Cliffs Living Magazine - Spring/Summer 2022

C L I FF S LIVING SP R I NG / SU M M E R

2022

A Magazine With, For & About Members at The Cliffs

The

JOURNEY

Issue

B E C AU S E YOU O N LY N E E D A SU M M E R DAY TO F I N D YO U R I N N E R S P R I N G .

W E L C OM E H OM E .

MOUNTAIN AND LAKE HOMES AND HOMESITES | CLUB MEMBERSHIPS | 864.249.4379 | CLIFFSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Contents 5

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

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DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

A message from Rob Duckett, President of The Cliffs.

An innovative approach to ownership.

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GATHER

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SPIRIT

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A snapshot of festive gatherings from across The Cliffs.

Racquet pros serve top-notch experience; CROs bridge the gap; fire away at one-of-a-kind Sportsman Trail; get to know the Walnut Cove GM.

YONDER

Traversing Europe’s trails; from financial professional to competitive equestrian; a guide to dining, drinking and shopping in Travelers Rest, SC.

A LEGACY OF FUN

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HAVEN

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VISTAS

GOLDEN BEAR OPPORTUNITY

Jack Nicklaus reveals design inspiration behind The Cliffs at Walnut Cove’s renowned course.

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RE-IMAGINED

International families add a distinctive accent, far-flung flair to Cliffs living.

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A gathering place for holidays, celebrations for three generations.

At home with the Hintons and the Woods; wine lovers curate a full-bodied collection and cellar; reclaimed pieces brought to life.

A look ahead at events and happenings taking place across The Cliffs.

APERTURE

A collection of words and images by members and employees of The Cliffs.

Design and Build the Ultimate Backyard Experience

In business over 30 years!

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PRESIDENT’S NOTE

Welcome to

CLIFFS LIVING Dear Members at The Cliffs, It is our distinct pleasure to present you with the spring/summer edition of Cliffs Living – A Magazine With, For & About Members at The Cliffs. The dawn of a brand-new year invites each of us to assess our journey through the last 12 months as well as create a blueprint for our journey ahead. It is in this spirit that we’ve devoted this current issue to the theme of journeying–those odysseys taken in life which lead us from one place to another, either physically, mentally, or spiritually.

Here at The Cliffs, the journey through 2021 was not without its challenges. The ongoing pandemic and the social restrictions imposed by it tested our resilience. And yet, we prevailed. With an indomitable spirit that’s come to define our seven communities, we began the year with uncertainty, and ended it with record-setting growth and a promising vision for 2022.

In this issue of Cliffs Living, we’re showcasing some of the many journeys that you, our members, have embarked upon.

Within these pages, you’ll find a story on our international families, those who’ve journeyed across the globe to make the Western Carolinas their home. In addition, we share the tale of a resident financial professional whose journey carried her from corporate life into the world of competitive horseback riding. And finally, we invite you on a brand-new journey unique to The Cliffs: the tree-canopied pathways that traverse The Sportsman Trail, the most innovative amenity ever offered at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.

We hope the new year finds you and your family healthy and happy and that the stories featured here inspire you to epic journeys all your own.

Warm regards,

ROB DUCKETT President, The Cliffs

Please let us keep hearing from you. To submit photos, story ideas, or feedback about Cliffs Living, email magazine@cliffsliving.com.

We also invite you to help grow your community by sharing Cliffs Living with family and friends, and then invite them to join you as a member here.

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We provide an All-Inclusive Luxury Building Experience in all seven Cliffs communities.

We anAll-Inclusive All-Inclusive Weprovide provide an Luxury Building Experience Luxury Building Experience in all in all seven seven of TheCliffs Cliffs communities. communities.

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OW N E R S H I P M A D E E A S Y Luxury homes can be turnkey-ready with Cliffs Builders new ownership path Imagine yourself, just a year from now, settling into your new home in one of The Cliffs luxurious mountain communities.

If this seems impossible given the innumerable details involved in a build, think again. Cliffs Builders created an innovative path to ownership at The Cliffs by melding custom-build gratification with built-for-sale simplicity.

Cliffs Builders has gathered a team of local architects and craftsmen who have

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thoughtfully crafted a selection of home plans full of interior and exterior design choices and upgrades that allow owners to express their personal taste. The result?

A streamlined process that ensures a quicker build without sacrificing the quality craftsmanship The Cliffs is known for.

Here are the current real estate opportunities for a truly unique living experience at The Cliffs, with further developments to be announced soon.

Park. Those reasons are the spacious 19 homesites – ranging from .75 to 1 acre – all either on Gary Player’s acclaimed Mountain Park links course or offering stunning views of the course’s rolling greens. The design for Golf Ridge’s homes put effortless indoor and outdoor entertaining at the forefront. Plans include easy-flow open floor plans, large openair living spaces, and offer options like summer kitchens and patio fireplaces.

GOLF RIDGE AT MOUNTAIN PARK

SOLSTICE PARK AT KEOWEE SPRINGS

There are 19 magnificent reasons to settle in at Golf Ridge located among the natural splendor of The Cliffs at Mountain

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is known for its dazzling mountain views and the stunning waters of Lake Keowee. Cliffs

Builders is inviting prospective owners to “claim their place in the sun,” with the new development Solstice Park. For those wanting proximity to nature, the 10 homesites in the interior park will have thoughtfully designed seating areas, play and fitness spaces, and shaded elements.

The remaining 18 sites will overlook Tom Fazio Signature golf course and have a golf path connecting owners to Keowee Springs amenities.

LAKE RIDGE AT THE LANDING AT KEOWEE SPRINGS Cliffs Builders offers another option for those wanting to embrace the beloved family-friendly atmosphere at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs. The spacious fourbedroom homes at the Lake Ridge site will offer gorgeous water views and be close to the upcoming Lake Club. The signature

Lake Club venue will have multiple swimming pools, a fitness center, sports courts, and indoor/outdoor gathering spaces.

remote feel, they will also have ready access to amenities like the Jack Nicklausdesigned golf course, exceptional dining, and a cutting-edge wellness center.

WILDWOOD AT WALNUT COVE

MEADOWVIEW AT WALNUT COVE

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is set within the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, and the new development Wildwood, is tucked even deeper within the forested terrain for the utmost privacy. Wildwood offers an imaginative spin on rustic living with its 13 built-for-sale homes that blend a rustic and contemporary aesthetic. evoke a modern-day cabin with expansive homesites from .85 to 2.3 acres. Homesites range in size from .85 to 2.3 acres and the one- or two-story homes will come equipped with large screened-in porches to maximize views of the natural setting.

While Wildwood residents will enjoy the

At The Cliffs at Walnut Cove’s new development, Meadowview, every architectural and landscape detail are meant to complement and to further enjoyment of the picturesque mountain views. The 12 built-for-sale homes, all on gracious homesites, will have exteriors blending natural elements like stone, stucco, and high and wood lap siding.

The landscape placement will provide maximum views all day. The six two-story homes will have a screened porch and grilling deck. The remaining six singlestory homes will have a covered outdoor entertaining space.

Rent. Roam. Relax.

WE’LL MAKE THE JOURNEY EASY. Ready for a change of scenery?

Immerse yourself in The Cliffs’ South Carolina communities through The Cliffs home rental program. Whether renting out your home or reserving a stay in another member’s home, we promise magnificent management – for worry-free wandering.

stay@cliffsliving.com 864.351.6192

Exclusive Benefit for Members at The Cliffs

CLIFFS LIVING M AGA Z I N E

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kristie Harris, The Cliffs MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Friedman, The Cliffs EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Claire Billingsley, Community Journals COPY EDITORS Pete Martin, John Stevenson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristy Adair, Community Journals PUBLISHER Mark B. Johnston, Community Journals GENERAL MANAGER Susan Schwartzkopf, Community Journals VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Holly Hardin, Community Journals

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Claire Billingsley, John Jeter, Abby Moore Keith, M. Linda Lee, Morgan McCallum, Stephanie Trotter, Bo Wood

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS Patrick O’Brien, Timothy Banks, Bonfire Visuals, Jack Robert Photography, Jim Mandeville/The Nicklaus Companies

ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES Lizzie Campbell, Sheldon Hubbard, Camden Johnson ADVERTISING DESIGN Michael Allen COMMUNITY JOURNALS MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Hays Bacon, Allison Gambone, Louise Giusto, Sangeeta Hardy, Donna Johnston, Heather Propp, Allen Pruitt

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Community Journals LLC, 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, SC 29611

For advertising information, call 864.679.1200 or email hays@communityjournals.com.

Cliffs Living is published two times a year by The Cliffs in partnership with Community Journals LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication without publisher’s permission is strictly prohibited. For copies, customer service, or to distribute at a business, please inquire at magazine@cliffsliving.com.

Advertisement herein for any product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by The Cliffs or its affiliates.

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GATHER

OKTOBERFEST ®

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Oktoberfest The Cliffs Valley

Noch ein Bier, bitte! (Another beer, please!) Oktoberfest brought the best of Germany’s beer and wine to The Cliffs, but the fanfare didn’t stop there. Members were treated to German music courtesy of the acclaimed Foothills Oompah Band.

Savory German fare included sauerbraten and bread dumplings, jagerschnitzel with bacon, onion, and sour cream sauce, and finished off with apple strudel.

Rick and Joan Schweizer

Audrey Linky, Kathy Urban, and Joyce Bobich

Gerry and Bill Guyton

Bob and Janice Hall with Denise Holmburg

Carol Robert, Ben Harman, and Nelson Roberts

Mark Owen, Bush Brunson, Tom Eller, Karen Eller, and Jill Owen

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CLIFFS LIVING

Tom Fisher, Dianna Shipley, and David Shipley

Paula Russell and Cindy Mitchell

Nancy and John Guyett

Ray and Patricia Laub with Ute and Nirmal Jain

GATHER

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Walnut Cove Tavern Reopening The Cliffs at Walnut Cove

It was a fitting celebration to mark the reopening of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove Tavern: an evening of music, dining, and drinks. Cliffs Realty hosted the night that kicked off with a glass of champagne. The band played on the newly covered patio while members enjoyed drinks and dinner stations. The gathering gave members an opportunity to take in the upscale ambiance of The Tavern’s refinished interior.

Event Sponsors: Cliffs Realty – Allison Underkofler, Shaun Collyer, Lauren Buckland, Vince Roser, Caitlyn Thompson, Mandi Melton, and Katie Pearson

Marion and Clark Halladay with Lisa and Adam Rothkrug

Jeannie Graham and Connie Dengman

Jerad and Lisa MacLean

Janet Childs and Pam Harvey

Ginger Bertoli and Jon Greener

Rudy and Margaret Dolezal

Ruth and Ron Billings

Deborah and Mike Lewis, Lisa and Jared Maclean, Chris and Kim Kalahar, and Dianna Maleckar

Sean McLaughlin, David Wyche, and Tricia Wyche

Laura and Jay Jansen

Joyce Aguiar and Shari Lane

Larry and Rickie Reinhardt

Dianne and Gene Juba

Jim Cantonis, Allie Cantonis, and Charley Kern

Kevin Jones and Pria Wakefield SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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Best of the Best

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs Golfers from across The Cliffs’ seven communities converged at Keowee Springs for the annual Best of the Best – All Club Championship Golf Tournament.

Players enjoyed a spirited round of golf on one of the sport’s most scenic courses. The day ended with lunch at The Porch and an awards ceremony announcing the overall team winner for the second year in a row, Keowee Springs.

Dave Head, Aiden Tugman, Mark Podl, Wes Nichols, Scott Allen, Carol Avery, Diane Head, Patty Mullen, Jane DeMoss, James Scott

Kathleen Beauchamp, Julian Bland, Sue McCafferty

Jill Kelly, Matt Pavia, Pat Brown

Barry Volgemeier, Kris Kleinsasser, Joe Bunch

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Matt Pavia, Camden Jones, Jeff Tyrrell, Kaelynn Elliott, Mike Steele

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SPIRIT

SPORTING LIFE ® GIVING ® CELEBRATIONS ®

HEADS UP ®

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SPORTING LIFE Adri Atkinson

NET WIN Meet the Racquet Pros

Tennis great Arthur Ashe once said, “Success is a journey, not a destination.

The doing is usually more important than the outcome.”

Ralph Dunbar

On its tennis journey, The Cliffs is certainly “doing,” and has taken a major step by hiring full-time racquet sports directors for each of its regions. This commitment provides hundreds of players, across all properties, with year-round access to the best pros in the Carolinas. Clinics, tournaments, league play and inter-club showdowns are all part of the increased focus on tennis and pickleball.

Meet the team on both sides of the net.

ADRI ATKINSON | THE MOUNTAIN REGION Aside from her clean footwork, the first thing you notice about Atkinson is her crisp accent. “I started playing when I was about five, or six, in South Africa,” she shares. “About my junior year of high school, I thought what a wonderful chance if I could play in college.” She wound up playing all four years at Delta State University in Mississippi. Post-grad life for the USTA 5.0 has included working at resorts around the world, including Guam and Austria. The 42-year-old is delighted to now live in Travelers Rest, with quick routes to The Cliffs Valley, Glassy, and Mountain Park. “Every day, we have clinics,” she says. “I think tennis is literally one of those things that no matter when you pick it up, it sticks with you, and you can enjoy the sport for life. I have people in their 90s and close to 100 who still play.”

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SPORTING LIFE RALPH DUNBAR | THE LAKE REGION

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James Kirkham

After 30-plus years of coaching, mainly in the Midwest, Dunbar feels like he’s come home. “It’s full circle,” he says.

“My first job was at Sea Pines, in Hilton Head. It’s wonderful to be back in South Carolina. The whole idea of what The Cliffs has to offer with the growth of racquet sports? They’re invested in the member experience. I think any time you want things to get better, you need continuous movement, rather than stagnation.” Not one to stand around, Dunbar learned the sport from his dad, who played in college.

