The Keep
It’s been 10 years since I first encountered the property now known as McLemore. I was visiting Chattanooga before moving back here and had heard about this hidden gem of a golf course called Canyon Ridge several miles south of town perched atop Lookout Mountain.
I remember paying $37 to play 18 holes including my cart fee, and was blown away with the layout. I never encountered another golfer on that sunny fall weekday afternoon, mystified how a course with that much moxie and potential could survive in such anonymity.
Now under the visionary leadership of Duane Horton, president of Scenic Land Company which acquired the property in 2017, McLemore gained national acclaim starting with the 2019 makeover of the existing course - now known as The Highlands Course – overseen by acclaimed golf course architects Rees Jones and Bill Bergin.
The breathtaking 18th hole perched along the cliff overlooking McLemore Cove was ranked last year by Links Magazine as a “Top 10 Finishing Hole” in the world, joining such iconic courses such as The Old Course in St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Pine Valley and Oakmont.
Pretty heady company, I’d say, for a relative newcomer to the golfing establishment. But that is only the beginning of McLemore’s ongoing transformation. The coming year portends to bring even more notoriety to the community that will make McLemore a highly-sought destination on a national scale.
This spring will usher the opening of Cloudland, a one-of-a-kind mountaintop 245-room resort that is part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton and will feature a full-service spa and four unique dining experiences.
Later this summer, the unveiling of McLemore’s second course, The Keep, is expected to take place. The early reviews of the course are already making headlines.
The Keep was recently listed among Links Magazine’s “11 New U.S. Course Debuts to Know for 2024”, being mentioned alongside new layouts at Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst. It was also featured on GolfPass.com as one of the year’s 24 highly-anticipated openings.
After my initial visit to The Keep last fall, it’s easy to understand all the attention the course is receiving. With the team of Jones and Bergin once again overseeing the project, Horton offered some perspective on what to expect.
“Imagine the whole course at The Keep being like the 18th hole on the Highlands Course,” Horton said. “When I took Rees and Bill out to the site the first time they said, ‘You have to let us build a golf course here.’ This was someplace we could have sold residential lots for unbelievable amounts, but we did not. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. I believe what we’re doing together on this course – others will decide and time will tell – but I believe we are making history.”
Jones, who has been involved in some of the most critically acclaimed designs over the span of his storied career, was succinct in his initial evaluation of the opportunity.
“I don’t know if there’s a more natural mountain site I’ve ever witnessed for a golf course,” Jones said. “This is something very special. Every hole fits the land naturally, and there are no ‘throw-away’ holes. This course could host a major someday.”
Even though The Keep is a mountain course, it will be much more than that. It will be akin to many of the great courses in Scotland like Turnberry, deemed headland courses which are perched along cliffs overlooking the ocean. The only difference is that The Keep will be played on top of a mountain rather than bordering a coastline.
The expansive tract of land will have unparalleled views throughout the layout, with five holes running along the eastern brow of the mountain with views from an elevation of 2,300 feet above sea level. While most golf courses feature 25 to 30 acres of fairways, The Keep is going to have 50 acres. The course will have certain vantage points where you can see every other hole, and the incorporation of boulders, rock outcroppings and mountain streams make every hole memorable.
“This course will be about strategy and picking the right line,” Horton said. “It’s one thing to have a great piece of property, but it’s another thing to nail the routing like this design team has. Every hole is a different experience. We also have some infinity edge greens that will impact your depth perception. The final result will be a walkable, mountain-top, cliff-edge course that stretches to 7,800 yards. It’s wide, it’s big and you have less elevation change than Augusta National or Pebble Beach, so it is easily walkable. The Keep will represent something that doesn’t exist in the game of golf.”
The Keep will also feature a pair of gathering spots called “Outposts”. These are more than a place for refreshment, but will incorporate the scenic vistas and natural architecture that will further enhance the experience for golfers.
Arriving guests will be directed to parking and check-in away from the course, where there will also be the practice range and a smaller pro shop. This is meant to preserve the initial grandeur golfers will witness when they are shuttled down to the course for their tee time.
“We did not want cars driving through the property disturbing the experience,” Horton said. “When you first see the golf course, you will be blown away.”
The Keep is offering 125 exclusive investor membership opportunities ranging from $125,000 to $500,000. There will also be “Stay & Play” access to both courses tied to the opening of Cloudland and other on-site cabins and villas available on the property. Go to www.themclemore.com for more information on memberships, golfing and accommodations.
The entire transformation of McLemore since I first wandered on the premises a decade ago has been spectacular. The growth of the residential development, the addition of the clubhouse, practice facility and the six-hole short course, The Cairn, have exceeded my expectations of what could transpire on the property.
It has become the culmination of a dream for Horton, who spent his early childhood growing up in the cove below the development.
“I’d jokingly say I’d ride the school bus on the right side going to school and on the left coming back so I could look up at the mountain. I was always drawn to this mountain,” Horton said.
Horton graduated from Georgia Tech and travelled the country as he became established in the construction management industry. Each time he would return to the area for visits, he began to recognize the undeniable attraction beckoning him to come back home and be a part of something special.
After being unable to strike an agreement with previous owners prior to the economic downturn of 2008, Horton finally partnered with home owners in the community and Walker County officials to finalize plans for moving forward.
"The biggest challenge was making sure everyone would participate and benefit,” Horton said. “We had buy-in from everybody and put a plan forward that created a sense of ownership from the community. They knew that we were here for the long haul and this wouldn’t happen overnight. The investors we have behind us are all about excellence in everything we do.”
While the renaissance at McLemore has been remarkable, I would not be surprised if even larger plans are on the horizon once Cloudland and The Keep are up and running. The developers possess land that stretches from the eastern side of Lookout Mountain to the west brow, so I suspect we will be hearing about other advances in the future.
But for now, I look forward to seeing how the new projects slated to be completed in 2024 will continue the transformation at McLemore and the region. The place is beginning to draw investors and attention throughout the country, and those connected within the golfing industry are certainly taking notice.
My only regret is that the $37 I paid to play 10 years ago won’t go as far as it used to. But that’s perfectly fine with me. McLemore is now a treasure to be enjoyed that I never envisioned.
* * *
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
The Keep