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THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB at 401 North Roselle Road is open daily and has three simulators to choose from. But whether you are golfing a Top 100 course of the indoor version of the SGC, you can enjoy great food and beverage from Chandlers Chophouse upstairs across from the pro shop. It’s not to early to grab a lesson or get fit for clubs, with many new options to choose from. Schaumburggolf.com (847)-885-9000.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on X @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook
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Welcome to McLemore-Georgia’s newest golf destination property.
GOLF VISIONARY MIKE KEISER will tell you, that when you have one golf course, you are a curiosity. When you have two courses, you become a destination.
So welcome to one of golfs newest destinations, located in Northwest Georgia, in the town of Rising Fawn.
The destination property game in the Peachtree state, is no longer about what’s east or south of Atlanta. The northside has now entered the game, with a home run property, just south of of Chattanooga Tennessee.
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Welcome to “The Keep” by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones.
ENTER MCLEMORE
Which has a hotel called “Cloudland” and now two-plus golf courses. The first course is the Highlands Course, part 1 of the Bill Bergin-Rees Jones designs on property.
But now there is a second Bergin-Jones design at McLemore, called “The Keep”. While both courses are ‘keepers’, The new Keep is the one starting to get a lot of attention. Because some folks in the golf industry already think “The Keep” will be the “Best New Course of 2025”. So if you have a chance, take that bet and your likely to be a winner.
THE CAIRN COURSE that sits behind the main clubhouse, is a short six-hole par-3 course.
Audio Player
CLICK HERE to hear the interview with McLemore courses designer Bill Bergin.
“The atmosphere is so pleasing across the property. I made over 100 site visits to McLemore while building The Keep. Normally when you travel a lot, there are times your just ready to go home. But when I was there, I didn’t want to go home. I just wanted to stay.”-Bill Bergin course architect-ASGCA.
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THE MISTWOOD GOLF DOME on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. Toptracer golf, simulators, McWethy’s Sportsbar, putting and chipping greens. Your dome home for winter golf in Chicago. Mistwoodgolfdome.com or call (630)-739-7600
GETTING TO MCLEMORE is a bit of adventure, if your coming through Georgia on Interstate 75, just head west on State Road 135 at Exit 320 and you can find your way to McLemore. It’s scenic drive around a few mountains and some farms. One can only imagine the late John Denver singing “Country Roads” in background, as one drives past plenty of white ranch houses, red barns, and a Baptist church or three. There is a historical marker at Snake Gap Creek, and a national forest as well to see.
But once you arrive at McLemore it’s a place you really don’t want to leave. The views from the hotel, and the golf courses are nothing short of breathtaking. So while the Highlands Course and the new Keep course are solid 18 hole designs, there is the short 6-hole par 3 Cairn course, designed by Bergin that sits behind the clubhouse at the Highlands. The longest hole plays 100 yards and the course is a great warm up upon arriving on property. But some golfers that have not had enough golf after a round on the Highlands or The Keep, might grab a wedge or two from their bag, along with a putter and go hit the Cairn Course that opened in 2019. A perfect course for the junior golfers, beginners, or seniors that don’t bomb it that far anymore.
“What we have here at McLemore on Lookout Mountain is a little slice of heaven,” says Director of Golf Greg Lecker. “It’s a place where you look forward to coming to work each day.”
Audio Player
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with McLemore Director of Golf, Greg Lecker.
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The par-3 third hole on the Highlands Course.
MCLEMORE WAS PURCHASED by it’s current ownership in 2017 the Scenic Land Group, and the name of the resort was changed to McLemore. Then in 2018 Rees Jones and Bill Bergin were hired to renovated the existing golf course. Which they did and the course with some changes and upgrades became a top course you could play. The name was changed to the Highlands Course and play reopened in early 2019.
BUT WHAT WAS NEEDED was a better finishing 18th hole. Bergin noticed an area that had some trees and brush, and thought there could be potential for a great new 18th hole. So he scaled down the side of the rocks, and through the brush with thorny stickers on them, wearing shorts to give things a closer look. So when Bergin emerged back on top with legs bleeding, he was still smiling because he knew right there he had room to create an amazing finishing hole. Which is exactly what he did, and the par-4 18th hole has been named a top 10 finishing hole in the country. A real signature hole if there ever was one. One national golf publication called the 18th hole, the “Best New Finishing Hole in Golf designed since the year 2000. It would be hard to argue against that.