“When I was in seventh grade, I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he says. “I love what I do, being with people and being outdoors. I feel like I haven’t worked a day in my life.” Those people include the other pros at The Cliffs, where a fun-loving rivalry has developed.

(The Lake Region just beat The Mountain Region in a recent tournament.) “Did Atkinson say that?” Dunbar asks with a laugh. “Yes, we did win, but I didn’t want to start something.

She’s too nice.”

JAMES KIRKHAM | THE ASHEVILLE REGION The native Australian first picked up a racquet at the age of 2, when he was barely big enough to run. Tennis was a way of life for his family, growing up in Melbourne.

The 23-year-old knew while playing for both Lees-McRae and Montreat colleges that he wanted to coach. “I have European and English tennis experience,” he says. “When you add that mindset and drills to the American game, it brings a well-rounded view of playing and coaching.”

Today, he enjoys working with 2.5-5.0 ranked players.

“Every aspect of the game is interesting, and tennis is great because it helps with so many other sports. It gives you eye-hand coordination and body awareness.” His goal is to fill the courts at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove at all times. “No matter your age, it’s an invigorating game,” he says. “It’s a game for life, and a good one.”

THE REAL DILL | PICKLEBALL AT THE CLIFFS Looking for a high-cardio, low-impact adventure, with quick games and fun friends? Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in America, and The Cliffs is getting into the action with 17 courts across seven communities.

Using parts of tennis, racquetball, and table tennis, the sport is actually 56 years old. Pickleball’s popularity is largely due to its quick learning curve, small courts, low net, and 15-minute games, where players frequently change partners. “It’s such a social game and an easy alternative to tennis,” shares Adri. “You can pick up a paddle, learn on the spot, and immediately be OK playing with anyone.” Ralph adds, “I’ve never seen anything take off like this. Other sports don’t allow room for flexibility, but pickleball can accommodate people on a social level and athletic level. I hope everyone will give it a try.”

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GIVING

SET FOR SUCCESS

CRO meets the needs of students, educators during pandemic When you total up the efforts of The Cliffs’ six South Carolina communities, the Cliffs Residents Outreach charity program has changed the lives and futures of more than 10,000 Upstate children through funding initiatives related to education and human services.

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2007, CRO is a 100% volunteer organization. Thanks to generous donations from residents at The Cliffs and local businesses, CRO provides funding for a range of programs focusing on literacy, healthy food, and mentoring.

“We step into the gap,” says Jean Ann Bollman, CRO Board director representing

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The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, referring to the gap in time between when a situation arises and when it can be resolved by local agencies. She cites the example of two little boys who were living in their car with their single mother. “The principal told me the social worker could get the family into housing, but not until the weekend,” Bollman recalls. “So CRO picked up the tab at the Days Inn for the [intervening] days to get them off the streets.”

When COVID hit, schools struggled to adapt to constantly evolving regulations.

When classes resumed in August 2020, schools had not yet received their federal funding — there’s that gap again — so all the CROs reached out to the schools they work with to assess needs.

Help provided by The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards in 2020 enabled Pickens County Schools to remain open for in-person instruction for 158 of the 180 school days.

The CRO began by giving gift cards to each principal to distribute to families that needed

them. They then donated clear plastic desk shields for students at Pickens Elementary, and for Hagood Elementary, they purchased child-size portable camp chairs for outdoor classes. They also furnished stipends for teachers to purchase puzzles and games to entertain those students who arrive at school early to have breakfast.

Focusing on a theme of Kids Come First, The Cliffs Valley and Mountain Park CRO served several local schools. In a pandemic pivot, the CRO made changes in several of their initiatives, reports director Diane Sontag. For example, the CRO had traditionally distributed food-filled backpacks at Northwest Middle School to feed families on weekends. Due to COVID concerns, these backpacks were shelved in favor of food vouchers. Gateway Elementary requested microphone headsets so children could hear their teachers through the masks. To help students cope with stress, the two communities donated money to purchase the Second Steps Social-

GIVING

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“We were blown away by the generosity of our membership and corporate donors. To be able to help students who wouldn’t normally have food on the weekend, or water to drink … it’s just so heartwarming.”

— JUDY AGERTON, KEOWEE FALLS CRO

Emotional Curriculum for Slater-Marietta Elementary.

At The Cliffs at Keowee Springs last year, Scott Wallace led his CRO to identify and fund a range of innovative solutions to enhance learning at Six Mile Elementary, R.C. Edwards Middle, and D.W. Daniel High School. These efforts included purchasing e-books for school media centers, investing in plastic desk dividers, chargers, and extension cords for use in classrooms, and providing a tent and folding chairs for outdoor classes. They also purchased nine software licenses to support self-paced learning and helped fund a six-week Summer Bootcamp to bring 66 high school students up to grade level after a school year interrupted

by COVID. Of note, after years of investment and attention, the Six Mile Elementary School media center achieved an SC rating of “Basic,” up from “At Risk” due to CRO efforts.

When schools shut down temporarily in 2020, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls CRO had to put in-person educational programs like mentoring on hold. With the money allocated for those programs, they funded COVID-related needs such as touchless water stations for Walhalla High School and the NEXT School Eagle Ridge, as well as water bottles, face masks, and hand sanitizer for all three schools they support, including Tamassee-Salem Elementary.

Working with the nonprofit Grace’s Closet, they also provided weekend food for needy families. “We were blown away by the generosity of our residents and corporate donors,” exclaims Judy

Agerton, the director who heads the Keowee Falls CRO. “To be able to help students who wouldn’t normally have food on the weekend, or water to drink … it’s just so heartwarming.”

The Cliffs at Glassy CRO continued their long-standing relationship with Tigerville Elementary and Title I Schools Heritage Elementary and O.P. Earle Elementary, after purchasing iPads and Chromebooks for about 800 students and now funding educational initiatives like Stem labs and Clubs’ kits, classroom libraries, and more. Their biggest program in 2021 was funding the North Greenville University String Instrument Program. This upbeat program welcomes any student in North Greenville County, grades three to five to participate in violin, viola, cello, and bass lessons free of charge. If needed, the instruments are provided.

Instruction is provided at Mountain View Elementary School in Taylors twice a week after school by NGU music majors. Playing an instrument can help children improve their language skills, proficiency in math, and boost self-esteem. “Through exposure to music, the Strings Project meets the CRO mission to provide children with opportunities for lifelong success,” says Barb Adams, director of Glassy’s CRO. During the pandemic, the CROs’ generosity gave schools the ability to continue providing a quality education. When it comes to caring for Upstate children, the six South Carolina CROs deserve an “A” for both effort and execution.

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CELEBRATIONS

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CELEBRATIONS

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“I think it’s just our president’s inner child coming out. I mean, it’s all stuff we all did, or wished we did, when we were kids.”

— TY ROBERTS, GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT,THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE SPRINGS

TA K E A I M Sportsman Trail hits a new target An altogether different kind of course. So you’re walking the length of two par 3s, or about 220 yards. Along the way, you take out your scorecard. You pencil in the equipment you used and your shots: With your ax, you hit the bull’s-eye. Your arrow nailed the eight-point buck. You riddled Sasquatch with BBs. Welcome to The Sportsman Trail, the latest and arguably most inventive amenity at The Cliffs — and likely anywhere else.

New at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, the trail runs about a quarter-mile, roughly the equivalent of two par 3s. Here, 12 stations test your weapons skills. Call it disc golf meets “Survivor” or, maybe, a medieval decathlon through Disney World.

“I think it’s just our president’s inner child coming out,” Ty Roberts says with a fond chuckle as he refers to the trail’s brainchild: Rob Duckett, president at The Cliffs. “I mean, it’s all stuff we all did, or wished we did, when we were kids.”

As the golf course superintendent at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, Roberts designed the course and began building it last spring with his crew. You can tell just how much fun they had creating each station, working to make every stopover look more like a movie set than just another lane in some shooting range.

Most stations include lifelike foam critters, like wild hogs, turkey, bear, and more, all ready to be shot, pierced, etc. (no hunting crossbows allowed).

The ax-throwing station, where targets are made from trees, looks like a scene from a sawmill. At one of the archery stations, a buck stands near deer blinds amid trees slashed with antler scrapes. Another stopover features a troll cooking steaks at his campfire outside his fortress. And — oh, no! — Sasquatch has raided a campsite, where you see the (mannequin) feet of a victim, so you must dispatch the 500-pound, 8-foot-tall yeti. At the moonshine still, you take out your slingshot. At the Western cattle drive, why, use your repeating air rifle.

“It’s a fun, cool thing, it’s different,” says Brianna Hirsch, The Cliffs director of outdoor pursuits. “It’s not something that you run across every day.”

Hirsch and Roberts say members simply book a time to use the trail, and staffers outfit you with what you’ll need. The equipment, Roberts and Hirsch say, is all top-shelf, and just like at a pro shop, you can pick up ammo and other gear. A staff member accompanies your group all the way through.

“It really adds a whole nice fall, winter, spring element to what we do,” she says. “We’re busier in the summer, but this adds something that people can come down and do in the off-season — of course, it’ll be available during the summer, as well.”

Describing the trail as relatively flat and easily navigable, she hits the same target Roberts does: “It really creates a unique opportunity for people to try something different.”

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HEADS UP

I N CON V ER SAT ION A Q&A with the general manager from The Cliffs Asheville Region

General managers at The Cliffs could offer a master class in juggling. They keep every ball in the air — from the minutiae of daily operations to bigpicture planning — all while maintaining The Cliffs’ standards of excellence. And they don’t just keep the balls aflot, they’ll push them higher. For Chris Rhodes, GM at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, striving for the best-possible member experience comes from his genuine love for what he does. Cliffs Living sat down with Chris to learn a little more about the man behind the position. Stay tuned for the next Cliffs Living for a Q&A with the GMs from The Mountain Region.

BACKGROUND: Chris Rhodes was just 15 when he got his first job in the club industry, bussing tables and washing dishes at Hammock Dunes Club in Florida. A decade later, he was the club’s F&B manager. At 29, Chris became GM of Mulholland Tennis Club in Los Angeles, making him one of the youngest GMs in the state at the time. Most recently, he was GM of Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island before joining The Cliffs at Walnut Cove last July.

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOOK FORWARD TO ABOUT WORK EACH DAY? Being at the club is like a second home and I truly feel like I am with family when I drive inside the gates. From the team I work with to the members and their guests that I interact with, this place is second to none and I am extremely blessed to be a part of it.

IT’S YOUR LUCKY DAY. YOU FINISH WORK AND STEP OUTSIDE TO FIND A WINNING $10 MILLION LOTTERY TICKET. WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST? Call my CPA! But after that, make sure my mom and dad never worry about another bill again in their lives. Then find a nice piece of property for my girlfriend, Rachel, and I to live happily ever after on.

WHAT’S THE LAST TV SHOW YOU BINGE-WATCHED? I think Rachel and I watched every episode of “Ted Lasso” in about 38 hours. It’s that good and we all need to laugh more now than ever.

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HEADS UP

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CHRIS RHODES General Manager, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove

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JOURNEY

“What I love about coming here is that I can go hiking, I can go swimming, I can go biking. It’s such a nice, wonderful place to decompress and recharge and, you know, Connecticut’s not like that.”

— JEN PADOVANI, THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS

Not Just Horsing Around Competitive Equestrian Finds Relaxation at The Cliffs

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en Padovani squeezes in a Zoom call before she leaves for one of the golf courses at The Cliffs.

Later that day, her three horses will leave for Florida from the Tryon International Equestrian Center, about an hour away from her home at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls.

“We all need a break from each other,” she says of Challenger, Cacharel de la Pomme, and Seacoast B-52. “They’re like my pets, but we’re also not pleasureriding. It’s competition and my horses need a break from me and I need a break from them, like any good sport.”

Jen is used to hyperkinetic living. After all, she worked for nearly 20 years at Goldman Sachs in various client facing roles. It was in Manhattan where she met Bill McMahon, her husband, who is close to retiring, while she still works as a financial-services recruiter.

Quite the journey from the wilds of Wall Street to the calmness of The Cliffs — but in Jen’s case, more of a gallop than a trot. She still competes in as many as 20 equestrian events every year and serves

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on the board of a therapeutic riding program for people with special needs.

She and Bill split their time between residences in Greenwich, Connecticut, Wellington, Florida, and The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, where they purchased a homesite in 2008 and completed their New England-style lakefront home in 2010.

“What I love about coming here is that I can go hiking, I can go swimming, I can go biking. It’s such a nice, wonderful place to decompress and recharge and, you know, Connecticut’s not like that,” she says with a laugh.

Within the next year or so, she says they may begin dividing their year between The Cliffs and Palm Beach County. She also looks forward to more pleasure riding along the 200-some miles of trails in the Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area.

Likewise, she’s anxious to meet more equestrians here and spend some time at The Equestrian Center at Keowee Vineyards.

“The lovely horses they have at The

Cliffs are just really nice trail horses that are relaxed and easy,” she says — so different from her competitive mounts.

At the moment, though, she sounds as if she will, like her horses, continue jumping from, say, driving to Tryon for a world-class competition then saddling up a golf cart at The Cliffs.

Recalling a recent invitation to play a round of golf at The Cliffs at Mountain Park, she says a friend asked, “‘What time are you done competing?’ and I’m, like, ‘I don’t know.’ And she says, ‘12:20 tee time, get your clubs, let’s go.’ I’m so lucky to have the privileges of golf at the other courses at The Cliffs.”

Then there’s this from the woman whose lifestyle remains a little on the, let’s just say, frenetic side: their getaway at The Cliffs offers the couple an opportunity to relax, for Bill to enjoy some fly-fishing and golf, and for her to take in some sporting clays shooting.

