it is the perfect way to cap off a round at the Highlands course. McLemore Highlands Course 18th Hole 'The blending of natural beauty with a mental and physical challenge makes golf the greatest game. The Keep is the epitome of that union.' These words spoken by course architect Bill Bergin sum up the experience at the Keep perfectly. Resting atop lookout mountain, the Keep can be described as a mountain flatlands. The course plays through gently rolling holes and offers golfers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, making it one of the most dramatic natural spectator courses in the world. It is described by Bergin as a '479-acre amphitheatre, with the course as the stage and the view as the backdrop.' The Keep at McLemore Resort Rock features are abundant throughout the golf course. They define and shape some of the holes, without interfering with play. The best example of this comes on the 17th hole, where rock outcroppings provide a natural surround for the green complex, forming a citadel around the sides and back of the green. Anytime you are atop a mountain, wind is going to be a major aspect of playing the golf course. To counter this, the Keep offers generous fairways that are more than 60 yards wide in many areas. Large greens features a variety of ridges and tiers that can be used to guide well placed shots closer to the hole. At the Keep you get dramatic golf shots from the start as your approach shot to the first green has to carry a deep gorge that sits at the end of the fairway. As you are walking down the first fairway towards your tee shot, you get a sense of the giant scale of the land at the Keep. The Keep at McLemore Resort Hole after hole, the size and scale of the Keep is awe inspiring. If you were to close your eyes and picture the most scenic golf course on a mountain you could think of, it would basically be the Keep. While it is incredibly walkable and the views are breathtaking, don't let this natural beauty fool you, the Keep will challenge even the best golfers. The course can be stretched out to 7,800 yards and strong winds can do even the best ball striker in. Rees Jones, who collaborated with Bergin on the project said about the Keep, 'Be sure to bring two things - your A-game and a camera.' The Keep at McLemore Resort The Keep offers five holes that play along the cliffs edge, where errant shots will make their way to the valley below. An incredible feature of the Keep is that due to the amphitheatre shape of the property, you can see the majority of the golf course from almost all locations while playing, making it one of the most memorable courses you will play. While playing, you will be immersed in nature as the Keep has natural streams running through it, which also provide irrigation to the golf course. A key focus at the property is preserving nature, with mountain wetlands and natural areas being preserved. The Keep truly is a beautiful mix of golf and nature, in a majestic setting. Looking for a quick and fun round with the family? McLemore has that for you as well with the Cairn, a six-hole short course that sits just north of the clubhouse and overlooks the dramatic 18th hole of the Highlands course. The Cairn can be used as a way to practice your short game or settle bets that may have not been finished on one of McLemore's championship courses. Either way, the dramatic views of this little course are worth your time and won't want to be missed. There is more than just golf at McLemore Resort, perched atop Lookout Mountain in Rising Fawn, Georgia. Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, Cloudland at McLemore Resort offers a variety of ways to relax and unwind in one of the most serene settings in the country. Whether there for a family vacation, romantic getaway or business meetings, McLemore has something for everyone. Besides golf, there are a variety of outdoor activities to meet your sense of adventure. Take a hike through Cloudland Canyon State Park, rock climb or zip-line, and for the very adventurous type, hang-gliding and skydiving are options to get your heart rate going. Hang gliding over the valley below. If it is relaxation you seek, McLemore offers one of the most scenic infinity pools you will find, at the cliffs edge of Lookout Mountain. There