Cliffs Living Magazine - Fall/Winter 2019

CLI F FS LIVING FA L L / W I NT E R

2019

A Magazine With, For, & About Members at The Cliffs

The

NEW HORIZONS

Issue

View from Here Spread (TBD) These views.

These neighbors.

These communities.

They’re yours.

W E L C OM E H OM E .

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

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LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

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YONDER

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HAVEN

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A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

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VISTAS

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NEW OWNERSHIP, OLD FRIENDS

Rob Duckett, the new president of The Cliffs, introduces The New Horizons issue.

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GATHER

Relive some of your favorite recent events around The Cliffs.

SPIRIT

Get to know Rob Duckett and his family; learn about the camaraderie that underpins Pavilion Night at Glassy; get a taste of Chef Kevin Furmanek’s childhood; a selection of unicorn wines from Eric Cooperman; and more.

Explore neighboring mountain towns this season; see how member Craig Brown is turning Fluor Field into more than a ballfield; cold weather cycling tips from The Cliffs’ experts; and more.

Young golfers are leaving their mark on the game with opportunities at The Cliffs.

South Street Partners, the new ownership group of The Cliffs, brings dynamic energy, a family focus, and a fresh vision for what The Cliffs can be.

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The Leagues married space age technology with traditional comfort in their home at The Cliffs Valley; a peek at the new lake house under construction at Keowee Vineyards; and more.

Mark your calendars for this year’s can’t-miss events across The Cliffs.

APERTURE

Breathtaking vistas, unforgettable moments, and jaw-dropping photos submitted by our members at The Cliffs.

ALWAYS FORWARD

Melissa Stockwell — daughter of The Cliffs Valley members Dave and Marlene Hoffman — inspires with every step she takes.

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Design and Build the Ultimate Backyard Experience “We are extremely pleased with our Genco pool. From the design and bid process through construction and start up Todd and Doug were there to answer all our questions and keep us up to date on progress despite us living remotely during construction of our new home. Once finished Todd provided great support and response to our many questions along with continued advice through the first months. Genco provided us with a professional but personal service and was always eager to meet our expectations. Truly a great company focused on product and customer service.�

In business over 30 years!

Specializing in some of the most imaginative & unique pool designs Commercial and residential expertise 1217 NE Main Street | Simpsonville, SC 29681 | 864.967.POOL (7665) | gencopools.com |

LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

Welcome to

CLIFFS LIVING Dearest Members at The Cliffs, There is no better place to celebrate the changing seasons than in the glorious Western Carolina mountains. The transitions from summer to fall and fall to winter are beautiful, as are the landscapes they create. This summer, we enjoyed the warmth of our mild climate and all the playful outdoor activities that it brought, but looked forward to the coming of crisp fall air, vibrant foliage, and future gatherings with friends and family. The Cliffs has always been a community that embraces its surroundings, and this year marks an exceptional example. As we present the second edition of Cliffs Living – A Magazine With, For, & About Members at The Cliffs, we are proud to introduce a collection of articles that highlights the transitions and growth within The Cliffs itself.

As the new president of The Cliffs, I am honored to introduce this edition of our community magazine, which provides us all an opportunity to meet one another and celebrate our families, friends, clubs, and surroundings. In this issue, you will meet my family and learn a little more about who I am and what I hope we can build at The Cliffs. You will also see a familyfocused side of our new ownership group, South Street Partners, and read about plans to bring new amenities and new programs to The Cliffs. Collectively, we are focused on creating family environments that allow us all to connect and thrive.

We firmly believe the best days of The Cliffs are ahead.

Please take some time to flip through the pages of The New Horizons Issue and acquaint yourself with the four young individuals who are helping modernize and invigorate the game of golf for us here at The Cliffs; get a glimpse of a futureproof home that’s as welcoming and cozy as it is efficient; and celebrate the strength, spirit, and creativity of many of our members at The Cliffs. I hope you find pieces that speak to you and inspire you to get to know one another, because — as we all come to learn — it’s the landscape that brings us to The Cliffs, but the people are the reason we stay.

I am humbled by these stories of our amazing members and look forward to meeting many more of you in the seasons to come. Thank you for helping us create Cliffs Living, and allowing us to share your stories.