“It’s just so peaceful and it’s such an incredible place,” she says, “and it’s so great to see that people are becoming more aware of it.”

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THE SHOPPE

Treasure Trove A guide to eating, drinking, and shopping your way through Travelers Rest, South Carolina Walk just a few blocks through downtown Travelers Rest and you’ll find world-class olive oil, masterfully brewed craft beer, and farm-to-table cuisine prepared by a James Beard semifinalist. Just minutes from The Mountain Region, 10 miles from downtown Greenville and about an hour’s drive from Asheville, Travelers Rest makes the perfect destination for dinner, a day trip or a weekend getaway. Cliffs Living curated a guide to take you on a journey to a few of the town’s eateries and shops.

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THE SHOPPE

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THE CRESCENT OLIVE 108 S. MAIN ST., TRAVELERS REST WWW.THECRESCENTOLIVE.COM If you walk into The Crescent Olive looking for a bottle of olive oil, chances are you will come out having learned something new courtesy of owners Charlotte and Mike Easler. (Did you know olives taste different season-to-season based on climate and soil changes?) “We’re people people,” says Charlotte. “We love having conversations with our customers.” It’s also likely you’ll come out with an extra purchase or two, because if the store isn’t too busy, the Easlers will pull out the crispy ciabatta bread and offer an impromptu tasting of their wide array of oils and vinegars that are sourced from around the world. All products in the store are certified ultra-premium, a third-party designation, that is the highest standard in the world. Since opening their doors in October 2020, the couple says they have experienced “fantastic foot traffic” and have customers coming from across the Upstate. Popular cooking demonstrations are offered twice a month and feature presentations by holistic nutritionist Rebekah Fedrowitz, who combines seasonal dishes with the store’s oils, vinegars, and spices.

DETAILS: Among the store’s 60 olive oils on tap, about two dozen are flavored. These oils are made with a mild olive oil using only the natural essence of a flavoring like rosemary. There are no added preservatives, sugars, chemicals, or seasonings.

TANDEM CREPERIE & COFFEEHOUSE 2 N. MAIN ST., TRAVELERS REST WWW.TANDEMCC.COM Most people start their day with coffee. But at Tandem Creperie & Coffeehouse, says owner Kristen Hartman, “It’s never just a cup of coffee.” That’s because since opening Tandem in 2016, Kristen and her husband, Brad, have made it their mission to serve their coffees and delectable sweet and savory crepes with a side of genuine hospitality. In doing so, their customers have become regulars and their regulars are now friends. “That’s been the gift that turns the mundane into the extraordinary,” she says. The couple’s relationshipbuilding has extended to the community where they source locally for dairy products, produce, meat, and wheat. “It’s been so fun to realize that what we’re offering is special because it’s local,” says Kristen. Tandem’s most popular orders include the lumberjack crepe (ham, bacon, eggs, cheese, maple syrup, bechamel) and the whole wheat waffles (often served with strawberries and Nutella).

DETAILS: All of Tandem’s sauces and flavorings are made in-house.

Try the sea-salt caramel, mocha, and vanilla bean. Also, There really is something for everyone at Tandem. Gluten allergies? Ask for a crepe made with almond batter. Not a coffee lover? Order the freshsqueezed orange juice, kombucha, or the house-made sodas.

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SWAMP RABBIT BREWERY & TAPROOM 26 S. MAIN ST., TRAVELERS REST WWW.THESWAMPRABBITBREWERY.COM On any given day you may find Ben Pierson, owner of Swamp Rabbit Brewery & Taproom, handing out his homemade beef jerky or in a jam session with regulars (he plays the drums). This cozy, relaxed vibe is exactly what Ben and his wife, Teresa, set out to deliver when they opened the doors eight years ago. Regulars are family and firsttimers should feel right at home. “It really is a family affair,” says Teresa with a chuckle. Ben oversees operations, Teresa handles administrative duties, their daughter Caitlyn Myers is the general manager, and Caitlin’s husband, Andrew, is the head brewmaster.

And of course, what the family serves up best are delicious craft brews with an IPA, APA, lager, and Pilsner always on tap. A must-try is the fan-favorite Raspberry White Ale, brewed with 260 gallons of fresh raspberries. For the non-beer drinkers, there’s wine, cider, and hard seltzers.

DETAILS: Teresa worked with a local picker to find unique design elements like a wall constructed with 100-year-old Red Wood from a Clinton, South Carolina, mill.

TRAVELERS REST FARMERS MARKET 115 TRAILBLAZER DR., TRAVELERS REST WWW.TRAVELERSRESTFARMERSMARKET.COM Just a decade ago the Travelers Rest Farmers Market was a “tailgatestyle” market with about 12 vendors. Now a 501(c)(3), the market has exploded to include more than 100 vendors offering anything and everything, from local honey to handmade fishing lures. “The vibe for the market is not an in-and-out run,” says Jessica Mullen, assistant market manager. “It’s meant to be slow in the best possible way.” And why not savor every minute? Start out with a little yoga (it’s offered at the start of each Saturday market), check out the kids tent with educational games, grab your groceries, listen to some local music, and just hang out enjoying the Paris Mountain views. The market’s growth has brought added opportunities beyond Saturdays, MaySeptember. There’s now the Harvest Market in October, the Christmas Gifting Market, and pop-ups from January–April. If you’re interested in the community outreach and educational programming the market offers, or want to volunteer, check out the website for more.

DETAILS: There’s no resale here. All products are made or produced within 150 miles from Travelers Rest, says Jessica, making it a true producers’ market.

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THE SHOPPE

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THE CAROLINA HONEY BEE CO. 10 S. MAIN ST., TRAVELERS REST WWW.CAROLINABEECO.COM Beekeeping is a family tradition for Tim Dover. He started out with a hive from his uncle and bees from his grandfather’s apiary. Dover now has hundreds of hives across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. In his store, The Carolina Honey Bee Co., customers can buy his honey and other gifts, such as soaps, candles, and body butter. People from across the country have visited Dover’s store, and he says word is spreading because the product is that good. “The area in and around Travelers Rest produces a wonderful variety of gourmet honey types including sourwood, tulip poplar, and of course wildflower,” he says. Dover says other types, like orange blossom and gallberry, are available from trusted bee keepers. For those who want to try their hands at beekeeping, The Carolina Honey Bee has you covered. The store offers all necessary supplies plus beekeeping classes and mentorships.

Each spring, bees, nucleus colonies, and queens are for sale to start or increase your hives.

TOPSOIL RESTAURANT 13 S. MAIN ST., TRAVELERS REST WWW.TOPSOILRESTAURANT.COM More and more diners are seeking a farm-to-table experience, but not many restaurants are both the source and server of the food. Topsoil Restaurant, founded by three friends with a passion for food and community, has a 16-acre farm just two miles from the restaurant. What food isn’t sourced from their farm is provided by other passionate neighboring farmers. “Our farmers are so close to the restaurant, it’s very likely that our food travels less distance to get here than many of our customers do,” says co-owner Wendy Lyman.

Executive Chef Adam Cooke credits the close ties to local farmers with bringing out his artful, simple approach to dishes. “It’s easy to be creative in the kitchen when I’m so closely tied to the ingredients,” says Cooke, a semi-finalist for The James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Southeast. The menu changes slightly each day, but always features fresh seafood, local grass-fed beef, house-made pasta and bread, and of course, fresh local produce.

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It Takes Two Adventure lusters latest thrill includes Bavarian biking, hiking Mont Blanc

W

hen adventuring, a compatible partner can be hard to find. They need to have similar goals, ability levels, and enjoy the same types of activities. And if that partner also happens to be the love of your life, well, could one be so lucky?

Larry and Bonnie Evans, members of The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, are a match made in adventure heaven. The retired couple has, quite literally, explored the globe with their ambitious excursions spanning from hiking Machu Picchu to safariing along the Zambia River.

“I was an Air Force brat,” Larry says. “That’s where I got my wanderlust.”

Bonnie, who grew up in upstate New York, developed a passion for adventure via her father, an airline pilot who also worked for the forestry service. She recalls a time in high school when he took her to hike Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, the highest point in New York.

“The adventures just went on from there,” she says.

Larry and Bonnie met at Hope College in Michigan, but once married they made the move south for Larry to start his orthodontics practice outside Atlanta. While they raised their three children, the family traveled extensively throughout the states, specifically hitting the national parks (they’ve visited all of them in the lower 48).

But it wasn’t until the kids left the nest and Larry retired that the international adventures truly took off. The couple chose The Cliffs at Keowee Falls and Sanibel Island, Florida, as their two home bases, and from there jetted off on exotic adventures across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and more.

However, the two might have been a bit ambitious with their latest trip — a bike tour of Bavaria followed by a long-distance

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hike around Mont Blanc, with a week in Croatia sandwiched in between. The two had planned this particular European excursion pre-COVID, and as the pandemic halted their international travel, Larry and Bonnie were ready to get back in the saddle.

They started with 217 miles through southeastern Germany, biking 30 miles a day along the Romantic Road, which winds through Bavaria’s charming historic towns. Starting in the wine region, the tour concluded in the foothills of the Alps — providing ample opportunities to immerse themselves in the culture while enjoying the breathtaking scenery, and the food and drink, of course.

“You get some exercise, so you don’t feel so guilty when you have your wine in the evening,” Larry laughs.

After Germany, the two hopped south for a tour of Croatia and a chance to refresh before heading north to tackle the hike around Mont Blanc. Beginning in France, the trek circles the mountain (the tallest in Western Europe), through Italy and Switzerland, ending back in France. From the get-go it was a tough physical challenge with significant elevation shifts. And while they enjoyed meeting fellow hikers and experiencing the local culture, it was a strenuous journey for both. Eight days and 105 miles later, Larry and Bonnie completed the trip, but not before Larry tore his rotator cuff on the final trek.

“Never say never,” Bonnie says, “but I probably wouldn’t do eight days in a row again.”

Back at their lodge-like home at The Cliffs, Larry focused on healing up while they were dreaming about their next adventure — a hiking trip in Patagonia and Antarctica in January 2022.

“Anyone who would want to travel, I would encourage them to experience the culture,” Larry says. “We get out of the big cities as quickly as possible to the countryside. We like to immerse ourselves.”

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OPPORT UNIT Y Jack Nicklaus reveals design inspiration behind The Cliffs at Walnut Cove’s renowned course.

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“I don’t think I can define a philosophy.

I think every property deserves its own.”

— JACK NICKLAUS, GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT, THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE

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ust down the hall from his office, the one decorated by family photos — or what he will tell you are his real trophies — Jack Nicklaus is working with his hands. Always busy even at 81 years young but always gracious with his time, the most decorated golfer in the history of the sport is signing autographs for countless fans around the world as he begins to speak about The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.

“You can never have too many long-range views,” he says with a grin.

Members at The Cliffs know the backdrops the Golden Bear is referring to well. Sprawling across more than 1,300 acres of former farmland, the ambiance of the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway provides golfers with stunning seasonal changing views year-round. Winding through open fields, cascading streams and native woodlands, the Nicklaus Design team had a specific vision for this Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course nestled in the land of the sky. The strategy was intentional — every one of his projects gets its own personal touch.

“Golf course design was an opportunity to put what I’ve been through, seen, played, and loved, on a piece of ground,” he says. “Design became a second passion and life to me. It still is a passion.”

By 2005, the full vision of The Cliffs was coming to fruition, with four communities open for new residents and more developments in the planning phase. Simultaneously, Nicklaus was also already in the process of designing a fifth golf course for The Cliffs at Keowee Falls.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove sits just minutes from Asheville, North Carolina, where members and guests can easily flock to this charming city, with its allure highlighted by a distinct combination of art, culture, and, of course, craft breweries. Expectations were high for the Walnut Cove golf course’s debut, which was set to open as host to a PGA Tour event.

“Very rarely do you go into a design project thinking about Tour events,” says Nicklaus.

Nicklaus has a long history and experience in this realm. After all, his first golf course design, a collaboration with Pete Dye at Harbour Town Golf Links, debuted in November 1969 with a PGA Tour event (52 years later, it still hosts the Tour). But a course being tournament ready does not fall solely on its designer.

“The superintendent and maintenance crew are vital to delivering the final product,” he says. “If you have the right people, the course will be in tournament shape most of the year.”

No doubt Nicklaus was satisfied while strolling the fairways on opening day with Oscar-winner Kevin Costner, known by many in the golf world as Roy McAvoy, his character in “Tin Cup.” “Walnut Cove is an aesthetically pleasing course that people will look at and say is really pretty.

They’ll also say it’s a fun place and look out from their homes across the fairways and realize how happy they are to be living here,” Nicklaus said at the April 27 grand opening in 2005. “There are some really good shot values and plenty of variety, too. Some holes are difficult, some holes are easy, and you have a nice blend of holes in different directions.”

During the construction of Walnut Cove, the golf course design industry encountered an unusual adversary: the golf ball. Brands like Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade were in an arms race for distance, which spelled trouble for future land and maintenance costs.

“You are hoping to try to build for the future,” says Nicklaus. “It was very difficult when we did Walnut Cove because the golf ball at that particular time was aggressively gaining 5-10 yards per year.

“If you can create a beautiful, visually satisfying golf course with all the nice amenities and put good golf shots to create strategy then you have done your job. You have a million different varieties of things you can do, so many natural things to work from, and it’s really fun to see everything come together.”

So, how do you design a golf course capable of hosting a PGA Tour event but also fair enough for members of all ages to enjoy?

“Secret,” he says with a casual, creeping smile, and then pauses before offering a few hints.

“You have just to pay attention. Length is the biggest issue and if you can make the length an average senior golfer can play then you will do fine. You try to create a course that doesn’t have many forced carries, and although there are a few at Walnut Cove, you want to have an alternative, if you possibly can.”

