Cherokee Valley Course and Club

Solid Pete Dye Mountain course. Always a fan of Pete Dye courses and this one does not disappoint. Course big bold greens, undulating fairways and Sublime layout.

Got out to Cherokee Valley for the first time in a while today. The layout is outstanding. I really love the front 9. It has some very beautiful and scenic holes. The course was in average winter conditions. Dormant grass, no grass growing on the greens made them really fast. Its a really fun place to play. However, I felt like $68 was a little steep to play on dormant grass and brown greens. Its worth every bit the couple times I have been there in the summer. But its worth about $45 right now in the winter.

I played this course in 2020 and since it has been two years decided to do an updated review. They have a new restaurant and club house since my last visit.

If you like to warm up they have a driving range and putting green. When you exit the back of the pro shot and get your cart, you head left and up the hill - the range is behind two buildings.

One note on carts: They are nice carts with GPS but you can't take your carts to your car. Also on some holes the carts will "lock" if you are in an area you shouldn't be but we found on holes 16,17, and 18 by the tees we had issues because the GPS would lock our carts even though we were on the cart path. To unlock the cart, you have to backup until it unlocks.

It is a beautiful mountain course which creates the first challenge - lot of blind shots with all the hills. And you really need to think about where to land your shots (even on your drives).

The second challenge are the greens, many of them are like domes (think Pete Dye) where if you don't get on the green your ball will roll away from the green. On most holes being short of the green (below the hole) is the safe play. You do not want to go long on most holes. We were clubbing down on many holes because the greens didn't hold at all - they were like glass.

The course was in fair condition but my playing partners complained (and I agree) about the greens. As I noted above they were like glass because they didn't have a lot of grass. So with tricky hole locations and lots of break it was very frustrating. Hopefully, the grass will grow in over the next month to have true roll.

Definitely hit the 19th hole and eat at the restaurant "Core 450". They serve drinks all day but after 2:30 they are getting ready for dinner service but if you ask nicely you can get some food. Everyone loved the chicken wings and Brussels sprouts. They have a nice patio to watch golfers finishing on 18.

Overall it is a very nice mountain course. I think it would be pretty difficult for new golfers but for any golfer that has been playing for a few years, go for it.

Been playing this course since back when it was called The Gauntlet. Dearly love it.

Things have changed with the new owners. Although they have done a lot of improvements, like a beautiful new clubhouse, they’ve changed a couple of things that make it a tough course to play if you have difficulty walking long distances.

You can no longer pick up your clubs at your car, as carts are no longer allowed in the parking lot. You have to carry your clubs about 50 yards uphill to where the carts are allowed. By the way, I’ve played almost every course in upstate S.C. and western N.C. and not one of them has this restriction about taking your cart to your car to pick up your clubs. Not one.

Worse, they’ve changed to GPS carts and the restrictions are pretty severe. Several holes are cart path only and the handicap setting they put on my cart still didn’t allow you to get anywhere near the greens.

Love this course, but I guess I just can’t play it anymore.

This course needs to be a lot more handicap friendly.

Cherokee Valley is a hidden gem with dramatic elevation changes, scenic mountain views, well maintained greens and friendly professional staff. This is a fun course that provides challenges for golfers of all levels. New clubhouse and restaurant opening in 2021.

Played on 8/25/20. Course was in very good condition tee to green. Greens maybe a little slow .... around 'average'. Bunkers were a little packed down due to recent wet weather and no raking. At about $42 per person, the value was OK.

Carts had JBL Bluetooth speakers. First time I've seen that. It was great! Carts also had GPS. Good thing too .... could not get a signal for the scoring/GPS app on my phone. Also worth noting, if you are using an app or device make sure it has the current hole routing.

Lots of elevation change and most of the holes were what you'd expect design-wise. One exception is number 8. 200-yard par 3 from the Blues with a very elevated tee and a fantastic view. I could take a couple of buckets and play just that hole all day. There are also a few quirky holes. Specifically 9, 10, 15, 16, and to a lesser extent, 18. Don't get me wrong, they were fun, but without local knowledge of landing areas and distances you're kind of guessing how best to play the hole.

Did not experience any of the negatives cited by other reviews.

Would recommend and would like to play again.

The course is beautiful and was in good condition considering it was much wetter than expected and the greens were aerated.

Per the Pro Shop attendant, the course was reversed because they are building a new club house. What this means is on the first hole all tees (except the forward tee) requires you hit your drive over water. The second hold is another forced carry for all the tees (except the forward tees).

The signature hole is a par 3 with elevated tee boxes and a beautiful view of the mountains. But it is tricky because you really do not want to miss the green.

Playing the forward tees the course is not too difficult. But once again, this is another course that could give some attention to the forward tee boxes.

My main advice is to play the course during the week or watch for a GolfNow Hot Deal because it's not worth the price on the weekend given the slow pace of play. There are plenty of other courses in the area that are just as fun to play and $20 cheaper on the weekend.

Under new ownership, this golf course is getting better each time I play it. The practice facility is top notch. The bermuda greens are fast and roll smooth. Combine that with the elevated greens and this course becomes a bear. The scenery and elevation change make it a great course to play. All of the fairways were overseeded and the were in perfect shape. The new clubhouse is under construction, but the staff is welcoming and glad to have you there.

Great course . Always a Challenge and always in good shape.

Tucked away in Tigerville, just north of Greenville and around the corner from North Greenville University. Amazing setting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Feels like a mountain course, but with plenty of even lies throughout the layout. Great conditions, glorious day and the staff is fantastic. There are cottages on-site for stay-and-play. It's a P.B. Dye design, and you'll see flashes of Dye throughout. Craft beer selection, post-round, was very solid.

Great gold course, most of it was very fun with some very exciting holes. There were a few that have significant blind shots and seem a little goofy but overall a great layout. Course was overseeded which is always a plus and greens were in excellent shape. Had recently had a lot of rain but seemed to drain very well.

Great staff and course was in great shape for January. This is a course that demands you play all your clubs.

It has been awhile since I have last played this course. I had forgotten how much I love this course. Every hole is set up different in layout, shot shaping and elevation. The fairways were so green and full. The greens were in excellent shape. But, beware. some of the greens seemed to have different grass. Some were coarse and some were smooth. It made playing the speed of the greens always changing and kept you on your toes. I can't recommend the course enough, I won't wait so long to go back again.

Course wasn’t bad but for 50 dollars I expected better fairways were high as the rough.

Great course. Friendly staff. Will play here again

The staff was super friendly. Explained all of the renovations underway. The layout is challenging but fair.