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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LEGACY

Build Your Legacy—

Without Compromise

Our homes are a mark of distinction. The details we build into each one conveys a sense of purpose—a legacy ingrained in the walls. Every fit, every finish, and every furnishing is a product of an unwavering passion to build something remarkable. It’s a masterful work of art.

We know you’ll feel right at home here.

864.527.0463 | dillardjones.com

CLIFFS LIVING M AGA Z I N E

EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amy Anderson, The Cliffs MANAGING EDITOR Tara Giltner, The Cliffs EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Huang, Community Journals CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kristy Adair, Community Journals PUBLISHER Mark B. Johnston, Community Journals CONSULTANT Susan Schwartzkopf, Community Journals

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Cathryn Armstrong, Jac Chebatoris, M. Linda Lee, Jeanne Petrizzo, Sarah Polite, Leigh Savage, Angie Thompson, & Allison Walsh

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS, ILLUSTRATORS & DESIGNERS Timothy Banks, Bonfire Visuals, Kavin Bradner, Morgan Burden, David Dietrich, Brian Lord, Dovelight Photography, Fourth Dimension Photography, J. Jones Photography, Jack Robert Photography, Steven McBride, Paul Mehaffey, Shenandoah Miller, Levi Monday, Tracy Tisdale, & Eli Warren

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES Emily Yepes, Community Journals COMMUNITY JOURNALS MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Johnston, Callie Michalak, Heather Propp, Meredith Rice, & Liz Tew

3851 Highway 11, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 864.249.4379 | cliffsliving.com/magazine | magazine@cliffsliving.com

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

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

CORRECTION: In our previous edition of Cliffs Living Magazine, we misidentified Nancy Kaufman in photos within the featured event story, “The Float Party.” We apologize for the oversight and have implemented additional steps within our review process to avoid future inaccuracies.

Cliffs Living is published two times a year by The Cliffs in partnership with Community Journals Publishing Group. 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.

T I M E L E S S . C L A S S I C . U N I Q U E LY Y O U R S .

ICONIC INTERIORS l au r enheatherd es i gnstu d i o .co m 86 4.509 .7 06 1

Nearly 60 Homes Built in the Cliffs and Counting

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS

THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE

We are passionate about what we do and it shows.

We are a full service custom homebuilder. From the preliminary design phase through handing you the key to your new home, we are with you every step of the way. We have been a member of The Cliffs Preferred Builder Program since 2005 and have built in nearly all seven of The Cliffs communities. Please give us a call to discuss your upcoming new home.

864-844-4833 | UseEvergreen.com | 8 Aberdeen Dr. Suite A, Greenville SC

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THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS

Evergreen is proud to have completed nearly 60 homes in The Cliffs communities since 2005. We want to thank our existing clients for such an amazing opportunity to build some fantastic homes and we look forward to continuing to build new and innovative homes for our future clients.

PHOTO CREDIT TO JUSTIN WINTER SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY

GATEWAY SUPPLY CO. SERVING THE PLUMBING, HVAC & MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES SINCE 1964

SINCE

1964

Bath & Kitchen Showrooms in the Upstate Greenville | 70 Gateway Access Rd. | 864.235.7800 Pendleton | 5299 Hwy 76 | 864.622.0176 Spartanburg | 1098 Asheville Hwy | 864.585.8825 www.gatewaysupply.net

GATHER

AN EVENING WITH NANCY LOPEZ ® VILLE TO VILLE CRAFT BREW RELAY ® PROGRESSIVE DINNER AT THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE VINEYARDS ® MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY ®

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GATHER

Marty Vexter, Valerie Singer, & Koni Findlay

Donna Bailey, Nancy Lopez, & Sunny Mathews

An Evening with Nancy Lopez March 25, 2019

The University of North Carolina Asheville women’s golf team got a VIP treat for competing in the inaugural French Broad Collegiate Invitational, played at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. UNCA athletic director Janet Cone and Donna Bailey — member of Walnut Cove, former UNCA athletic association board member, and current foundation board member — helped bring retired professional golfer Nancy Lopez in for a special reception and dinner. The women’s golf team mixed and mingled at the pro shop before heading to the Tavern for a formal seated dinner and a keynote address delivered by Lopez. The women’s team ended the tournament with a sixth-place finish, with two players finishing in the top 14.