Golf course designers and architects want to take advantage of every long-range view offered by Mother Nature, and those scenic shots are prevalent throughout Walnut Cove even beyond the golf course. Nicklaus says the need to fashion memorable holes that require strategic swings has a way of working itself out.

“You are going to have some holes that are ideal, and you are going to have to accept some of those situations because not everything is going to fall in place,” he says. “Work to get the holes you really like and try to figure out how to create the holes in between.”

Some tee box vantage points at Walnut Cove do not offer striking framework views of sun-kissed, and sometimes, snowcapped mountains, but he says that was by design. Much like California’s famed Pebble Creek course creates anticipation of getting back to the ocean for players to feel the crashing saltwater waves next to the fairway, the same can be said of turning the corner at Walnut Cove to gaze onto another soaring peak.

Outside of golf, Nicklaus is an avid outdoorsman and protecting the environment is always on his agenda. That attitude is second nature to him. He recalls the beauty of the raw earth during his first visit, and the construction process required only minimal dirt to be moved to shape its routing.

“Be a good steward of the land, as you are doing your work,” he says. “We understood that there might be a lot of environmental issues and we made sure they were maintained or enhanced. Sometimes I like to tell my design associates to look at environmental issues as environmental opportunities.”

Indeed, Nicklaus’ work will never be finished and it all funnels back to leaving the golf world in a better place than the day before.

According to Nicklaus, members at The Cliffs, along with golfers around the world, have a responsibility to nurture the sport for future generations.

“The onus,” he emphasized, “is on all of us.”

“If you can create a beautiful, visually satisfying golf course with all the nice amenities and put good golf shots to create strategy then you have done your job.”

— JACK NICKLAUS

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BY HOLE (yardages from black tees)

NO. 1: PAR 4 - 455 YARDS Players start their round with an elevated opening tee shot. The hole can play more than 450 yards uphill past a complex of five bunkers on the righ t. If players carry the greenside bunker on the left, they are rewarded with a view from the highest point on the course from which five holes and the spring-fed stream are visible.

NO. 2: PAR 3 - 190 YARDS A stunning par 3, players take aim from a steep tee box looking down to a green heavily guarded with bunkers to the righ t. Club selection is key to hitting your target and a short shot will be more forgiving than balls that go sailing over the green. Just don’t get too distracted by the gorgeous backdrop.

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NO. 3: PAR 4 - 400 YARDS From the back tees, hole 3 is the shortest par 4 at Walnut Cove. Players hit up the fairway over a forced carry, and it is crucial to get it past the bunkers creeping into the landing area from the right side. A good shot should leave players with a short iron to hit up to an elevated green and the ball likely will not be level with your feet. The green presents some challenges with a noticeable ridge splitting down the middle and sloping to both sides.

NO. 4: PAR 4 - 417 YARDS Players hit over a forced, over-water carry onto this sligh t dogleg left par 4.

Three bunkers on the left side could cause problems for a decent approach shot and the landing area also has bunkers on its righ t side. Approach shots need to be surgical on this hole with water wrapping around its left side and a small bunker on the back righ t of this fairly flat green, but the rolling speed can pick up on its back side.

NO. 5: PAR 3 - 227 YARDS This long par 3 looks more intimidating than it actually plays. The green is wide enough to be able to attack the pin with all types of shot shapes. Balls that fall short could roll off the green’s false front and balls sett ling on the back could face a slick, downhill putt. There is a pocket on the front middle portion of the green where balls can sett le and set up a chance at birdie.

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NO. 6: PAR 5 - 518 YARDS Look out onto a wide-open fairway as players look to build momentum at the first par 5. Big hitters need to be mindful of a creek that splits the fairway and a carry of more than 300 yards will be required to leave this hazard in your rearview. The hole shifts righ t as second and third shots take aim to a green surrounded by bunkers. Likely designed to be a three-shot hole, bunkers also split the fairway and a stream also runs up the righ t side. This longer green slopes back to front.

NO. 7: PAR 4 - 461 YARDS This interestingly designed par 4 is rated as the toughest at Walnut Cove. Players are greeted on the tee box with t wo strategic op tions by the bunkers creeping in from the righ t side. A larger landing area is on the left but will make approach shots longer. Water creeps into play from the left side of this triangular green that jets out into the water like a peninsula. The safe approach is to the righ t side of the green.

NO. 8: PAR 5 - 557 YARDS The longest hole at Walnut Cove has bunkers on the left and righ t side of the landing area. The hole plays like a sligh t dogleg righ t, and before teeing off, make sure a player is not hidden behind the huge bunker on the righ t side of the fairway. The fairway narrows farther down, and the smaller green is guarded by a bunker short and behind the green, forcing many to think of this as a three-shot par 5.

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NO. 9: PAR 4 - 424 YARDS

NO. 11: PAR 3 - 246 YARDS

The back nine closes out with an intimidating par 4, thanks to the sloping fairway and sharply elevated green. A cluster of bunkers line the left side of the fairway and even if players hit a solid drive, they could still face an awkward downhill lie.

Short shots into the green may find trouble in the large front bunker.

Jack Nicklaus once described this hole as a mansized par 3 that looks like it has been there forever. From an elevated tee, players hit into a green angled around a large, left-side bunker that slopes away at the back. The hole begins a journey into the most forested portion of the layout from which players can peer up at the treecovered mountain peaks.

NO. 10: PAR 4 - 408 YARDS The back nine opens with a deceivingly challenging, mid-distance par 4 that requires a forced carry off the tee box over a ravine. The hole shapes into a dogleg righ t. Hit the triangular landing area to set up a short iron to an elevated green with a small stream guarding the front. Shots missing the green to the left are granted a generous chipping area for a fair chance for up and down.

NO. 12: PAR 5 - 530 YARDS Players tackle the first par 5 of the back nine wary of a forced carry on what is considered the second hardest hole at Walnut Cove. Accuracy is at a premium and players may want to think of this as a three-shot hole to the green with the righ t-to-left sloping fairway and needing to avoid the left landing area bunker. A strong second shot will leave players a sligh t ly elevated approach shot with bunkers hugging the front righ t side of this smaller green. Be mindful of the small stream that could be in play on your second or third shot.

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NO. 13: PAR 4 - 470 YARDS

NO. 16: PAR 3 - 196 YARDS

Players take on this long par 4 from an elevated tee box onto a righ t-toleft sloping fairway with a thick stand of trees on the left side. A strong drive could get extra distance with the ball likely to funnel down the fairway, although bombers should be cautious of a small stream 30 yards in front of the green. A large bunker on the front-righ t side of the back-to-front sloping green adds an extra challenge to leave yourself a makeable putt.

The fifth par 3 of your round makes you feel like a hole-in-one is a real possibility at the easiest rated hole on the course. The heavily bunkered hole is a bit intimidating but a small yet clean and open fairway in front of the downward-sloping large green invites players to go pin seeking despite trouble on the righ t.

NO. 14: PAR 3 - 205 YARDS This beautifully shaped par 3 is a traffic-stopper. Players hit at a peanut-shaped back-to-front sloping green with a larger bunker guarding much of the front. Shots hit too far could be engulfed by bunkers on the back side. If the pin is placed in the back righ t, the hole becomes more challenging but aiming the front-left portion could still allow a makeable yet challenging putt.

NO. 15: PAR 4 - 464 YARDS An open fairway greets players. Be aware of the fairway bunkers on the righ t. The hole sligh t ly shifts to the righ t to a green that requires precision to hit. And a strategic pin placement can make it particularly tough with t wo front bunkers on the left and righ t. Approach shots must come in high to hold this challenging green.

NO. 17: PAR 5 - 537 YARDS Players hit out onto a righ t-to-left sloping fairway that narrows as you get closer to the hole. Be mindful of the thick tree line on the left side.

A good drive will allow longer hitters to attack the green in t wo shots in hopes of setting up a possible eagle attemp t. Bunkers guard the left and front side of the sneaky undulating green that is smaller but could present some tricky putts.

NO. 18: PAR 4 - 474 YARDS Walnut Cove’s final hole is the fourth hardest on the course. A stream running along the left side of the sloping fairway also cuts approximately 90 yards in front of the green, sweeping against its righ t side. If you are confident you will not go too far left, use this side of the fairway to give yourself a figh ting chance, especially if the pin in tucked is located back righ t.

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IAN AND MARLENE KILPATRICK

FARIBA YORK

GARRY AND CHRISTINE WELSH

TONY AND MAUREEN DOYE

RE-IMAGINED INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES ADD A DISTINCTIVE ACCENT, FAR-FLUNG FLAIR TO CLIFFS LIVING

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he Cliffs is a world unto itself, but people from all over the world call these communities home, too. Adding a delightful accent to their adoptive home, they tell all kinds of exotic stories: growing up on an English sheep farm, their globetrotting careers, attending a royal wedding in the South Pacific.

“I think the attraction for the expat is that people like the idea of living in the U.S.,” says Garry Welsh, who, with his wife, Christine, broke ground on their new home at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in November and expect to move in soon.

“You’ve got your own oasis of amenities, beautiful environment, proximity to an airport, proximity to a cool town, nice climate,” he says of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and nearby Asheville.

Garry grew up on England’s southeastern coast. Christine, also a Briton, was born and raised in Kuwait. They married while Garry was working in international banking, and in the early 1990s, they bought a home in Florida.

They chose The Cliffs for yet another change.

Garry recalls walking into a Norwich record store when he was 14 and hearing David Bowie’s song, “Changes.”

“That [line from the] song — ‘turn and face the strange’ — has been kind of what we’ve liked to do in our lives, we just create new adventures,” he says. “Now we continue to create the next new adventure for ourselves as a couple and as a family by moving to The Cliffs.”

The onetime Ironman competitor and his wife enjoy the communities’ golf courses, he says, adding, “We work out every day. We live in the fresh air. We like being outside, so activities are important.”

It was the real estate options here that closed the deal, he says. Cliffs Builders helped them create the home they wanted, a 3,100-squarefoot hideaway.

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CHRISTINE WELSH WITH HER GRANDKIDS

“You’ve got your own oasis of amenities, beautiful environment, proximity to a cool town, nice climate.”

— GARRY WELSH, MEMBER OF THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE

“When I looked at these little houses at The Cliffs, the truss work, that completely reminded me of the coziness that you can find in Austria, that you can find in Germany, in Switzerland.”

— FARIBA YORK, MEMBER OF THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE

FARIBA YORK

And it’s that Old World intimacy Fariba York mentions when she talks about the home she and her husband, Robert, bought last June — also at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.

Fariba moved from Germany in 2012 to Boston, where she met Robert, who is from Poughkeepsie, New York, and working for a Canadian chemical company.

Friends told them about The Cliffs — “That would be your dream area to live,” she recounts — so they checked out Walnut Cove, first online and then onsite.

“When I looked at these little houses at The Cliffs, the truss work, that completely reminded me of the coziness that you can find in Austria, that you can find in Germany, in Switzerland,” she says.

The setting likewise reminds her of native Würzburg in northern Bavaria: “It has this warmth to it, and that really attracted me, and I just immediately felt at home.”

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THIS SERIES OF DRAWINGS, DEPICTING EVENTS IN IAN’S LIFE, WERE A GIFT FROM THE INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN WHEN HE AND MARLENE MOVED TO THE U.S. IAN FOUNDED THE TRADE ASSOCIATION AND SERVED AS ITS CHAIRMAN IN 1981.

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IAN AND MARLENE KILPATRICK

Speaking of warmth, Ian and Marlene Kilpatrick moved to The Cliffs from the Cayman Islands, where they lived for 49 years after leaving England in 1968. Still, though, South Carolina’s Piedmont takes him back to the rolling Cotswolds in southwestern Britain.

In the 2000s, he opened an office in Charleston, South Carolina, among other global locations, including one in, of all places, Tonga, where he and his family were invited to a royal wedding.

These days, they enjoy the golf courses, fitness centers, tennis facilities — “all the amenities in a beautiful part of the world.”

While the Kilpatricks still own a home in the Caymans, Tony and Maureen Doye used The Cliffs as a “holiday home,” a getaway from his work at an IT company. In 2007, they purchased a homesite at The Cliffs at Mountain Park and built a home in 2011.

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Then things went to the dogs.

“We were lucky here,” Tony says, “because when we started off, when we came here, while I was still working in New York, Maureen was talking every day with the dog-walkers.”

Maureen still walks their Great Dane, Bentley, each day around their neighborhood, where, it turns out, several other British families live.

Dual citizens, both enjoy the Old World camaraderie and signature British wit.

The setting, too, is reminiscent of Cumbria in the far northern part of England, where Maureen’s “80-something” father still operates the family’s sheep farm.

Tony says he misses the pubs and the Old World village atmosphere.

Still, he says, “The fact you’ve got FaceTime and Zoom and things like that makes everything seem less far away.

We’ve got a lot of family in England, and we’re looking forward to getting them over here again.”

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TONY AND MAUREEN DOYE

“From the moment I set foot in The Cliffs, I was like, I love this place.

You just feel welcome. You feel safe, and you’re definitely part of a family. You feel taken care of.”

— GAYLE STARKE, THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE CLUBHOUSE MANAGER

EXPAT STAFF BRING A WORLD OF EXPERTISE TO THE CLIFFS' EXPERIENCE You could say Gayle Starke danced her way to the U.S. She once toured the world with Spirit of the Dance, the sister troupe of the global Irish juggernaut, Riverdance. Then she performed for 5½ years in “The Lion King” at Disney World. And now she’s at The Cliffs.

“From the moment I set foot in The Cliffs, I was like, I love this place. You just feel welcome. You feel safe, and you’re definitely part of a family. You feel taken care of,” says Gayle, who was promoted to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove clubhouse manager in July 2021 and was previously the member services director.

