McLemore, already home to one of the most stunning holes in the eastern U.S. atop Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, announced this week the name of its new 18 holes that are under construction: The Keep.
The original course at McLemore, called The Highlands, offers a major redesign by the team of Rees Jones and Bill Bergin that opened in 2019. The 18th hole features a dramatic cliffside setting with miles-long views of a valley 1,200 feet below. The Highlands ranks No. 4 on Golfweek’s Best 2023 list of top public-access courses in Georgia.
Jones and Bergin again have teamed up to design The Keep, scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. Several holes will run along the cliff’s edge with views of McLemore Cove below and Pigeon Mountain in the distance.
The name, The Keep, is a nod to imposing European castles and fortresses built atop cliffs. The Keep logo also draws inspiration from history: The back-to-back lower-case ‘k’ is reminiscent of the Chi-Rho, one of the earliest symbols of Christendom formed by the first two letters of the Greek word “Christos.”
“We’ve been looking forward to announcing our plans for The Keep for a while now, and we are excited to invite members to take part in what will be an unparalleled golf experience,” Duane Horton, president of McLemore developer Scenic Land Company, said in a media release announcing the name. “Nowhere else will you find two courses of this caliber with the breathtaking views and scenery as we have here atop Lookout Mountain. We believe the addition of The Keep to our already world-class offerings at The Highlands will make McLemore a truly national golf destination.”
McLemore will offer various levels of membership, and an upscale resort with a conference center – named Cloudland – is also slated to open in 2024. Cloudland will be a Curio Collection by Hilton property. Guests of the resort will be offered access to both courses after The Keep opens. McLemore also plans more high-end, custom residential development. The resort currently offers stay-and-play packages that include golf at The Highlands Course and accommodation in several luxurious cabins.