Nancy Lopez & Will Culp

Ruth Billings

Janet Cone & JoAnn Yoder

Kent & Dotti Smith Nancy Cable & Darlene Davis

Bob & Ann Irelan

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Koni Findlay, Karen Spacek, Sandi Heckman, Donna Bailey, Sunny Mathews, Janet Cone, Joy Flora, Marty Vexter, & David Jandrew

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GATHER Doug Young

Ed Lang, Tracy Hall, Scott Hickman, Neil Newberry, & Ali Stout

Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay April 13, 2019

Tim Ale, Brian Lord, Kyle Henry, John Garcia, & Francis Turck

Vivian Dunlop

Suzie Edwards & Lauren Redfearn

Running 75 miles? Well, you could refuel with energy gels and sports drinks, or you could take advantage of the carbs readily available from beer. The Cliffs at Mountain Park served as one stop along this 12-leg relay race celebrating both local brewers and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition to serving as a stop, The Cliffs fielded two teams: Scott Hickman, Vivian Dunlop, Edward Lang, Ali Stout, Lisa Adams, and Tracy Hall on the member team; Brian Lord, Tim Ale, Kyle Henry, John Garcia, Lauren Buckland, and Francis Turck on The Cliffs associate team.

Ed Lang

Scott Hickman, Tracy Hall, Ed Lang, Ali Stout, & Neil Newberry

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GATHER

Progressive Dinner at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards April 28, 2019

The golf course at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards served as more than just a playing field on this late-April evening.

Instead, it delivered a scenic backdrop for a progressive dinner that took members from hole to hole. The dinner started at the Clubhouse with a cocktail, before heading to Hole 5 via golf carts for the first course. Hole 13 was the next stop, with more drinks and eats. The dinner wrapped up with dessert at the Al Fresco Kitchen behind the Clubhouse.

Pam & Jon Cabot

Randy Colquhoun, Brian Smyth, & Rob London

Elaine & Alan Rae

Scott Mackenzie with Cherene & Michael Deem

Stephanie Cookson & Beth Peacock

Madison Beattie

Jann Sayatovic

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Jann Sayatovic, Pam Kerchner, & Ann Marzec

Trina Camacho-London, Cheryl Smyth, Shannon Tugwell, Stephanie Cookson, & Wendy Giblin

Don Buckley

GATHER

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Mother’s Day Brunch at The Cliffs at Glassy May 12, 2019

Considering everything mothers do for us, it makes sense to really treat them on Mother’s Day. The Cliffs at Glassy took that to heart with a feast of a brunch featuring fresh spring salads, seafood delights, made-to-order omelets, a carving station with roasted beef tenderloin and slow-roasted porchetta, plus other delectables. To top it all off, there were plenty of desserts and pastries to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

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Building the most beautiful Building Buildingthe themost mostbeautiful beautiful homes The Cliffs homes homesinininThe TheCliffs Cliffs

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Appalachian model | 864.836.3090 Appalachian model | 864.836.3090 Appalachian model | 864.836.3090 Springs Cove Way, Six Mile, SC 195195 Springs Cove Way, Six 195 Springs Cove Way,Mile, Six SC Mile, SC Sierra model | 864.465.6000 Sierra model | 864.465.6000 Sierra model | 864.465.6000 3 Birdie Court, Marietta, 3 Birdie Court, Marietta, SC SC 3 Birdie Court, Marietta, SC

From designing home to post occupancy we are From designing youryour home to post occupancy we are From designing your home to post occupancy we are a full service custom home builder.

AsPreferred a Preferred a full service custom home builder.

As a a full service custom home builder. As a Preferred Builder at The Cliffs, since 2006, Builder at The Cliffs, since 2006, we we havehave builtbuilt Builder at The Cliffs, since 2006, we have built 50 custom homes in The communities. overover 50 custom homes in The CliffsCliffs communities. over 50 custom homes in The Cliffs communities.