The scenery here reminds her of her native Aberdeen, Scotland, which she more or less left in 2001 to join the globe-trotting dance company. Since 2016, she has worked for premier resorts in nearby Asheville, continuing to enjoy the seasons, the fall foliage and friends from far and wide.

“I think that’s one of the reasons that I love it so much, and that I do feel so at home here, as well, because we do have this community of international members,” she says.

Never mind that her workplace feels familiar, too: “My office is like an Old English Tudor.”

Adri Atkinson once worked in an Old World place, too — as in 400 years old, at a five-star resort in Austria, where she once played with the president of

the Czech Republic.

Since last April, she has served as director of racquet sports at The Cliffs Mountain Region and, like the other expat staff members here, finds the scenery reminiscent of her home … and Austria … and Vermont, where the native South African has also worked in premier resorts.

“American people, and especially here in the South, are just so accommodating and so welcoming,” says Adri, whose husband, Daniel, was born in Texas and raised in Mississippi.

“Having the privilege to get to know people from different cultures again is a luxury.”

Tom Prowse enjoys the luxury of not one, but all seven of The Cliffs’ acclaimed golf courses. He began as the first assistant pro at The Cliffs at Glassy, then transitioned to head golf professional at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards.

The Australian native joined The Cliffs in 2016 after a two-year stint at Green Valley Country Club in Greenville. Like Adri, he’s married to an American — in fact, his wife, Maria, is a native of Greenville, South Carolina.

“People go out of their way to make you feel comfortable,” he says, after years on the pro circuit that took him all over the world and having lived in the U.S. in the early 2010s. “I found everyone to be super-welcoming.”

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A Legacy

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t was a picture-perfect October weekend in 2001 when Charlotte and John Tripoli traveled to South Carolina from their home in Michigan in search of a place to retire. As part of their discovery package to The Cliffs, they stayed at La Bastide (now Hotel Domestique) and played golf at The Cliffs at Glassy. At that point, they had searched all over the country but nothing had met all their criteria, so they were surprised when they fell immediately in love with The Cliffs at Glassy. “Defying our normal business practices, we made a purchase that weekend,” John recalls.

They started building their 5,800-square-foot home on Raptor Way the following year and moved in late in 2004. “One of our quests when we left Michigan was to find a retirement location that could become a gathering point for our five children,” says John. And gather they did, especially for Glassy’s annual Black Bear Member-Guest Tournament. Most years, the Tripolis all come for the member-guest (this past year was the first year they’re not all participating). Charlotte has won the ladies tournament twice — once with one of her daughters — while John has won a flight with two of his three sons.

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“ W E A R E B I G FA N S O F T H E C L I F F S S TA F F. THEY DO AN AMAZING J O B TA K I N G C A R E O F T H E I R M E M B E R S H I P. I ’ V E A LWAY S F E LT L I K E W E ’ R E PA RT O F A F I R S TCLASS EXPERIENCE.” — John Tripoli

When John and Charlotte moved to the Upstate, their daughter Janelle decided to move south with them. She bought a house in Simpsonville and her parents lived with her until their home at Glassy was completed. In 2004, John B., the oldest of the Tripoli siblings, followed suit, moving his wife, Kelli, and their 1-year-old daughter Sofia, to Greenville from Huntington Beach, California. It’s with the younger John that the Tripoli family’s legacy at The Cliffs begins.

After John and Kelli moved to Greenville, their introduction to The Cliffs lifestyle was spending time at John’s parents’ home at Glassy on weekends and holidays. “We’ve experienced a ton of memories at The Cliffs with my parents,” John says. “We are big fans of The Cliffs staff. They do an amazing job taking care of their membership. I’ve always felt like we’re part of a first-class experience.” Kelli agrees: “The Cliffs does a really good job of putting together unique opportunities, whether it’s wine tasting, yoga, spinning. What’s really great is there’s something for every age group.”

When their children were young, Kelli and John found the location of his parents’ house, across the street from the pool and near the playground, to be ideal for entertaining little ones. And when John wasn’t golfing with his parents and brothers, both he and Kelli could enjoy The Cliffs amenities as legacy members.

They enjoyed it so much, in fact, that in 2014, they purchased a second home at The Cliffs at Keowee, developer Jim Anthony’s original community on the lake.

When their daughter and son were younger (Sofia is now 18 and William is 15), Kelli and the

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“ W E ’ V E B E E N V E RY B L E S S E D T O B E A B L E T O S H A R E O U R R E T I R E M E N T W I T H O U R K I D S I N A WAY T H E Y C A N E N J O Y ACTIVITIES AND ENJOY EACH OTHER.” — Charlotte Tripoli kids would spend five out of seven days at The Cliffs during the summer. Although the two teens are now both busy with activities in high school, the family still heads to the lake every chance they get. William loves to fish, wakeboard, and play golf with his dad, while Sofia enjoys swimming in the lake, relaxing by the pool, and eating at the al fresco pizza kitchen at Keowee Vineyards.

“The Cliffs is a respite for me,” admits their dad, who has a demanding full-time job in Greenville as the managing director for Northwestern Mutual. “I feel like my blood pressure comes down the moment I get there. It’s my go-to place.”

The entire Tripoli family — all 23 of them — convene at least a couple of times a year at The Cliffs. (John’s two sisters also live in the Upstate, while one of his brothers lives in North Carolina, and the other in Michigan.) After the member-guest tournament, the family gathers at John and Kelli’s house for what they call the “Patriot Games” over the Fourth of July. A Tripoli family tradition for the last four years, the Patriot Games consist of a series of whacky competitions. “The family splits up into teams,” Kelli explains. “There’s always some kind of relay race, like a paddle board race on the lake or taking a greased watermelon into the lake and seeing who can get it

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back to shore the fastest. We do ladder ball and balloon tosses and there’s always a food-related game, like who can eat popsicles the fastest.” Such variety means that all 10 cousins, ages 5 to 21, can participate in something. The games are a treasured annual source of family memories — not to mention hilarious photos.

Case in point is the year they put shaving cream on people’s heads and held a competition to see who could stick on the most cheese balls.

Over the years, the Tripolis have celebrated many family milestones together at The Cliffs, including the wedding of John’s youngest sister Jolene who got married at The Cliffs at Glassy Chapel with a reception afterward at the clubhouse. Thanks to their parents, all five Tripoli siblings are legacy members, meaning that as children of a primary member, they enjoy all the amenities of The Cliffs for a nominal one-time fee. “We’ve been very blessed to be able to share our retirement with our kids in a way they can enjoy the activities and enjoy each other,” shares Charlotte.

All the Tripoli grandchildren have experienced the weeklong Kids Camp at Glassy, from the time they were eligible to attend (age 5) to when they aged out at 14 (the youngest grandchildren participated in their first Kids Camp last summer). “I remember going to Glassy Kids Camp

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Adventure Circle when I was 11,” John and Kelli’s son, William, reminisces. “We camped overnight in cabins and played Capture the Flag.”

For John and Kelli and their children, the best part about being a member at The Cliffs has been spending intentional time with family. “We’ve had such a great time as a family on the lake and attending events with my grandparents,” exclaims Sofia.

Her brother equally appreciates his time there: “I’ve made a lot of memories at The Cliffs, like learning to fish and golf, and spending time with my cousins.”

“Sometimes it’s just the four of us, what I call ‘the core four,’” John says. “Having a place to go in a venue like The Cliffs has created a lot of intention for us to come together for extended periods of time. When we’re at the lake, we play games and take walks, we read and do puzzles.

That type of togetherness has been very special for us.”

“We are so grateful that the many aspects of The Cliffs communities are available to the third generation of Tripolis,” John says. It’s a journey he hopes will continue through future generations of his family.

Both of John’s children share his desire to further the family’s Cliffs legacy. As William puts it: “The Cliffs has so many activities to do, and [someday] I want my kids to have the same fun experiences that I have had.”

“THE CLIFFS IS A RESPITE FOR ME. I FEEL LIKE MY BLOOD PRESSURE COMES DOWN THE MOMENT I GET THERE. IT’S MY GO-TO PLACE.” — John B. Tripoli, Member at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards (shown here with wife Kelli, daughter Sofia, and son William).

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What makes us happy?

“A beautiful retreat in the middle of everything” When Mark and Beth Pfeil moved to Tryon Estates, a premier Acts Retirement-Life Community in Columbus, NC, they found a resort-like lifestyle in the heart of Blue Ridge Foothills with wonderful new friends and an elegant apartment personalized to their own taste. Best of all, Tryon Estates is located near the neighbors, amenities and cultural opportunities they love in Greenville, Tryon, Asheville and beyond. And with Acts Life Care®, the Pfeils pay for future care in today’s dollars, should their needs ever change. That means less worry and more time to enjoy the good life. Discover your own perfectly appointed retirement at Tryon Estates today.

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FAMILY CIRCLE ® STYLE FILE ® TREND REPORT ®

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FAMILY CIRCLE

Home at The Cliffs

C AT H Y & GA BE WOOD

Cathy and Gabe Wood say creating meaningful family memories for their children, Mac, 6, and Maddie, 4, is of the utmost importance. But life for the Atlanta, Georgia, family is busy. Gabe commutes to New York City for his job with the private equity firm Tenex Capital. Cathy is a stay-at-home mom. When the couple discovered The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, they knew they’d found a place to slow down and create those special family moments. In mid-2021, the Woods bought a homesite there and plan to build right away.

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Where are you both from?

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Cathy: Gabe was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but moved at a young age to Tacoma, Washington, until going to boarding school in New Hampshire. He stayed in the northeast until I dragged him to Atlanta seven years ago. He’s the biggest [Georgia] Bulldog fan you’ve ever seen for not being from the South.

I was born in South Africa, grew up in North Carolina, and moved to Atlanta after college. I went to Australia for a couple years and then to NYC where I reconnected with Gabe and then we moved to Atlanta.

CL

Tell us more about how you became interested in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards?

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Cathy: We have been coming up to Lake Keowee with one of my best friends from Wake Forest University every year for the last six years. They are members of The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards and we always had the best time with them.

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The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards

Gabe: I was able to play golf at several of the courses with them and we experienced the various clubs around the lake and fell in love with the whole concept of having a full-blown leisure-oriented community right on the lake.

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What will your home at The Cliffs mean for your family?

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Cathy: When we get to Lake Keowee we can slow down and engage with the kids in nature.

Time seems to slow down and the kids love having our full attention.

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How do you think you’ll use The Cliffs’ amenities now and as your children grow?

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Cathy: Gabe loves to play on the different golf courses, and we love the pool with the slides (at the Beach Club at The Cliffs Keowee Springs) and the canoes as well as the yummy poolside food.

We have also had nice dinners at the clubhouse.

Everything is so convenient, and the service is always incredible.

Gabe: While we will use the pool and clubhouses more initially, I think our kids will increasingly enjoy playing golf and tennis and I hope my son and daughter will be playing both with us for many years into the future. I suspect we will also be bringing along many of our closest friends and family members for them and their kids to enjoy the facilities as well.

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Home at The Cliffs

HELEN & MIK E HINTON

After retiring, Helen and Mike Hinton were ready to make a move from Raleigh, North Carolina, to a mountain community. But first, they needed to find a place that checked all the boxes. Mike, who worked for 34 years at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, wanted to be able to golf. Helen, who most recently worked as a church bookkeeper and preschool director, is an exercise-enthusiast and wanted a top-of-the-line wellness center. The couple, who have been married 38 years, both wanted to live within a close drive to their children and grandchildren. The Cliffs at Mountain Park checked all the boxes — and then some, says the couple.

CL

Tell me a little about your family and your connection to the area.

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Mike: I grew up on a small farm on Woodruff Road in Greenville, South Carolina. My father was a meteorologist at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. I tell people now that I often drove our tractor on Woodruff Road to a nearby country store to fill up with gas. How things have changed in the last 50 years! I attended Clemson University and received an MS in wildlife biology in 1979.

Helen: I grew up in Lexington, South Carolina. My family were South Carolina Gamecock fans until I decided to go to Clemson University. Instantly my family became Clemson Tigers. I majored in accounting and throughout the years worked in the accounting field. Before we left Raleigh, North Carolina, to retire in the Upstate, I worked part time keeping the books for our church and part time as a preschool director, which I loved.

Working with young children and families was a passion I enjoyed for over 20 years.

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The Cliffs at Mountain Park

CL

How long have you been members at Mountain Park?

Tell us a little more about what drew you there.

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Mike: We have been members at Mountain Park for four years. The location of Mountain Park and its proximity to Greenville, Asheville, and the small mountain towns was also appealing. The endless outdoor recreational opportunities nearby are also a plus.

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What have you enjoyed most about membership?

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Mike and Helen: The golf and recreational opportunities provided by the seven clubs can’t be beat. By far, the most enjoyable aspect of membership is the friendships we have made. You couldn’t ask for a more welcoming community. The people of Mountain Park — including staff — are what sets this community apart. While there are many beautiful golf communities around the country, we can’t imagine living anywhere else. Members have come here from all over the country and beyond to make Mountain Park their home.

We often say that we are the only ones here without an accent. Spending time with new friends has been the best experience at Mountain Park.

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We understand you have children and grandchildren.

What have family experiences been like at Mountain Park? What do you most enjoy doing as a family?

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Mike and Helen: Our sons both enjoy playing golf.

We also enjoy hiking and visiting nearby towns. Our granddaughters enjoy visits to nearby apple orchards in the fall to pick apples. They also enjoy visiting playgrounds and swimming pools at the other clubs.

The Beach Club at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is a favorite. We also enjoy visiting restaurants and wineries nearby. Most of all, we just enjoy being together and watching the girls grow.

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STYLE FILE

DR E A M CELLAR Exquisite design details create perfect space for wine lovers

Brenda and Mike Schultz were doing a walk-through of the home they eventually purchased at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards when they noticed the locked door.

