Evan Schiller
The McLemore Club: Highlands
Rising Fawn, GA•Private
Awards
Panelists Score
The McLemore Club: Highlands
14653 Highway 157
Rising Fawn, GA 30738
United States
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
Golf Digest 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 bland course, especially with the awesome property it's on. It seemed very contrived and might have the worst routing ever. The par 5 fifth is especially bad. If you hit a fair drive or worse, the layup is 120 yards or less and then you have a 210 yard approach shot. The high and thick grass just off the fairways seemed very penal for a resort course. The green complexes were also forgettable. The par 4 second is a standout with a long approach over water and 17th and 18th were memorable."
Read More2026
Review
“A very hilly mountain course that provides nice scenery but not much strategic golf."
Read More2026
Review
“The Highlands Course at the McLemore Club is a good course with a great setting. Several holes along the cliffs and through the canyons provide memorable views, while the downhill par-5 6th and the spectacular cliffside 18th are worth the price of admission alone. Outside of those standout holes, much of the course is relatively standard, making it more enjoyable than overly challenging. I'd recommend playing it if you're nearby, but the course's dramatic scenery and world-class finishing hole are what you'll remember most after the round."
Read More2026
Review
“This is a one-hole golf course, but hole 18 is all world. I did not enjoy the other 17 holes. I thought they lacked imagination and interest."
Read More2026
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