ARHcarolinas.com ARHcarolinas.com ARHcarolinas.com and Marketing

by American Sales Sales and Marketing

by American Eagle Eagle Realty,Realty, LLC LLC Sales and Marketing

by American Realty, LLC American Eagle Builders, Inc., anEagle Independent Franchise

American Eagle Builders, Inc., an Independent Franchise American Eagle Builders, Inc., an Independent Franchise

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HEADS UP ® TASTEMAKERS ® PLATED ® FAIRWAY ® SPORTING LIFE ® VINOLOGY ®

GIVING ® MATRIMONY ®

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HEADS UP

Meet Rob Duckett A conversation with the new president of The Cliffs.

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n Air Force veteran with more than 30 years of experience working in the hospitality-management industry, Rob Duckett assumed his new role as president of The Cliffs and vice president of operations for South Street Partners on June 1, 2019. Duckett comes to The Cliffs after serving as general manager for Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club in Cashiers, North Carolina. Duckett, one of five siblings who grew up in Indiana, graduated from St. Joseph’s College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He currently resides in Seneca, South Carolina, with his wife, Ann; their two children, Sam (20) and Shelby (18); their Goldendoodle, Ellie, and grand-dog Luna. Now, he sits down with us so we can get to know him better.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE CLIFFS? I’ve been familiar with The Cliffs since I moved to the area in 2005. Managers and executives from The Cliffs visited Mountaintop to share best practices in management, and I became friends with many of them. When South Street Partners acquired The Cliffs, we began a discussion about me joining the team.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE JOB? The most important factor for a leader when considering a change is who they will be working with. The Cliffs communities are filled with wonderful people, and getting the opportunity to work with each team appealed to me. In addition to the people, I’m excited about the future of the facilities, the location, and the opportunity to enhance the community culture.

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR SPARE TIME? I enjoy the two greatest games ever, golf and pickle ball. I also read every day, and when I can get away, I enjoy ocean fishing and hunting with my son.

WHAT APPEALS TO YOU ABOUT GOLF? Golf is what got me into the [private-club management] business.

I was 29 when I started playing, and I just fell in love with the game, so I segued my career to be around it.

HOW DO YOU LIKE LIVING IN THE UPSTATE? I have lived in the Upstate since 2005, and what I love most is the weather. I grew up in northern Indiana where it was dreary from January through April, so I moved to a warmer climate as soon as I was able — first to Arizona, then to the Carolinas. I also enjoy the small-town feel of the Upstate. The people are genuinely kind, and the beautiful lakes are a bonus!

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CLIFFS? I believe that The Cliffs can offer residents a truly special lifestyle.

The clubs and their amenities are great platforms for building relationships and making new friendships. I am a proponent of offering as many activities as possible, so that our members can spend their days having fun with their friends and neighbors. The growing sport of pickle ball is just one example of something I would like to see expanded, but we will be exploring many other ideas.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

Personally, I am most proud of my son, Sam, and daughter, Shelby, because of the kind, young adults they have become.

I am also proud of my wife, Ann, for raising them so well, despite the challenges of having me as a partner.

Professionally, I am proud to have developed relationships with so many great people at the clubs where I have had the privilege to work. My proudest accomplishment to date is developing the facilities, operations model, and culture at Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club from startup, and doing it with a fantastic team of individuals who have impacted my life immeasurably. Being a part of something special and partnering with others to make it so is what I love the most about what I do.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE MEMBERS AT THE CLIFFS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m a very service-driven person. It’s a lot of responsibility, taking on a role like this. There are a lot of people who will be impacted by my decisions. During my first year, I have to prove I am worthy of being their leader, and that is something I take very seriously.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW GROWING UP, AND WHY?

I had two favorite shows, The Brady Bunch, because I had a crush on Marsha; and The Andy Griffith Show, because I was a mischievous small town kid like Opie and thought Barney was awesome.

WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

I am reading a book titled Miracle at St. Andrews by James Patterson.

IF YOU COULD INSTANTLY BECOME AN EXPERT IN SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I always admired the pilots who flew the fighter jets when I was in the Air Force, so to be an expert fighter jet pilot would be way cool.