“[The sellers] said it was a wine cellar,” Brenda recalls, “but when we bought the house and unlocked the door, it was more like a little safe room with cement walls and some half-made wine racks nailed in there. And it wasn’t humidity- or temperature-controlled.”

It was far from the couple’s idea of a wine cellar in which they could safely store their collection, which at the time comprised some 800 bottles. They considered just adding temperature and humidity control to the small space, then realized they had a big tool room downstairs next to the garage. “We talked about converting part of that, but then we said, ‘Let’s just do the whole room,’” Mike reports.

“So, we took that entire tool room and built a custom wine cellar. We decided that since this is going to be our retirement home, we wanted to do it right.”

It was 2018 when they moved from Kennesaw,

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Georgia, to The Cliffs. Brenda lives there full-time, while Mike, who is senior vice president of supply chain for Floor & Decor in Atlanta, commutes on weekends — except for the past year during the pandemic, when he’s been working from Keowee Vineyards. “That’s why we built the wine cellar,” Brenda quips.

Completed last fall, the Schultz’s 250-squarefoot cellar is a work of art, with racking for 2,400 bottles (their wine collection now stands at about half that number). It’s fitted with dark cabinetry for displaying glassware and a beamed shiplap ceiling, all made of exotic African sapele wood.

Four lounge chairs surround a small table, where the couple can sip a glass of wine with friends.

Overhead, a two-tier wrought-iron chandelier lends the room an old-world feel. The floor is travertine — from Mike’s company — and Brenda designated the placement of each 2-foot-by-3-foot piece of stone. Other highlights include a marblelined tasting nook and a backlit infinity wall that shows off some of their foreign wines. A library ladder provides access to the topmost shelves.

The pair began to grow their wine collection in the early 2000s, educated by tastings and dinners at a wine shop and tapas restaurant owned by friends in Kennesaw. Journeys to the Napa Valley

Since Mike was only at The Cliffs on weekends when the couple first moved to their house on the cove, Brenda’s unofficial job was to make friends. Now it’s a rare day that the selfproclaimed “instigator of fun” isn’t running off to some activity, be it jet skiing with the ladies group she organized (who call themselves the “Aquaholics”), playing golf or pickleball, or serving on a CRO committee for Keowee Vineyards. On weekends, when they’re not hosting wine dinners or tasting wine in their new cellar, you can often find the couple floating somewhere in their 28-foot Sea Ray, which they christened “Doesn’t Suck.”

STYLE FILE

followed, which partly explains why Napa cabs from wineries including Italics, Joseph Phelps, Caymus, Silver Oak, Shafer, and Alpha Omega take up much of their cellar.

These days, they also purchase wine through The Cliffs Wine Consortium, a program that allows members to purchase hard-to-find wines at exclusive prices.“It’s a collection of love,” says Mike. “It’s mostly wine we have connections with. Either we went to a tasting [for a particular wine] or visited the vineyard.”

Meeting the winemakers drives that connection home. “On our bucket list is to go visit Italian, French, and Australian vineyards, because wine is so much better when you experience it at the winery … and relate to the people,” Mike believes. Some of their most prized wines are signed bottles of M by Michael Mondavi, a “40th Anniversary” (2012) Caymus cabernet sauvignon, and a 3-liter bottle of Joseph Phelps Insignia that Mike is saving for his retirement. “We also have

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several vertical vintages — one from 2001 to the present. We love to see how the wines change year over year.”

They’re in the process of converting the existing kitchenette just outside the cellar into a full kitchen to blend Brenda’s love of cooking with easy access to their wines. In the meantime, Mike and Brenda continue to ferment their passion for wine in a stunning cellar where they can curate their collection for decades to come.

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TREND REPORT

OR IGIN STORY How Three Distinct Designs Came to Life

Our homes are a reflection of us: our history, dreams, and passions. And whether you’re an accountant or an artist, we all carry a spark of creativity within — and want the spaces we dwell in to reflect that personal vision.

We’ve sought out three homes with unique and inspiring design stories to share, and while they are dramatically different and fully remarkable in their own ways, they share a common thread: Each of the owners found something more than beauty in reclaimed materials. They found a journey of excitement and fulfillment in being part of the artistic process from start to finish.

An Heirloom Reimagined At first glance, it’s hard to believe that the crystal chandelier soaring above the staircase at Stuart Safft and Anne De Greef-Safft’s home at The Cliffs Valley once took the shape of a reversed wedding cake. Passed down from Stuart’s parents, it has come a long way — literally and figuratively — from the warm family gatherings in Florida of 30 years ago.

“We moved around a lot for a time, following our careers, and the chandelier stayed in a box. We didn’t know what we wanted to do with it, just that we’d eventually restore it,” says Anne De Greef-Safft. “When we built our dream home here in The Cliffs, we finally opened the box, and the whole metal structure that made the two squares was totally rusted. The crystal was still in perfect shape, but it was clear that we couldn’t use the original metal frame.”

As the couple were designing the home, they turned to the team at The Heirloom Companies, and asked, “We’ve got this family chandelier that we love; can you create something more contemporary with it that would

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have lights at different heights, that would add drama?”

Adds Anne, “The process of designing it started with sketches. We went back and forth with the team at [The Heirloom Companies], from putting the final details on it to actually figuring out how they would manufacture and install something original like this. We also visited The Heirloom shop, which was amazing. I find it fascinating to see how they work.”

With many nail-biting moments along the journey — including building a platform in the stairway and a pulley system in the attic to suspend and install the work of art — the couple has this advice: “We loved working with idStudio, our architect and our builder, and having these trusted advisers on board. On my own, I wouldn’t have known where to even start finding the solutions we needed. Having partners you trust be involved throughout the whole process is key,” says Anne. “Stuart and I are not creative people, necessarily, so even though I had a vision for the house we wanted, they were able to help us put it all together — to create something we love.”

TREND REPORT

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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From Pasture To On The Water The Ghidottis’ home at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is where farm concepts meet lakefront lifestyle. And the design element tying it all together? Reclaimed barn wood painstakingly collected, kiln-dried and transported from the Midwest to the Southeast.

“This is the second home we’ve built in The Cliffs. Our first home was in the Dockside area at Keowee Springs, with nice mountain views — but we weren’t really taking advantage of the lake, and we wanted to do more of that. That’s when we decided to build this house,” says Paul Ghidotti, giving all of the creative credit to his wife, Kathie. “Kathie really loved the idea of using reclaimed barn wood as part of our theme, but finding enough material of this kind from one source in the Upstate area wasn’t easy.

We ended up looking into several places here [in Ohio, where their main residence is], and then going to see the material in person out in field to make sure it was consistent enough, that it had the age, weathering and color we wanted, and that there was enough wood to build the home we wanted.”

Eighteen thousand pounds of posts and beams later, the effect is rich and natural, yet elegant and restrained. Massive timbers cross the ceilings and entryways, peppered with knots, spots and imperfections that give the design character. The ceiling, which could easily be considered a work of art, is composed of thinner pieces of wood, box beams from the side walls of the barn, which vary in color and texture.

“It truly was a feat of engineering, and a collaborative process between us and our builder,” adds Ghidotti. “We knew it would take a lot of work and a lot of time, and it slowed our construction process, but it was what we had to do to create that customization, that personal touch the house needed.” And despite having lost 20% of the wood between pasture and homesite, Ghidotti nods to Meritus Builders’ creativity in maximizing all the material that was salvaged — including changing the home entry to feature the barn wood.

“Our desire was to create a place for our kids — especially as they get older and start having kids — to carve out some time from their busy lives to come down and gather together,” Ghidotti smiles. “It’s super comfortable, inviting and informal. We’re Ohio residents, we’ve lived here our whole lives, and [giving the barn wood new life in The Cliffs] was our way of bringing a little of the place we love to the Upstate.”

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TREND REPORT

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Italian Design, Illuminated When you first set foot in Roger Sheffield’s sunwarmed home at The Cliffs Valley, you might feel as though you’ve been welcomed into a chef ’s hideaway in the hills of Tuscany.

From the whimsical Murano glass fixtures and reclaimed French tiles, to the many spaces indoors and out designed for eating, the European way of life was a clear inspiration for Sheffield. “This is a place where I can invite people to share good food and company. That’s the Italian lifestyle and mentality, really. In Italy, sitting around a table and sharing a meal is a big part of their culture. I wanted the house to capture that feeling.”

Helping to cast that glow over countless memorable moments is a truly stunning Murano glass centerpiece, a custom chandelier that Sheffield spent months bringing to life — starting with a plane ticket. “Part of the fun of building this house was traveling around different places in Italy, exploring and finding new and interesting things that bring joy, treasures you’ve never seen before,” says Sheffield. His vision for the chandelier, however, was rooted in a Murano piece he’d loved, snapped a photo of and set out to recreate in his own style. “I wanted lights that shone downward, not upward. I love flowers and vines, so I was looking for something relatively botanical in shape, and I wanted more smoky, warm glass rather than clear. It imbues a sense of peace, of comfort into the home.”

While in Murano, Sheffield visited a number of different glass manufacturers before finding the sweet spot with a talented team that fit his budget. “They make all the pieces to order — there’s nothing sitting on shelves waiting to be shipped. We watched them make the glass pieces, and it’s really fascinating. They start, literally, with a bag of sand. They heat it up to melt it, then start adding colored glass to create the aspects of what you’re looking for.” Adds Sheffield, “they’re amazing craftsmen.”

While there are several other custom Murano glass light fixtures throughout the villa-inspired home, the chandelier steals the show — and couldn’t have been possible without the help of Sheffield’s builder, Jason Bergeron. “Putting together the chandelier was painful.

It took a very long time — the directions are in Italian.

It’s not the easiest thing to do, but my builder is very talented. He enjoyed putting the puzzle together. I just don’t think there’s a substitute for meeting the people you’re going to be working with in person, and developing a sense of confidence in them.”

His advice? Immerse yourself in the design journey.

“There are many Murano glass blowers that I could have worked with, so I found it most helpful to physically be there, to meet them and see their factory, to watch their process,” says Sheffield. “If you can, go in person and meet the makers. That’s the best way to know what you’re getting is truly authentic.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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REALIZED

NEW CONSTRUCTION - RENOVATION - FURNISHINGS

HENDERSONVILLE, NC 828.697.2012

CHERYLSMITHASSOCIATES.COM

The Care You Trust

Trusted Comfort. Trusted Care.

Care Navigation  Home Care Palliative Care  Hospice Care Grief Services  Research & Innovation  Foundation (828) 692.6178 FourSeasonsCFL.org

Please visit cliffsliving.com/preferredbuilders for more information on this esteemed group of master builders and the specific regions they service.

BU I L D W I T H T H E B E S T Building a custom home at The Cliffs should be as rewarding of an experience as living here. To that end, we’ve assembled and thoroughly vetted the finest custom home builders in the region to form The Cliffs Preferred Builder Program.

By choosing to build your custom home at The Cliffs with one of our Preferred Builders, you can be confident the firm you choose to work with has the experience and commitment necessary to understand and execute your unique vision.

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SAVE THE DATES

Save the Dates!

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Mark your calendars for these fun-filled events taking place across The Cliffs this fall and winter.

MARCH TUESDAY, MARCH 1 • MARDI GRAS FEATURES (Glassy) • ALTON BROWN: BEYOND EATS (Mountain Park) • BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

MONDAY, MARCH 28

KIDS CAMPS

• COFFEE CLUB (Valley) • UNCORKED WINE DINNER (Walnut Cove)

• GLASSY: June 26 - July 1 • KAMP KEOWEE: June 27 - 30 • VALLEY: July 4 - 8 • WALNUT COVE: July 11 - 15

• SPRING FLING OPEN FIRE DINNER / SPRING MEMBERASSOCIATE SCRAMBLE (Keowee Springs)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 • WOMEN WHO WINE (Glassy)

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• LADIES’ OPENING DAY (Mountain Park)

THURSDAY, MARCH 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30

•MEMBER MINGLE (Mountain Park)

• MONET IMMERSIVE EXHIBIT (Mountain Park)

• MASTERCLASS MIXOLOGY (Keowee Falls)

• TRIVIA (Valley)

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 • LOBSTER NIGHT (Glassy)

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

• WELLNESS WORKSHOP (Mountain Park)

• GRAPES OF GLASSY (Glassy) • CVLGA OPENING DAY (Valley)

MONDAY, MARCH 7

APRIL

• INSIGHT SERIES (Mountain Park) • UNCA SPEAKER SERIES (Walnut Cove)

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

MONDAY, MARCH 21

• SPRING GUEST DAY (Mountain Park)

• COFFEE TALK WITH JEFF (Glassy)

• INSIGHT SERIES (Glassy)

• NINE & DINE (Mountain Park) • MEMBER GUEST DAY (Keowee Springs)

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

• ST. PATRICK’S DINNER (Valley)

• SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Springs) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 • NUTRITION SEMINAR (Mountain Park) THURSDAY, MARCH 10 • CHAPEL CONCERT / TURF TALK WITH TIM (Glassy) • HIKE / COFFEE WITH THE PRO (Mountain Park) • COOKING CLASS (Valley) • LOBSTER DINNER (Keowee Vineyards) FRIDAY, MARCH 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 • ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS: – DINNER WITH JUST US BAND (Glassy) – PADDY SHACK & MEMBER MINGLE (Mountain Park) – DINNER (Walnut Cove, Keowee Vineyards) – BASH (Keowee Springs) – LUCK LEPRECHAUN SHAMROCK CHALLENGE (Walnut Cove)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23

• BIRTHDAY CLUB (Glassy) MONDAY, APRIL 4

• CRAFT DAY (Glassy)

• RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy)

• INTRODUCTION TO HANDGUNS (Mountain Park)

• ROCKIN’ ON THE RANGE (Mountain Park)

• INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

• MASTER’S MONDAY PUTTING EVENT (Valley)

