Evan Schiller
The McLemore Club: Highlands
Overview
This course, formerly known as Canyon Ridge, opened in 2005 to regional acclaim in large part due to several holes that crept out to the edge of Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, peering down to a valley floor several hundred feet below. Other parts of the design were less successful. New owners rechristened the club McLemore and brought in Rees Jones and Georgia native Bill Bergin to remodel the course. Those soaring views were opened up even further, revisions were made to the bunkers and greens, and a new 18th hole was built on a previously inaccessible ledge of land farther out over the precipice of the mountain. Golf Digest deemed that hole, a breathtaking par 4 that rides the clifftop and seems to levitate above McLemore Cove, one of the best 18 holes built in the U.S. since 2000. Part of a gated community, McLemore offers attractive overnight packages, and a new 245-room hotel and resort will soon be added to the collection. —Derek Duncan
About
Awards
ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked 99th, 2021-'22.
Best in State: Ranked 20th, 2021-'22. Ranked 23rd, 2023-'26.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A fun "resort" course with great views. It is NOT a walking course and there are some borderline extreme holes that back up play. But if you take it for what it is, you will enjoy your round."
Read More2025
Review
“The last two holes, 17 and 18, are really great holes and have beautiful views. Try playing the back tee on 18 as the hole sets up better from back there."
Read More2025
Review
“Reasonably interesting golf course. Location of holes / routing a little disjointed. 18 is an OK, but visually spectacular hole."
Read More2025
Review
“Cats only is a golf course I can only rate so high, and thus routing was problematic. Individual holes were fine (#18 was dramatic, but maybe a little unfair, #2 terrific in a visual as well as strategic way), and aesthetics rank high."
Read More2025
Review
“This is a one-hole course. Eighteen is a stunner, but the other 17 are forgettable."
Read More2025
Review
“10 tremendous holes-8 average. Some truly unique holes. Tough property but could have done more with the rodinary holes in midlle of course."
Read More2024
Review
“One of the best mountain courses I have ever played. Excellent job incorporating design with scenic views."
Read More2024
Review
“Worth playing once. Seems like a great development with a new original course opening soon. 2 courses, a precision course and several putting greens will make it a great destination."
Read More2024
Review
“Rees Jones and Bill Bergin design atop Lookout Mountain. Even though a mountain course, there is plenty of room off the tee that makes course very playable. Beautiful views especially the 18th hole. Definitely worth a visit if in the area."
Read More2024
Review
“McLemore aspires to be among the nation's best, so the tenor of my comments is to view it in this context. The course sits in an inspiring environment, diving through extreme elevation change and rock outcroppings, on the edge of the Lookout Mountain massif, with a thousand-foot drop providing 50-mile views on one edge of the course. The course itself has many good holes and a few head-scratchers. The 6th is one of the strangest holes I've ever played, and there is even a plaque on the tee basically explaining that if you hate it, you take golf too seriously. I'm on here so I guess I'm too serious, but I don't like short par fives played with a forced layup, a massive carry second, then a 50-yard pitch. The good holes include the reachable 1st, the uphill 9th, the 10th, and the 15th-17th stretch. The bad includes the aforementioned 6th, and the two holes before it, a strange attempt at a strategic tee shot on 4 with a rock outcropping, and the almost completely blind par three 5th The 18th is the showstopper, making several "best 18th" lists. The views are all-USA, but the hole is odd, with many drives ending up in the same 20y x 20y area, leaving an oddly-angled short iron, possibly from a divot. Enjoy it for what it is, a pretty hole in an unreal location. This one isn't top 100 for me, overall or public, but course #2 is incoming soon, and perhaps that one will fit the bill with similar views."
Read More2023
