McLemore, the acclaimed golf club and resort destination perched atop Lookout Mountain, has officially opened The Keep, its highly anticipated Bill Bergin and Rees Jones-designed cliff-edge golf course.
The Keep is open for play to Equity Investor and National members of The Keep, as well as resort guests staying at Cloudland at McLemore Resort.
Already touted as one of the best new golf courses in the country, The Keep is a stunning example of what it means to play golf “above the clouds.’’ A mountaintop headlands course, the par-72 layout can stretch to more than 7,700 yards on five sets of tees and features five cliffside holes overlooking McLemore Cove that present golfers with breathtaking vantage points at every turn.
“Since the announcement of this project over two years ago, The Keep has been one of the most highly anticipated new golf courses, and we’re beyond proud to celebrate the official grand opening,” said sDuane Horton, president of Scenic Land Company, the developer of McLemore. “Years of planning and hard work have made The Keep a global golf destination, and we’re excited to welcome guests from around the world to see what makes this course so special.’’
The project, Bergin said, presented “a rare opportunity’’ to take advantage of a site with such dramatic elevation and natural character.
“Our focus was to craft a layout that touches all of the natural beauty of the property, tests every aspect of a golfer’s game, and delivers unforgettable moments along the cliff edge of Lookout Mountain and McLemore Cove.”
“The Keep Golf Course is truly unparalleled,” Jones said. “It’s dramatic cliffside setting inspired a one-of-a-kind golfing experience. While the course carries a unifying theme, each hole has its own distinctive personality. It’s designed to offer a balance of challenge and playability for everyday golfers while at the same time it is championship ready.”
McLemore now has a pair of championship courses as well as a six-hole short course called “The Cairn.’’ Before the opening of The Keep, the resort established itself as a golf destination with the Highlands Course. Famous for jaw-dropping elevation changes, the Highlands Course features one of the more spectacular finishing holes in golf, as the 18th runs along the cliff edge from tee to green.
In February 2024, McLemore introduced Cloudland – a marquee Curio Collection by Hilton hotel perched atop Lookout Mountain with stellar views of the surrounding North Georgia mountains. The luxury resort property offers 245 guest rooms, including 21 suites and 20,000 square feet of state-of-the-art indoor meeting and event space.
At Cloudland, guests can enjoy a range of amenities, including four superb restaurants and bars. One in particular – Auld Alliance – named after the oldest alliance in the world between Scotland and France that dates back to 1295, is the only restaurant in the United States combining the rich flavors of Scottish and French cuisine.
Cloudland also features a cliff-edge infinity pool and bar as well as a full-service spa. Guests of Cloudland also have access to endless opportunities to explore Lookout Mountain and the surrounding area.
Those enrolled as Friends of McLemore receive limited access as non-members to the club’s stunning Highlands Course, clubhouse dining at The Creag restaurant and bar, and luxurious accommodations on the beautiful mountaintop Cloudland at McLemore Resort.
Photo: The Keep (McLemore)