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TheSignatureExperience.com 864. 991 . 8020

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TASTEMAKERS

Come As You Are The laid-back Pavilion Night at The Cliffs at Glassy invites community members to be themselves — no strings attached.

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ou don’t need a ticket for one of the longest-standing, premiere social events at The Cliffs at Glassy. A dress code isn’t necessary, either. Pavilion Night is free of obligations and expectations. In fact, the only requirement for the evening lies in its sole mission: community first. It’s a space for The Cliffs community to come together, shake their feathers out, and soak in a lovely sunset.

On Wednesday evenings during the warm-weather months, you’ll find a rotating cast of Glassy residents who make up the Pavilion Night crowd. “Sometimes it’s 50, sometimes it’s 100 people,” says Peggy Hutson, who organizes Pavilion Night at the Overlook Pavillion. “There’s no agenda,” she adds, “we just come enjoy the sunset and meet our neighbors.” Reflecting the heart of Pavilion Night, Hutson champions the nonchalant nature of the event. “If you don’t make it some weeks, that’s okay. We are always thankful for the faces we do see.”

And so they come. They ditch their ties for t-shirts and ride up on a cavalcade of golf carts. The menu is simple, consisting of potluck dishes or easy appetizers, and the drinks flow freely because everyone brings their own — plus some to share. Part of the charm of Pavilion Night is that there is no plan, no master list of menu items. “Every now and then we’ll have a theme,” Hutson explains, “just for fun.” If someone volunteers their old family sauce recipe, for example, the rest will follow suit and bring Italian dishes. Or sometimes the group decides on Dog Night, when everyone is encouraged to fix a leash to Fido and bring him along. The food that evening? Hot dogs, naturally.

The pavilion itself is what brought out those first few couples some 15 years ago for what would become a

“ T H E R E ’S N O AG E N DA , W E J U ST C OM E E N J OY T H E S U N S E T A N D M E E T S OM E N E I G H B O R S . ” — PEGGY HUTSON weekly tradition. The space is laid-back and opens up to an incredible view. “You can just see forever,” Hutson describes.

The gathering has since expanded past the pavilion. A newfound warm-weather destination is Moonshine Cave, an old moonshine cave off the creek behind one neighbor’s home. The crew sets up a table creekside while others back in their trucks to make tailgate space. It’s cooler near the creek, and those inclined will make the trek to Moonshine Cave to look inside. Nights like these take Pavilion Night to new borders, but a fresh destination and fair weather are just the icing on the cake. It’s the community that makes the evening great.

When Hutson took over organization of Pavilion Nights for the Glassy Mountain Homeowners, she wanted to help keep a good thing alive and maintain a laid-back place for the community to connect. Each week sees its share of regulars, but newcomers feel welcome, too. Hutson recalls a statement made by fellow Glassy member Dave Schaub, “You only come as a stranger once.” This is what Pavilion Night is really about: camaraderie and friendship. It’s about setting schedules aside to share a meal and watch the sunset with a neighbor, unhurried and full of gratitude.

DINNER WITH A VIEW >> JOIN THE FUN AND FOOD EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 6PM DURING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME (ROUGHLY MARCH–NOVEMBER).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PAVILION NIGHT, CONTACT PEGGY HUTSON: 864.895.7400 / PEGGYH813@ATT.NET. 26

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From New Jersey, With Love Chef Kevin Furmanek delights The Cliffs at Mountain Park with cheesecakes from his childhood.

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ike any other culinary talent worth their salt in the kitchen, Kevin Furmanek ­— executive chef at The Cliffs at Mountain Park — can readily recall the exact when, where, and how that inspired his longtime allegiance to one of his favorite dishes: cheesecake.

As a kid, Furmanek frequently visited the neighborhood deli in his northern New Jersey hometown.

There, he chowed down on regional staples in the form of doughy, boiled-then-baked bagels stacked high with freshly sliced sandwich meat. Each hefty sandwich was followed by the piece de resistance: a thick slice of classic New York-style cheesecake, with a dollop of lavish sour cream topping.

