GOLF COURSE REVIEW - McLEMORE RESORT (THE KEEP)
Course Architects: Rees Jones and Bill Bergin
Year Opened: 2024
Location: Rising Fawn, Georgia
Slope: NA. Rating: NA
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,722
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 513 Yds 10 - Par 5 614 Yds
2 - Par 5 562 Yds 11 - Par 3 209 Yds
3 - Par 3 237 Yds 12 - Par 4 368 Yds
4 - Par 4 519 Yds 13 - Par 4 471 Yds
5 - Par 4 456 Yds 14 - Par 3 197 Yds
6 - Par 4 350 Yds 15 - Par 5 574 Yds
7 - Par 5 575 Yds 16 - Par 4 533 Yds
8 - Par 3 266 Yds 17 - Par 4 358 Yds
9 - Par 4 452 Yds 18 - Par 4 468 Yds
Par 36 3,930 Yds Par 36 3,792 Yds
Website: themclemore.com
HISTORY: All you need to know is what course architect Rees Jones mentioned while building The Keep, “It is one of the world’s great sites for golf.”
Jones wasn’t kidding. The Keep is one outstanding golf course that will get better and better in time.
A piece of land that has been virtually untouched in the northwest section of Georgia, this property was like finding gold in the streams of California.
Situated on a mountain-top with a cliff-edge setting, The Keep is 2,300 feet above sea level and 1,500 feet above the valley floor. Needless to say, the combination of elevation and the unobstructed views of the blue ridge mountains, provide some of the greatest views in the region.
Jones and Bill Bergin, who also combined to craft the Highlands Course as part of McLemore Resort, had 200 acres to play with that featured boulders, rock outcroppings, wetlands, streams and waterfalls, which are visible from the 11th tee.
Jones has renovated and redesigned 15 major championship venues and five Ryder Cup sites and has over 225 golf courses to his credit, while Bergin, a former professional golfer, has played in more than 250 tournaments worldwide, including five majors and has worked on over 120 projects around the country. The bottom line, they certainly had the talent to create something special.
The objectives were simple. Create a course that both the low and high handicappers could enjoy. Craft a venue that fits the land and maximizes the drama of the property. I say, “mission accomplished.”
Although you can take a cart, The Keep was designed as a walkable course. It doesn’t seem that way, since its 200 acres, however it’s less than a 5 mile walk from the regular tees and just 500 feet of elevation change. Yes, some of the holes will make you work, like the 12th through 15th holes, but so what.
The specifics of the grass used were taken into account, as the fairways at The Keep are of 50 acres and use Stadium Zoysia grass, which will be the first course to use it on a full golf course, including the tees and the first cut. Bentgrass is used for the greens, usually considered the best grass for putting. No question, these were some of the finest surfaces I ever putted on.
COURSE REVIEW: First off, decide which tees you’re going to play from, as The Keep ranges from 4,821 yards to 7,722 yards…quite a big difference.
The opening hole is a massive, downhill par four that can play as long as 513 yards. The landing area is quite generous with bunkers on either side, however you’ll need to favor the left side, as the fairway runs out down the right to a ravine that fronts the green. A medium iron remains to one of the smallest greens on the course at just 30 paces in depth, but is fairly wide in comparison. Bail out left if you must and rely on your short game for par. There is a good reason that this is rated as the number one handicapped hole at The Keep!
Number two is an uphill par five that plays every bit of its 500+ length. Favor the left off the tee, as a large hazard splits the fairway. A pair of traps guard the right side of the layup zone and you must clear the hazard and then two daunting traps protect the putting surface. The green is long and angled to the right, so choose the right club to avoid a three-putt.
The third hole features one of the longest greens on the course at 43 paces. This par three can play from 110 yards to 237 yards, which is part of the fun of playing The Keep, as it has plenty of options. An enormous trap protects the left side, while missing right will end up in a hazard.
A blind tee shot awaits on the fourth, another lengthy par four. Uphill off the tee, your tee ball needs to avoid the fairway traps on either side of the wide landing area that slopes downhill. Your approach with a long iron or fairway metal is uphill to the two-tiered putting surface with a pair of traps right and a false front. Stay below the hole, as the speed of the green is as slick as any on the course.
One of the many signature holes on The Keep, is the par four fifth, which doglegs to the left. It starts off playing uphill from the tee, as your first shot needs to clear a ravine to reach the fairway. Don’t try to cut off too much, as you’ll be saddled with a double-bogey…or worse. Your approach with a mid-iron plays downhill to the smallest green on the course with a pair of bunkers on the right. Any shot short and left will end up wet!
A short par four awaits the player on the sixth. Just 312 yards from the blue tees, you must decide whether to go for it, or be sensible and lay up to an attack yardage. One word of caution, water guards the left side of the fairway to the green, so play towards the right. The kidney-shaped putting surface slopes from right to left, so be careful when trying to stick one close.
Another birdie opportunity awaits on the par five seventh. Although it’s long in yardage (575 yards), this three-shotter features a very wide landing area that slopes from left to right. Play down the left side with your second to set up a short iron to a very long and narrow putting surface. Bunkers right and one left will keep you honest, but miss right and you’ll end up in a penalty area, with a big number in sight.
