The McLemore Club: Highlands

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Evan Schiller

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

Holes 18

Length 7005

Slope 140

Price $225

Year Opened 2019

Designer Bill Bergin and Rees Jones

Awards

100 Greatest Public: Ranked 99th, 2021-'22.

Best in State: Ranked 20th, 2021-'22.

Current ranking: 23rd.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

Reviews

1 / 4

Review

“I expect that I will score McLemore higher than most, but I appreciated a mountain golf course that provided sufficient width and many interesting holes. The 18th gets all the coverage, but much of the rest of the course is worth playing too. The 6th is the one silly spot due to a severe drop after the tee shot, but there wasn't much the architect could do with that cliff. The rest of the front nine is good enough to offset that compromise."

2021

2 / 4

Review

“This course is fairly wide so you can spray a little bit and not lose your ball. The greens are basic and large so you can get on the greens if you are out of position. This course can play hard with some large forced carries and balls are lost in the fescue or woods. Very minimal recovery. Some holes will bite you on your first go around like #6 and you'll like to take another stab at them. You will have fun playing with your friends here but overall this is your average updscale golf retirement community golf course with beautiful grass. Yes, the new 18th hole is amazing and beautiful. The course is only walkable if you have buddies with carts where you can shag a ride to the next tee box as there are huge distances between each tee. You even need a ride to the first tee and from the 18th green as there are no holes near the clubhouse."

2021

3 / 4

Review

“The last hole is one of the best that I have ever played. Te view and challenge is incredible. The rest of the course is interesting with changes in elevation and wonderful conditions."

2020

4 / 4

Review

“Old semi-private Canyon Ridge that had some redesign; completely new 18th hole, and has gone private. Built on muntain top with several nice views. Few "strange" holes that were fitted into the hills."

2019