you can literally relax in the clouds with a beverage and take it all in. The Skyside lounge offers handcrafted cocktails with stunning scenery and a panoramic view of the valley below. Here you can socialize with family and friends in one of the most stunning open-air lounges in the world. Spa services are also offered at McLemore. The Selah spa is open seven days a week and offers a variety of forms of relaxation to meet your needs. From facials, massages or restorative body treatments, the spa at McLemore allows you to forget about life for a while and let your mind, body and soul get the rejuvenation they may need. A variety of dining options are available at the resort to meet the needs of almost anyone's palate. Croft features breakfast, lunch and dinner in a simple, yet refined setting. Like its setting, the food is also simple, yet refined and can be enjoyed with a wide variety of hand crafted cocktails for your enjoyment. Croft focuses on simple foods with fresh ingredients, just like the the farms of Scotland it is named after. Auld Alliance is an upscale dining experience that features a team of culinary artists that bring French cuisine to guests while enjoying stunning views at the cliffs edge. Here you can enjoy a gourmet dinner and your favorite bottle of wine or cocktail, the perfect way to end a day at McLemore. Upscale French cuisine in a serene setting at McLemore Resort. The Creag is a short walk away from the Highlands clubhouse and draws its inspiration, as does much of the resort, from the rugged Scottish highlands. Here you get a seasonal dining menu as well as craft cocktails, beer or wine from around the world, to go along with exceptional dining. The Pocket Cafe is the coffee shop on property, where you can enjoy a variety beverages and pastries to start your day at the resort. The smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning while overlooking the scenic valley below invigorates the senses and makes a great start to a day filled with golf or other activities at the resort. Whether golfing all day or enjoying the many amenities that McLemore Resort has to offer, nothing beats coming back to a beautiful room for a good night's sleep to reinvigorate the body and mind for the next day. McLemore offers a great mix of traditional rooms with thoughtful designs and breathtaking views to larger suites with expansive layouts and private bedrooms. With multiple offerings, you are sure to find a room to meet your needs at McLemore Resort. Superior guest room at McLemore Resort, a Curio Collection property by Hilton.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Popular and highly ranked Arizona golf course to undergo multi-million dollar renovation
Popular and highly ranked Arizona golf course to undergo multi-million dollar renovation A popular and highly ranked Arizona golf course has closed for the summer for a multi-million dollar renovation. Quintero Golf Club, in the suburb of Peoria northwest of Phoenix, closed June 2 for the four-month project. Quintero is ranked second in Arizona in the recently released Golfweek's Best 2025: Top public-access golf courses in every state, ranked. The course opened in 2000, and this summer's renovation marks the first significant work on the property since it opened. Rees Jones, Quintero's original architect, will oversee the work. Total Turf is the contractor. The renovation calls for a rebuild of all 18 green complexes, work that will include a green resurfacing them with 007XL Bent grass. All tee boxes will be reworked, laser-leveled and resurfaced with 419 Bermuda grass. There are 65 bunkers on the golf course and every one of them will be renovated with new drainage, new bunker linkers and filled with new Augusta white sand. The renovation is expected to be completed by late September. The course will reopen in October after the fall overseed. 'We are so excited to have RJI and Total Turf involved in this project with the primary focus on making Quintero Golf Club even better than before,' said Quintero's GM Mike Poe. The club will also get a renovated practice facility. The practice tee area will be leveled and resurfaced and the practice green will be rebuilt. Quintero, a Troon managed propery, is a par-72 course that tips out at 7,249 yards.