“The Keep course is built on a special piece of property,” says Keep head golf professional Doug Amor. “There is an old saying in golf about playing it where it lies. But what Bill Bergin and Rees Jones did, was to build it where it lies. The Keep is a great walking course, not always found on mountain designs. The Keep has a chance to be one of the best courses in Georgia and the Southeast.”
Audio Player
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with The Keep head golf professional, Doug Amor.
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The par-4 17th hole at the Keep. The green sits in a natural small valley in between rock formations.
THE HIGHLANDS COURSE can play over 7,100 yards. But that’s mostly for championships, the standard scorecard for the average golfer has the tee’s at 6,332 yards and a par-71. If you play the Highlands at 6,332 yards, your probably playing one of the best 6300 yard golf courses you have ever played. So while the 18th hole on the Highlands gets much of the attention, the opening hole a par-5 at 548 yards is a really good opening hole. The first tee shot is downhill and takes the golfer right past the front of the stunningly designed Cloudland Hotel.
BUT FROM THERE the design maneuvers around some ponds, rock cropping’s and fescue waste area’s and some tall trees. Golfers who have played the famed Mike Strantz designs Tobacco Road and Tot Hill Farm near Pinehurst and enjoyed those courses, will love The Highlands.
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The par-3 11th hole on the Keep, that plays like a partial island green.
STARTING LAST YEAR, The Highlands Course and the Cairn Course earned a new partner, as McLemore evolved into a golf destination. The Keep is one of the most amazing designs one will ever play. Even with no oceans or large lakes alongside, the views from the course can stretch over 60 miles on a clear day. The Keep is a perfect example of what you can find, when you strip down a property to it’s natural self, leaving only some trees. But with holes that run along a cliff, around a ravine, and through area’s that have rock formations or had the trees removed. The on course and surrounding trees and been canopied upwards, so there are no low-hanging branches.
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Dining is always warm and cozy in the McLemore Clubhouse, where multiple menu’s offer guests plenty of selections.
Bergin calls the views around “The Keep” breathtaking, and that is another point that’s really hard to argue against. Currently the course is walking only, but carts will come along later this year as the course matures. But those in carts will be restricted to cart-path only.
“The Keep course sits on one of the top 5 pieces or property, I have ever had the chance to build on,”-Rees Jones.
ONE DOESN’T NEED TO BE on the first tee to realize your about to golf one special golf course. The par-72 course that plays 6,654 yards from the tips, plays longer due to the elevation change. While it’s not often the first hole is the #1 handicap hole, the 441 yard par-4 first hole is just that. Three of the first four holes are handicap seven or lower, so do be ready to play, when your round starts.
THE HOTEL A 245 ROOM Curio design and part of the Hilton Hotel network opened in 2024, complete with a conference center and a spa. Should one need to go for a swim, the outdoor Olympic size pool sits right behind the hotel, and there are dining options like “The Creag” inside the hotel. There are other options for staying on property, including a limited amount golf villas and relaxing cottages.
McLemore might need to build more golf cottages than what is currently on property. Because more golf courses could be coming in the years to come.
“The master plan for the property has the possibility of two more new courses getting built in the future,” says Lecker.
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owner Nick Larkin invites golfers to keep their winter golf season rolling at The Shack Golf Club at 1717 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview. So call (847)-904-2905 to book a simulator. TheShackGolfClub.com
But some suggest that some of the best food on property is found at the McLemore Clubhouse at the Highlands. There are different menu’s for lunch and dinner, both with plenty of tasty options to choose from. The views from various different area’s in the clubhouse, provide an enjoyable setting for dining. But if the night is on the cool side, there are tables near the fire place, to warm you up.
MCLEMORE IS HEATING UP as a true golf destination. But offers plenty of other activities for after golf, or the non-golfers. Real estate options are now available. So to book a play and stay at America’s newest destination property a real keeper, visit themclemore.com or call (800)-329-8154