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 • RIDE WITH THE PROS/TPI ASSESSMENT (Mountain Park) • COOKING CLASS (Valley) FRIDAY, MARCH 25

• KFLGA OPENING DAY (Keowee Falls) • UNCA SPEAKER (Walnut Cove) TUESDAY, APRIL 5 • THAI THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park)

• PUTTING WITH THE PROS (Keowee Falls)

• NEW MEMBER MINGLE (Walnut Cove)

• THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

• BOURBON CLUB / LADIES’ OPENING DAY (Keowee Springs)

• WINE DINNER (Valley)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• WINE DINNER (Glassy)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

• NADA (Keowee Vineyards)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• MEGA SPRING FLING (Keowee Falls)

• SCOTCH/WHISKEY DINNER (Keowee Springs)

• VARIETY NIGHT (Keowee Valley)

• INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

• PRIME RIB NIGHT (Keowee Springs)

TUESDAY, MARCH 15

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

• MASTERS PARK 3 TOURNAMENT (Keowee Falls)

• COFFEE WITH THE PRO (Mountain Park)

• THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

MARCH 21-28 • AERATION (Glassy)

• BLOOD DRIVE (Glassy) SATURDAY, MARCH 12

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

SUNDAY, MARCH 27 • COUPLES GOLF (Valley) • COUPLES SPAGHETTI OPEN (Keowee Falls)

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 • COOKING CLASS (Glassy) (continued on next page) SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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• MASTER CLASS (Keowee Vineyards) • MENS’ OPENING DAY (Keowee Springs) FRIDAY, APRIL 8 • DRIVING LLAMA VINEYARD EXCURSION (Mountain Park)

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

• MENS’ OPENING DAY (Keowee Falls)

• MASTERS THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

• BIRTHDAY CLUB (Valley)

• GRAPES OF GLASSY (Glassy)

• REIGN OF THE REGION (Glassy, Mountain Park, Valley) FRIDAY, APRIL 22

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 • GLGA OPENING DAY (Glassy)

APRIL 23-24 • TOUGH MUDDER (Mountain Park)

• THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park)

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

• EMPLOYEE GUEST DAY (Valley)

• THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

THURSDAY, APRIL 14 • CHAPEL CONCERT (Glassy) • DINE & DASH (Valley) FRIDAY, APRIL 15 • SEAFOOD DINNER (Glassy, Valley) • NADA (Keowee Vineyards) • GOOD FRIDAY BASH (Keowee Falls)

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CLIFFS LIVING

For more information, contact: Reservations/Guest Services 864-660-8474 Reservations@CrescentHospitalityLLC.com

APRIL 22-24

• MONDAY AFTER MASTERS PRO-AM (Keowee Falls)

• 9-HOLERS OPENING DAY (Keowee Falls)

For more information, contact: Residential Property Management 864-660-8473 Brandy@CrescentHospitalityLLC.com

• PUTTER’S CLUB SOCIETY (Keowee Falls)

MONDAY, APRIL 11

• RIVERBEND CLAY SHOOTING EXCURSION (Mountain Park)

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICES: • Full-Service Housekeeping • Annual Deep Cleaning • Construction Cleaning • Pre-move In/Post-move Out

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• GAME NIGHT (Walnut Cove)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

PRE-ARRIVAL SERVICES CONCIERGE: • After-Hours Guest Services Response • Coordination of Group Accommodations • Concierge Grocery Delivery By Request

• MUSIC BINGO (Valley)

APRIL 11-22 • AERATION (Walnut Cove)

• SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Springs)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT: • Renovation and Repairs • Water Damage Restoration • Roof Repairs/Leak Damage • Pressure Washing/Softwash Services • Handyman Services

• INSIGHT SERIES (Glassy) • CWP CLASS (Mountain Park)

• EMPLOYEE GUEST DAY (Glassy)

THE CLIFFS LUXURY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: • 40+ years Combined Experience in Lodging/Hospitality • Turn-key Vacation Rental Management Services • Residential Property Management Services • Year-round Program for Non-Resident Second Homeowners • Customized to Meet Each Owner’s Individual Needs • On-Call Management for After-hours Emergency Services • Coordination with Real Estate Agency for Listed Properties • Extended Vacation Services for All Homeowners • Periodic Inspections and Preventive Maintenance • Property Care Services; Vendor Appts., Service Calls • Trusted Vendor Network • Exterior and Grounds Inspection • Inclement Weather Inspection/Emergency Response

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

• COUPLES’ GOLF: THE MASTERS (Keowee Vineyards)

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 • MASTERS BRUNCH (Walnut Cove)

OUR TEAM IS AT YOUR SERVICE!

TUESDAY, APRIL 19 • THEME NIGHT: SOUTHERN FAVORITES (Mountain Park)

• GOOD FRIDAY DINNER (Keowee Springs) SATURDAY, APRIL 16 • FAMILY NIGHT (Glassy) • EASTER EGG HIKE (Mountain Park, Keowee Vineyards) • EASTER COOKIE CLASS (Walnut Cove) SUNDAY, APRIL 17 • EASTER BRUNCH - HOME FOR HOLIDAYS (Glassy, Valley) • EASTER BRUNCH (Mountain Park, Keowee Vineyards, Keowee Falls, Keowee Springs, Walnut Cove)

• GARDENING CLASS (Glassy)

• VARIETY NIGHT (Keowee Vineyards) APRIL 25-28 • TENNIS CAMP (Walnut Cove) MONDAY, APRIL 25 • WALK THE COURSE (Glassy) • NINE & DINE (Mountain Park) • COFFEE CLUB (Valley) • UNCORKED (Walnut Cove) TUESDAY, APRIL 26 • THEME NIGHT: SPRING HARVEST (Mountain Park) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 • FAREWAY DINNER (Glassy) • FISHING WITH PHIL (Mountain Park) • LAKE LADIES LUNCHEON (Keowee Falls) THURSDAY, APRIL 28 • RIDE WITH THE PROS (Mountain Park) • LADIES PLAYAROUND/JAZZ ON THE GREEN (Keowee Vineyards) • UNCORKED (Walnut Cove) FRIDAY, APRIL 29 • MEMBER-GUEST GOLF DAY (Glassy) • HIKE / MEMBER-ASSOCIATE SCRAMBLE (Mountain Park)

• EASTER BRUNCH & EGG HUNT (Walnut Cove)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

MONDAY, APRIL 18 • RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy)

• MEDITATION WORKSHOP (Mountain Park)

• TENNIS SEASON OPENER (Walnut Cove)

• THE MARKER: 1-DAY MEMBER-GUEST (Keowee Falls)

• THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

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SAVE THE DATES • PRIME RIB DINNER (Keowee Springs)

• WOMEN WHO WINE, PAINT & SIP (Glassy)

MAY

• INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

SUNDAY, MAY 1

• LADIES PLAYAROUND (Keowee Springs)

SUNDAY, MAY 22

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

• SPRING FLING COUPLES MEMBER-GUEST (Walnut Cove)

MAY 12-14

• INSIGHT SERIES (Glassy)

MAY 23-25

• ON COURSE LEMONADE STAND (Glassy)

• KEOWEE INVITATIONAL (Keowee Falls, Keowee Springs, Keowee Vineyards)

• FISHING WITH PHIL (Mountain Park)

• WAR BY THE SHORE (Lake)

• FLAT STICK SOCIAL (Mountain Park)

THURSDAY, MAY 12

MONDAY, MAY 2

• GLASSY CONCERT (Glassy)

• RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy)

• PICNIC & BOTANICAL GARDEN WALK (Mountain Park)

• GUEST DAY (Valley)

• CREEKSIDE FARM DINNER (Walnut Cove) MAY 19-21 • THE BOOTLEGGER MEMBER-MEMBER (Glassy)

MONDAY, MAY 23 • RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy) • COFFEE CLUB (Valley) • BOURBON TASTING (Keowee Springs)

THURSDAY, MAY 19

TUESDAY, MAY 24

• RUBBER DUCK DERBY (Glassy)

• THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park)

• SPRING GUEST DAY (Walnut Cove)

• LOBSTER DINNER (Keowee Vineyards)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

SATURDAY, MAY 14

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

• HAPPY COW CREAMERY TOUR (Mountain Park)

• PUTTERS CLUB SOCIETY (Keowee Falls)

• UNCA SPEAKER SERIES (Walnut Cove) TUESDAY, MAY 3

• HIKE (Mountain Park) • CRAFT DAY (MOTHER’S DAY THEME) (Valley) • LADIES OPENING DAY (Walnut Cove) THURSDAY, MAY 5 • CINCO DE MAYO EVENTS: – CHA CHA TOURNAMENT (Glassy) – SALSA DANCING NIGHT (Mountain Park) – PROGRESSIVE DINNER (Keowee Vineyards) – DINNER (Walnut Cove) FRIDAY, MAY 6 • LADIES DAY LUNCHEON (Glassy) • KEOWEE LADIES INVITATIONAL (Keowee Falls) MAY 7-8

• MENS OPENING DAY (Walnut Cove) FRIDAY, MAY 13

SUNDAY, MAY 15 • BATTLE OF THE SEXES (Keowee Falls) • NINE & DINE (Walnut Cove) MONDAY, MAY 16

• FAREWAY DINNER (Glassy) • INTRODUCTION TO HANDGUNS (Mountain Park)

MAY 20-21

• TRIVIA (Valley)

• LADIES’ MEMBER-GUEST (Mountain Park)

• TACKLEBOX CONCERT SERIES (Keowee Vineyards)

FRIDAY, MAY 20

• LADIES PLAYAROUND (Walnut Cove)

• HIKE (Mountain Park) • NADA (Keowee Vineyards)

THURSDAY, MAY 26

• SPRING HARVEST SPANISH WINE DINNER (Keowee Springs)

• RIDE WITH THE PROS (Mountain Park)

• TENNIS PRO CHALLENGE (Walnut Cove)

• UNCORKED (Walnut Cove)

• CRO EVENT (Lake)

SATURDAY, MAY 21

• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

• PAINT & SIP CLASS (Keowee Falls)

• POOL OPENING & BLOOD DRIVE (Glassy)

• RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy) • NINE & DINE (Mountain Park) • ARABIAN NIGHTS (Mountain Park) TUESDAY, MAY 17

FRIDAY, MAY 27

• MEMORIAL DAY HIKE & PICNIC (Mountain Park) • POOL OPENING (Valley) • COUPLES GOLF: RISE & SHINE (Keowee Vineyards)

• THOROUGHBRED (Keowee Springs)

• MEMORIAL DAY BASH (Keowee Falls)

SATURDAY, MAY 7

• BONNIE & CLYDE (Keowee Springs)

• DERBY DAY & 2 PLAYER BOURBON HORSE RACE TOURNAMENT (Glassy)

SATURDAY, MAY 28

• KENDUCKY DERBY DINNER (Mountain Park)

• BEER TASTING AT POOL / THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

SUNDAY, MAY 8

• MEMORIAL DAY COLOR RUN & WALK (Mountain Park)

• MOTHERS DAY BRUNCH (Glassy, Mountain Park, Valley, Keowee Falls, Keowee Springs, Walnut Cove)

• VARIETY NIGHT (Keowee Vineyards) • PARENT-CHILD GOLF TOURNAMENT (Keowee Falls)

MONDAY, MAY 9

• PRIME RIB NIGHT (Keowee Springs)

• RIPPIN LIPS WITH RHONDA (Glassy)

• MEMORIAL DAY DINNER (Walnut Cove)

• ROCKIN’ ON THE RANGE (Mountain Park)

SUNDAY, MAY 29

• DOG DAY AT THE BEACH CLUB (Keowee Springs) TUESDAY, MAY 10 • THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park) • SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Springs) WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

• THEME DINNER (Glassy) SUNDAY, MAY 29 • MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS: – GOLF EVENT (Mountain Park) – COUPLES TOURNAMENT (Keowee Falls) – BRUNCH/POOL PARTY/ PUTTING SOCIAL (Walnut Cove) SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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JUNE

• SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Springs)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 • GRILLIN WITH YOUR POOCH (Glassy)

• EMPLOYEE-MEMBER TOURNAMENT (Walnut Cove) TUESDAY, JUNE 14 • HELICOPTER TOURS (Glassy) • ASIAN THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 • FAREWAY DINNER (Glassy) • FISHING WITH PHIL (Mountain Park)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

THURSDAY, JUNE 16

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

• TOUGH DAY GOLF (Glassy)

• CRAFT CLASS (Glassy)

• TPI ASSESSMENT (Mountain Park)

• STRAWBERRY PICKING EXCURSION (Mountain Park)

• DINE & DASH (Valley)

JUNE 3-4

JUNE 16-18

• COUPLES MEMBER-GUEST (Glassy)

• LADIES MEMBER-GUEST (Walnut Cove)

• THE PLAYER (MEMBERMEMBER) (Mountain Park)

FRIDAY, JUNE 17

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

• NADA (Keowee Vineyards)

• WINE DINNER (Valley) SUNDAY, JUNE 5 • NINE & DINE (Walnut Cove) MONDAY, JUNE 6 • NINE & DINE: BREAKFAST FOR DINNER (Mountain Park)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18 • WINE DINNER (Glassy) • FATHER’S DAY CHOPHOUSE (Keowee Falls) SUNDAY, JUNE 19

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• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

MONDAY, JUNE 20

JUNE 8-11, 13-15

• EMPLOYEE-MEMBER CLASSIC (Glassy)

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• GRAND WINE TASTING/CHEF’S DINNER (Walnut Cove)

TUESDAY, JUNE 21

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

• EMPLOYEE-MEMBER (Valley)

• CHAPEL CONCERT (Glassy)

• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

• MASTER CLASS (Keowee Vineyards)

• INSIGHT SERIES (Glassy)