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
McLemore Keeps Getting Better As A Golf Getaway With New Course Debut
The closing hole of the original course at McLemore Resort in Georgia has been recognized as one of ... More the best finishing holes in golf. And helped give rise to an expansion at McLemore that includes a new 18-hole course called The Keep. The 18th hole at the original Highlands course at McLemore Resort gets incredible attention in social media posts, and deservedly so. The cliff-hugging par 4 is among the most impressive finishing holes in golf and has given rise to McLemore's tagline 'Golf Above the Clouds' while spawning significant interest in the mountaintop destination property tucked into the corner of northwest Georgia. While the 18th hole of the Highlands Course may command attention, it's the new course at McLemore that will soon be the scene-stealer. Spread across a plateau atop Lookout Mountain, The Keep takes its name from the majestic cliffside views reminiscent of Europe's historic castles. The Bill Bergin and Rees Jones design, which officially made its debut this year, offers dramatic holes situated 1,000 feet above McLemore Cove's valley floor. 'The setting for The Keep is extraordinary due to its mix of naturally rolling terrain and the edge of the ridge line,' said Bergin. 'We were able to combine a well-balanced golf experience with captivating views to create an unmatched experience.' The 18th hole at The Keep, the newest course at the McLemore Resort in Northwest Georgia. McLemore operates The Keep as a member club, however the new course is accessible to guests staying at the Cloudland at McLemore Resort, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. But The Keep isn't simply complementing the existing course and the golf offerings at McLemore, it's immediately positioned as one of the most jaw-dropping new additions to the world of destination golf. While the opening and closing holes of the Highlands Course offer long-range views of the surrounding area, The Keep offers a far more expansive mountain golf experience with breathtaking vistas throughout. The Keep is essentially a links-style design on a mountain tabletop, with five holes that play along the cliff edges, called 'brows.' The 'Wow factor' is about as high as the setting at The Keep, which features windswept width and angles, visually dynamic exposed rock, and a healthy dose of elevation change that fits the mountain theme on a layout that's currently walking-only. The 10th hole at The Keep in the foreground sits on the edge of the ridgeline, while the other back ... More nine holes in the distance climb up and down the rolling terrain atop Lookout Mountain. As the course climbs and dives across the landscape from holes 14-16, the views and challenge are enough to quiet even longtime and loquacious Golf Channel host Charlie Rymer, who today is an executive vice president for McLemore. 'At that stretch, even I let other people talk for a while,' Rymer said during a recent lunch at McLemore's golf clubhouse restaurant, The Creag, where the former PGA Tour player spoke so highly of the property that he didn't take a bite of his sandwich for over an hour. This is no small feat for the 6-foot-4 Rymer, who guests will find has a corner of the McLemore golf shop with apparel size XXL and above named after him. As good as the Highlands Course is – in particular, that bucket-list 18th hole that's inspired some serious golf wanderlust on social media – Rymer says there's no question which is his favorite course. And which course will emerge as the top choice of visiting golfers. The Keep is just that good, despite being laid out on a rocky expanse of land that Bergin, who has been involved in more than 100 course projects, says wasn't exactly made for golf. The ninth green along the cliffside at The Keep at McLemore. Once home to only trees and jeep trails, along with an old still for making moonshine, the land required intensive clearing – about 200 acres in total – but not a lot of dirt moving. The fairways, greens, bunkers and teeing areas are spacious, in keeping with the scale of a site which is dictated by its expansive views. The layout is both strategic and memorable, with natural beauty that at times may pose a distraction. 'We are very proud of the routing and how it allows each hole to stand on its own regarding memorability, yet one never loses the big picture or the views,' said Bergin. McLemore's par-3 short course, The Cairn, sits in the foreground with the resort's golf clubhouse in ... More the back right and the 18th hole of the original Highlands course sitting on the edge of the cliff to the left. Beyond golf, McLemore immediately thrusts itself into the conversation as a conference and corporate getaway for Atlanta-based companies and businesses throughout Georgia which have long turned to places like the Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Lake Oconee and Callaway Resort & Gardens. And the Chattanooga market is even closer, just over 1/2 hour away from the McLemore resort, while Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham and Huntsville are all two hours or less away. Cloudland is the definition of a getaway, with a 245-room hotel, 20,000 square-foot conference center, a full-service spa and fitness center, and a multitude of dining options perched on cliffs more than 2,000 feet above sea level. There are also four guest golf cottages along with spacious residential homes and villas that are part of the broader master-planned McLemore community. Last year marked the unveiling of the Golf Village, an intimate enclave of single-family homes near the main clubhouse. The golf clubhouse at McLemore at twilight. The 18th hole of the original course at McLemore may have thrust the north Georgia property into the national consciousness as a must-see golf destination, but the addition of the second course will keep it there for years to come.
