McLemore Club - The Keep

Mountain golf courses can take several different forms depending on which parts of their respective mountains they occupy. Brand-new in 2025, The Keep is, to put it simply, one of the most scenic inland courses in America, clinging to the top of Lookout Mountain with clear-day views that measure in the dozens of miles from several of its holes that tiptoe to the point of no return. A windy day and lightning-fast greens made things a little extreme when I played, and it must be said that the course is an exhausting walk. Luckily the exquisite Cloudland hotel is one of the best places a golfer could want to relax.

The finishing hole on McLemore’s Highlands course put this resort on the traveling golfer’s radar several years ago. The Keep, however, is what is going to eventually get them here in the years to come. As remote as this place is, two courses are a must to lure the itinerant golfer.

Both offerings are very different. The Highlands course plays through significant elevation changes before culminating with the finisher in the clouds. The Keep, while not flat, plays across a large, mostly open footprint that features more width than is visible. The junior course also offers five cliffside holes. The Keep is walking only for preview play. And while the outward nine is pretty subtle, from the 12th hole inward is tough on the legs, even with a pushcart provided by the pro shop.

There is still a lot of grass to grow before the course’s official unveiling. New sod around the collars of the greens makes for some dicey short game shots where you would normally putt. The natural rock features shine throughout, particularly on the 17th hole, which easily became my favorite hole on the course.

The infrastructure that has been added since my last visit is incredible. The Hilton hotel and Creag restaurant are super additions that will make wanderlust golfers happy they made the effort to scale Lookout Mountain.