JUNE 10-12

• CWP CLASS/NUTRITION SEMINAR (Mountain Park)

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• MUSIC MONDAY AT THE BEACH CLUB (Keowee Springs)

• FATHER’S DAY EVENTS – GRILL & CHILL (Glassy) – STEAKS & BOURBON DINNER (Keowee Springs) – DINNER (Walnut Cove)

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MONDAY, JUNE 13

• MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS – COOKOUT & TOURNAMENT (Glassy) – BARBECUE (Mountain Park) – BOCCE TOURNAMENT (Valley) – COOKOUT (Keowee Falls) – BATTLE AT THE COVE & COOKOUT (Walnut Cove)

• UNCA SPEAKER SERIES (Walnut Cove)

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MONDAY, MAY 30

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• AERATION (Mountain Park) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 • INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

• STUMPHOUSE (Keowee Falls)

• INSIGHT SERIES (Mountain Park) • CRAFT DAY (Valley)

• THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park)

• BEN WRIGHT MEMBER-MEMBER (Valley)

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

• RIDE WITH THE PROS (Mountain Park)

• BIRTHDAY CLUB (Glassy) • CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY EXCURSION (Mountain Park)

• GRAPES OF GLASSY (Glassy)

• LADIES’ PLAYAROUND (Valley) • FARM TO TABLE (Keowee Vineyards)

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SAVE THE DATES FRIDAY, JULY 8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

• WINE & DESIGN (Mountain Park)

• INTRODUCTION TO HANDGUNS (Mountain Park)

• SUMMER GUEST DAY (Walnut Cove) SATURDAY, JULY 9 • THEME NIGHT (Glassy) • BREAKFAST AT WIMBLEDON (Walnut Cove) SUNDAY, JULY 10 • FIRE & ICE TOURNAMENT (Keowee Falls) • NINE & DINE (Walnut Cove)

• MEMBER-MEMBER (Keowee Falls)

• SNAP, CRACKLE, POP DINNER (Valley)

• COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA (Keowee Springs)

• JULY 4TH CELEBRATION (Keowee Falls, Walnut Cove)

• NEW MEMBER MINGLE (Walnut Cove) SATURDAY, JUNE 25 • THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

MONDAY, JUNE 27

• COUPLES GOLF: INDEPENDENCE DAY (Keowee Falls)

• TENNIS PRO CHALLENGE (Walnut Cove) SUNDAY, JULY 24 • PUTTING SOCIAL (Walnut Cove)

• AERATION (Walnut Cove)

MONDAY, JULY 25

TUESDAY, JULY 12

• COFFEE CLUB (Valley)

• FARM TO TABLE DINNER (Mountain Park)

TUESDAY, JULY 26

• SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Springs) • FISHING WITH PHIL (Mountain Park)

• FLAG DAY GOLF (Valley)

• FALLS ON ICE DINNER (Keowee Falls)

JULY 12-13

• FAMILY CRAFT DAY (Glassy)

• VARIETY NIGHT (Keowee Vineyards)

SATURDAY, JULY 23

• SUMMER BLOCK PARTY (Valley)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

• LADIES’ FAIRWAY CLASSIC (Glassy)

• AERATION (Glassy)

SUNDAY, JULY 3 • FIRECRACKER SCRAMBLER (Mountain Park)

JULY 21-23

JULY 11-12

• UNCA SPEAKER SERIES (Walnut Cove)

• FREEDOM FEAST CELEBRATION (Mountain Park)

• TACKLE BOX CONCERT SERIES (Keowee Vineyards)

• WELLNESS WORKSHOP (Mountain Park)

MONDAY, JULY 11

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

• INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

• LADIES’ PLAYAROUND / THEME NIGHT (Mountain Park) WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 • FAREWAY DINNER (Glassy)

THURSDAY, JULY 14

• CHARLOTTE WHITE WATER CENTER EXCURSION (Mountain Park)

• CHAPEL CONCERT & TURF TALK WITH TIM (Glassy)

• TRIVIA NIGHT (Valley)

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

THURSDAY, JULY 28

• TRUST DINNER (Valley)

• MOUNTAIN BIKING (Mountain Park)

• COFFEE CLUB (Valley)

• INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION (Keowee Springs, Walnut Cove)

FRIDAY, JULY 15

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

• LOBSTER DINNER (Keowee Vineyards)

MONDAY, JULY 4

• BLOOD DRIVE (Glassy)

• THEME NIGHT: TASTE OF NEW ENGLAND (Mountain Park)

• UNCORKED (Walnut Cove)

• FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS: – 1776 TOURNAMENT (Glassy) – KIDS DAY (Valley) – CELEBRATION (Keowee Vineyards) – BBQ COOKOUT & GAMES (Keowee Falls) – 4 CLUBS ON THE 4TH (Walnut Cove)

• NADA (Keowee Vineyards)

• ROCKIN’ ON THE RANGE (Mountain Park)

• KAMP KEOWEE (Keowee Falls) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 • TUBING DOWN THE NORTH SALUDA (Mountain Park) • MUSIC BINGO (Valley)

• THE DIRTY DOZEN (Keowee Springs)

THURSDAY, JUNE 30 • RED, WHITE & BOOZE HAPPY HOUR (Mountain Park)

JULY 5-12 • AERATION (Valley)

• CVLGA MID-SEASON (Valley)

TUESDAY, JULY 5

JULY

• JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP / BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

FRIDAY, JULY 1

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

• ALL AMERICAN HIKE & PICNIC (Mountain Park)

• WOMEN WHO WINE (Glassy)

SATURDAY, JULY 2

THURSDAY, JULY 7 • INSIGHT SERIES (Valley)

• PARTY AT THE POOL (Glassy)

GO

>>

• HIKE (Mountain Park)

JULY 16-17 • FAZIO MEMBER-MEMBER (Keowee Springs)

FRIDAY, JULY 29 • HIKE & HICKORY STICK (Mountain Park)

SATURDAY, JULY 16

• LADIES 9-HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP (Walnut Cove)

• THEME NIGHT (Glassy)

SATURDAY, JULY 30

• KAYAK THE FRENCH BROAD (Mountain Park)

• LUAU AT THE POOL WITH JUST US BAND (Glassy)

SUNDAY, JULY 17

• VARIETY NIGHT (Keowee Vineyards)

• PLAYGROUND CLASSIC (Walnut Cove) MONDAY, JULY 18

• PRIME RIB NIGHT (Keowee Springs)

• NINE & DINE ITALIAN NIGHT (Mountain Park)

• CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP (Walnut Cove)

• MUSIC MONDAY AT THE BEACH CLUB (Keowee Springs)

SUNDAY, JULY 31

TUESDAY, JULY 19

• CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP & AWARDS DINNER (Walnut Cove)

• BOURBON CLUB (Keowee Springs)

• COUPLES GOLF (Valley)

FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE, VISIT MEMBERS.CLIFFSLIVING.COM SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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southstreetcollection.com Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agencies have endorsed or judged the merits of value, if any, of these properties. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offer to buy real estate in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law or where registration is required prior to any offer being made. Renderings and illustrations may differ from completed products. Prices, plans, uses, dimensions, specifications, materials, facilities, features, amenities, benefits and services described and/or depicted herein may be in formative stages and based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. No guarantee is made that certain of the facilities, features or amenities depicted or otherwise described herein will be built or, if built, will be of the same type, size or nature as depicted or described herein. Use of recreational facilities and amenities for may require separate club membership.

>

APERTURE

Joe Barrera

Mike Primasing

Cindy Miller

Catherine Jooste

Thomas Dabney

Marty Cline

Michael Brooks

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Colin Shaw

Lori Primasing

APERTURE

M E M B E R

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S U B M I T T E D

PEO PL E O F

THE CLIFFS

Scott Mackenzie

Mark Eden

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Financial Representatives do not render tax advice. Consult with a tax professional for tax advice that is specific to your situation.

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APERTURE

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M E M B E R S U B M I T T E D

S I G HTS O F TH E CL I FFS

Bernice Palmer

Todd Jensen

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Chuck Parr

Scott Mackenzie

Judith Leipold

Greg Brown

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S U B M I T T E D

SIGHTS OF TH E CL I FFS

Jamie Esworthy

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Michael Schatzberg

John Eskuri

Elena Newman

Andy Breslow

Marissa Southerlin SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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IN MY OWN WORDS

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IN MY OWN WORDS

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U P T O PA R Greensman Allen “Doc” Jones’ drive for perfection has made its mark on courses and members at The Cliffs The next time you admire the unblemished greens at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs golf course, know that Allen “Doc” Jones is one of the folks to thank. A greensman who’s worked at The Cliffs for 26 years, Jones started at The Cliffs Valley in 1995, when they were building the course. After 12 years there, he moved to Keowee Springs where he continues to play his A-game, keeping the greens in tiptop shape.

CL

whether I’m using a string trimmer or mowing the fairways, I always look back at what I’ve done and say “Is that the best I can do?” When I leave that green, I want it to look as good as it can.

What brought you to The Cliffs initially?

DOC I began at Valley in 1995. My next-door neighbor was working there on the construction of the course, and I asked him if they were hiring, and he said “yes.”

CL

You must have a background in landscaping.

DOC No, I’d never done anything like that before. Before this, I worked in the textile industry in accounting.

The only connection I had to The Cliffs was my love of golf, so I thought I’d give this a try. I’ve been here ever since, and I love what I’m doing.

CL

DOC In the mornings when I’m out changing cups on the greens, members often come over and ask a question about what I’m doing. I pride myself on being able to give them an answer as to what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. There are still some Valley members who come down to Keowee Springs to play, and if they see me, they’ll stop what they’re doing and come over. Our members are some of the nicest, finest people I’ve ever met.

CL So why do people call you “Doc”?

DOC Years ago, when I was at Valley, one of the guys kept calling me “doctor.” When I asked why, he said, “Because you’ve been here longer than anybody and when we get new employees, you’re the one who takes them out and shows them the ropes.” That nickname stuck and it followed me here to the Keowee Springs.

CL

on my bucket list to play all The Cliffs courses in one year. All the courses I’ve played here are enjoyable and all have their challenges, but Valley and Keowee Springs are my babies.

CL

CL

What aspect of your job do you take the most pride in?

DOC When I started at Valley, my superintendent told me, “We like to do one thing here and that’s pay attention to detail…” No matter what I’m doing,

Has your view of The Cliffs changed since you’ve been working here?

DOC Growing up in this area, I couldn’t figure why people would come from all over the country to be here, and then you realize The Cliffs has something special that no place else has.

Since you have golf privileges at The Cliffs, have you played all the courses?

DOC I haven’t played some of the newer courses, but it’s

What kind of interaction do you have with club members?

CL

Looking back, what’s the most memorable part of your 26-year tenure at The Cliffs?

DOC Watching the courses mature and having professional golf events here, knowing we’re top of the line. One thing that’s made this job so good all these years is the people I work with, from the top all the way down. It’s been an absolute pleasure, not just for the work environment, but for the friends I’ve made. I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.

T O S U B M I T A N E S S AY O R P O E M F O R I N M Y O W N W O R D S , P L E A S E R E A C H O U T T O M A G A Z I N E @ C L I F F S L I V I N G . C O M F O R D E TA I L S A N D D E A D L I N E S .

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

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CLUB DIRECTORY

REAL ESTATE & MEMBERSHIP SALES Real Estate Sales................................................864.249.4379 Lake Keowee Region....................................866.411.5769 Mountain Region...........................................866.411.5773 Asheville Region............................................828.595.8311 Membership........................................................864.371.1003 Club & Membership Accounting..........................864.371.1075

THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY Gatehouse..........................................................864.895.0205 Clubhouse..........................................................864.663.8106 Golf Shop...........................................................864.663.8114 Wellness Center..................................................864.660.1155

THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS

Gatehouse..........................................................864.836.2260 Cabin..................................................................864.516.1766 Golf Shop...........................................................864.660.1133 Wellness Center..................................................864.516.1684

Gatehouse..........................................................864.944.7657 Clubhouse..........................................................864.944.2010 Golf Shop...........................................................864.944.8721 Wellness Center..................................................864.916.6120

THE CLIFFS VALLEY

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE SPRINGS

Gatehouse..........................................................864.836.4411 Clubhouse..........................................................864.660.1100 Golf Shop...........................................................864.836.4653 Wellness Center..................................................864.660.1180

Gatehouse..........................................................864.868.3547 Bistro..................................................................864.372.3108 Golf Shop...........................................................864.372.3102 Beach Club.........................................................864.372.3106 Porch..................................................................864.372.3105

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE VINEYARDS Gatehouse..........................................................864.868.5022 Clubhouse..........................................................864.868.7000 Golf Shop...........................................................864.898.8091 Equestrian Center...............................................864.868.9969 Marina................................................................864.898.8103 Wellness Center..................................................864.868.8300 Lakehouse..........................................................864.898.8073

THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE Gatehouse..........................................................828.681.8121 Tavern.................................................................828.687.1738 Golf Shop...........................................................828.687.7965 Wellness Center..................................................828.681.9759 110

CLIFFS LIVING

LAST LOOK

L AS T LOOK

[ T H E C L I F F S A T K E O W E E V I N E YA R D S ]

T

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HE STILL WATERS OF a lake reflect the beauty around it,” writes B.K.S. Iyengar, a yoga guru and poet. This image, by The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards member Lesia Monfre, captures the picturesque Lake Keowee and its surroundings.

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Inspired by

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3598 HWY 11, Suite 104 Travelers Rest, SC 29690 864.836.1133 | www.fairviewllc.com

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GL ASSY

M O U N TA I N PA R K

VA L L E Y

K E O W E E FA L L S

KEOWEE SPRINGS

K E O W E E V I N E YA R D S

864.249.4379 | cliffslivingmagazine.com

WA L N U T C OV E