The longest par three on the course, the eighth can play as long as 266 yards! Although downhill, you’ll need to be quite accurate with a long iron or fairway metal. The putting surface features a huge swale in the center as it slopes hard from back to front and right. A deep bunker protects the right side and long is trouble.
Waiting on the ninth tee box is never a problem at The Keep, as it offers the golfer a wonderful view of the surrounding region, some 2,500 feet below. Bending slightly to the right, your tee ball needs to avoid the pair of bunkers down the right side. Now you’re left with a slightly, uphill approach to the longest green on the course at 51 paces. The rectangular-shaped putting surface slopes hard from back-to-front, so stay below the hole. One word of caution, do not miss left with any of your shots on this hole, as your golf ball tally will drop.
At 614 yards, the par-5 tenth is a monster of a hole. Running alongside the ridge to the left, this three-shotter is certainly a difficult test. Rocks and sand protect the landing area, so you’ll need to favor the right side off the tee, which is a blind shot, to set up your second shot. Now you’ll need to avoid a quartet of sand for your layup. The putting surface is precariously close to the ridge, so be careful with this long and narrow green that is quite slick.
One of the prettiest par threes on the course, is the 11th. Not very long by today’s standards, this gem plays slightly downhill to a green perched above the ridge. Sand is on either side of the putting surface and you’ll need to carry the ravine to reach the promised land. A beauty of a par three.
Number 12 is a short par four, however, it plays uphill from tee to green, so don’t be misled by the yardage. Bending slightly to the left, make sure you take at least one extra club to reach the green, otherwise, you’ll have to avoid a series of traps short and left of the putting surface. The green is very small and features plenty of slope.
Just the opposite of 12, the 13th plays straight downhill from tee to green. The key off the tee is to find the fairway, as water right definitely comes into play. A bunker and nasty rough left will get your attention. Your approach shot with a mid-iron now must clear the fronting water and negotiate to difficult putting surface. Running from back to front, the green is guarded on either side by sand. If you can stay below the hole, a birdie is a possibility.
The final par three on the course, comes by way of the 14th. Playing uphill, this par three features a very wide putting surface that’s only 20-25 paces in depth. Sand short and long will see plenty of action. This is one hole that you’ll need to play several times to get the feel for the yardage and the elevation change. Any shot above the hole will be hard to keep on the green.
The par five 15th features another climb up the hill and although it’s only 529 yards from the blue tees, it plays 25-30 yards longer due to the slope. The landing area is quite generous, but you’ll need to bust your second shot to clear rock outcroppings and slope in the fairway. This will lead to a mid to short iron to a well guarded putting surface with a bunker short, a long bunker right and another rock formation to the right.
Heading back down the slope, the 16th is a gargantuan par four, reaching 533 yards from the tournament tees. Yes, it plays shorter than the yardage indicates, but you’ll still need to bust a tee ball to have any chance of getting home in two. A medium to long iron will be required to reach the undulating green that features two deep bunkers, one short and one left.
One of the several signature holes on the course, the 17th is an outstanding and wonderful hole, one of just three par fours under 400 yards. Accuracy rules the roost on this hole, as you must dissect the rock formations on either side of the fairway. One of the tightest holes on the course, as three bunkers protect the landing area. At 32 paces, the putting surface is guarded by a bunker left and a run-off right. You might get a weird sensation of claustrophobia when standing in the fairway with rock formations standing high above the fairway. What a hole!
Although well over 400 yards, the closing hole plays downhill towards the green. With numerous fairway bunkers protecting the landing area, you’ll need to be accurate off the tee to give yourself a shot at making par, let alone birdie. This hole is the final gem with the cliff’s edge to negotiate. The green is one of the longest on the course at 43 paces in depth. Even though the clubhouse is not yet built, the view of the surrounding mountains and valley is unforgettable.
FINAL WORD: When this course has fully grown in, it will be one of the finest courses in the country. Opened only a short time, the bones of this layout are spectacular. Some spots are a little rough around the edges, but that’s to be expected with a golf course that’s been open less than a year.
Located just 1.5 miles from the entrance to McLemore, The Keep is isolated from the resort, with little or no homes or farms in view. This is golf, just golf, with no outside distractions. The only thing missing is a clubhouse to sit overlooking the wonderful piece of property. In due time.
Although the resort is roughly two and a half hours from Atlanta, Birmingham, Knoxville and Nashville, the Chattanooga airport is less than an hour away. So that’s not too bad. I did the drive from Atlanta and besides the traffic in Hotlanta, the remaining route was easy.
McLemore Resort has stay and play packages, costing anywhere from $225 per round (Highlands Course) to $375 per round (The Keep). Fairly pricy, but worth every penny.
If golf is not your bag, then maybe a full-service spa could do the trick or the fitness center or the several pools or the several dining options and intense wine cellar. There is something for everyone.
The golf however is the real attraction at McLemore. Whether it be the Highlands Course or The Keep, you’ll be more than satisfied. I certainly was after my birdie on 18!
Jones also felt that The Keep “could host a major.” High praise from the architect and he might be right, however, the course is not easy to get to and parking, well, that’s another story. I will tell you, McLemore Resort could certainly host a U.S. Junior Amateur or maybe even a U.S. Amateur.
It’s that good!
