Aerial view of The Keep, McLemore's newest golf course
photo by Dave Sansom
Approach shot on No. 17 at The Keep
photo by Dave Sansom
The Keep, the newest course at McLemore
photo by Dave Sansom
Aerial view at The Keep
photo by Dave Sansom
From the initial tee shot at McLemore’s Highlands Course, the remainder of the round is characterized by a sense of constantly growing anticipation, each hole serving as a sensory tease that builds until arriving at the climactic 18th hole.
Ever since designers Bill Bergin and Rees Jones revamped the golf course five years ago, the epic closing hole with its green seemingly suspended on the edge of a cliff overlooking McLemore Cove below has become a nirvana-like experience attracting golfers around the globe wanting to discover first-hand the grandeur of this masterpiece.
McLemore quickly garnered international attention, with its signature hole deemed by Golf Digest as the “Best Finishing Hole in America Since 2000.” The publication said McLemore’s 18th hole is “likely to become one of the most recognizable holes in American golf.”
In other words, No. 18 put McLemore on the map. There is beauty and creativity in the routing of the remaining holes at the Highlands layout, several which could stand on their own merits to be considered a breed apart were it not for the awe-inspiring 18th.
Now imagine this - a golf course that features the same breathtaking views of the Highlands finale throughout the round, that includes five cliff-edge holes with 60-mile views instead of just one, where each of the thoughtfully-designed holes could easily be considered the signature landmark at any other golf course. Add in a routing that features natural rock outcroppings, cascading streams that merge into waterfalls and pristine wetlands on an easily-walkable golf course.
Welcome to The Keep, the second work of genius crafted by the tandem of Bergin and Jones that will soon be unveiled as McLemore’s newest addition.
The name is derived from the majesty of Europe’s imposing castles, inserting The Keep as a powerful but reserved entry into the golf landscape. Just a short distance down Lookout Mountain’s eastern brow from the Highlands Course, The Keep is considered a links-inspired “headlands” course where the sheer drop overlooks a valley rather than coastal shoreline in places such as Pebble Beach Golf Links.
The 479-acre property was carved out of an undisturbed swath of land that naturally revealed a championship caliber golf course according to Jones.
“I don't think many architects get an opportunity to build a course on a site like this,” Jones said. “Often with mountain courses, the land is so rugged that they have holes that don't fit the land. This is like an ideal mountain sight that a golf course architect dreams about. There is no golf course with longer spectacular views than this one anywhere in the country.”
The Keep will not only present a unique golfing experience for this region, but will rival many of the other iconic courses that offer a comparable design.
“I find it interesting that a lot of people are trying to make comparisons with other courses,” Jones said. “It's got a little bit of a Torrey Pines feel about it. Obviously, Pebble Beach has been compared, as has Old Head in Ireland. But I think what we're going to find is, at some point, The Keep becomes the bar where everything else is now being compared to this.”
With an expected opening later this month, The Keep had an initial equity investor offering limited to 125 members. The top two tiers of $500,000 and $250,000 are fully subscribed, and only the $125,000 level remains. In addition to the member investors, The Keep will be accessible to members of McLemore, resort guests, Stay & Play guests and Friends of McLemore on a limited basis.
The Keep will be a walking-only venue for the first year as the playing surface matures, and there will be a caddie program available for golfers. The par-72 layout will extend to 7,722 yards when played from the tips, with initial rates published at $325 on weekdays before 1 p.m. and $250 later in the day. Weekend morning rates are $375, falling to $300 after 1 p.m.
Caddies are mandatory for mornings and weekend play and must be requested at time of booking. Double-carry caddies are $70 per bag, and single-carry caddies are $90. An additional $40 minimum tip is also required per golfer. Golfers interested in booking a tee time at The Keep can go to The Keep tee times or by contacting Tyler Stromatt at tstromatt@mclemoreclub.com.
Some structures such as the practice range, staging clubhouse and the pair of hospitality facilities called “The Outposts” will not be completed until 2025, but the golf course will be fully completed prior to the anticipated Sept. 15 unveiling. Guests are requested to check-in and warm up at The Highlands facility within the McLemore resort and will be shuttled to the first tee at The Keep.
Most golf courses that have a smaller footprint require the movement of 2 million cubic yards of dirt to complete construction. The Keep leadership group is sensitive to the environmental impact and needed to only move one-fourth of that amount given the topography’s natural routing.
“The holes were there waiting to be found,” Jones said. “It's as natural a sight as you'll find. This place was meant to be a golf course.”
Duane Horton, president of Scenic Land Company that has overseen the renaissance at McLemore, spent his childhood in the valley below McLemore. Seeing this dream unfold with the opening of The Keep brings about special sentiments.
“This place makes you stop and pause, and it gives you a sense of wonder,” Horton said. “We wanted to create something that honors the land and the community having grown up in the cove.”
The golf course has expansive fairways and first cut of rough featuring Stadium Zoysia grass, and the large contoured greens average 6,830 square feet per hole with AU Victory bentgrass putting surfaces. The Keep will also feature aesthetically pleasing natural areas of fine fescues and broom sedge grasses.
Unlike most mountaintop golf courses, The Keep is readily playable by all skill levels. The wide fairways and generous greens will help maintain a consistent pace of play with few opportunities to lose golf balls other than the cliffside holes. The ribbon tee design allows for premium flexibility in adjusting for a variety of tee locations without typical square tee boxes, and the bunkering throughout the course is bold and consistent with the overall design in creating a strategic approach.
Part of the bold personality of The Keep stems from incorporating the massive sandstone boulders that are indigenous to the region, particularly magnified on the par-4 17th hole that has a citadel of rock outcroppings that encircle the green.
The golf course opens with a cliff-side par-4, with the other holes that cling to the brow being the par-4 9th hole, the par-5 10th, the par-3 11th and the closing par-4 18th. There are five different locations on the course where portions of all 18 holes are visible from a single vantage point.
“To some degree, people come to play the 18th hole only at The Highlands because of all the international acclaim it has received,” Jones said. “The Keep is a golf course where everyone is going to have a different hole as their favorite because they are all spectacular in their own way.”
The Keep is a golf course that overwhelms the senses and leaves an impression that will last a lifetime. The serene setting is isolated from the rest of the world, unencumbered by residential areas and offers a cathartic feeling when taking in the majestic vistas. It is a golf course that is divinely inspired.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com