“It was about six inches tall, smooth, light, airy, and probably the best cheesecake around,” Furmanek says, waxing nostalgic about the creamy confection that remains his favorite to this day. “I’ve made many cheesecakes as a chef — all flavors and different styles — and that cheesecake, from that small deli in Butler, New Jersey, is the one I always remember.”

Chef Furmanek decided to emulate a bit of that childhood sentiment when curating the menu for The Cliffs’ award-winning clubhouse eatery, the Cabin at Mountain Park. A traditional New York-style cheesecake was added to the original dessert selection, with other, more daring takes on the sweet treat quickly following as word spread throughout the community.

These days, Chef Furmanek’s cheesecake offerings change daily, staying in tune with both the season and the ingredients available locally.

He attributes cheesecake’s enduring popularity to the dessert’s unique crossover ability. It can express a diverse range of flavor personalities with a canvas that can be indulgent without being heavy, simplistic without being plain. The varied cheesecake flavors — crisp peach cobbler, savory cookies and cream, tart cherry, or the good old New York classic — are an authentic expression of Chef Furmanek’s passion for his craft and his wistfulness for the New Jersey deli days gone by.

“As a chef, you must take all the experiences you have gained over the years and make them into your own vision,” he explains. “Always cook from the heart. The culinary world is always evolving, developing new trends, and moving in a forward direction, and I am proud to be in a profession that has a never-ending amount of education and is always ‘recreating the wheel’ in a way that people will enjoy.”

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SOUTH CAROLINA PEACH COBBLER CHEESECAKE Graham Crackers • 3 cups all-purpose flour • 2 cups wheat flour • 1 cup wheat germ • 2 tsp sea salt • 2 tsp baking powder • 2 Tbsp cinnamon • 1 lb. butter • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup honey

1. Measure all-purpose flour, wheat flour, wheat germ, sea salt, and baking powder, and place all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Mix with wire whisk until blended together. Set aside.

Graham Cracker Crust

Peaches and Cream Cheesecake Batter

2. Using a kitchen mixer, place whole butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and honey in mixer bowl with paddle attachment. Mix ingredients on medium-low speed until well-blended.

• 4 cups crushed graham crackers

• 3 lbs. Philadelphia-style cream cheese, room temperature

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 4 oz. melted whole butter

• 6 farm fresh eggs

3. Next, slowly add dry ingredients to mixing bowl until it forms a cookie dough. Form dough into a round and refrigerate for 2 hours.

4. Preheat oven to 350º. Using a rolling pin and pastry board, roll dough out to a ¼-inch thickness. Cut 2x2” squares with a kitchen knife and place on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Bake graham cracker squares for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside.

1. Place cooled graham cracker cookies in a food processor and grind into crumbs. Place crumbs in a small mixing bowl, add sugar and melted butter. When you squeeze the crumb mixture in your hand, it should hold together; then, when touched by your finger, the crumbs should fall apart.

2. Press crumb mixture in a 10-inch springform pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• 3/4 cup sour cream • 1 cup chilled peach jam • 1 vanilla bean, split and de-seeded 1. In a kitchen mixer, place room temperature cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla bean seeds in mixing bowl with paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until cream cheese mixture is creamy and smooth without any lumps.

Increase to medium speed, add one egg at time, mixing between each egg, until all eggs are incorporated. Next, add peach jam and sour cream. Mix thoroughly. Pour cheesecake batter into graham cracker crust and let rest for 20 minutes before baking. (Letting your batter rest will prevent cracking when baking).

2. Preheat oven to 350º. Place cheesecake on cookie sheet and bake uncovered for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

The cheesecake will rise above the spring form pan when baking, then fall down when pulled out of the oven. The cheesecake should rest for 20 minutes after baking, before being placed in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for four to five hours, or overnight, before finishing cheesecake with sour cream topping.

Peach Jam • 4 medium-size fresh peaches • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Sour Cream Peach Topping • 2 cups sour cream • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 2 Tbsp peach schnapps

• 1 fresh lemon, juiced • 3 Tbsp peach schnapps First, peel and pit peaches. Next place peaches, sugar, and lemon juice in a small sauce pan, and cook on medium heat. Simmer peaches until thick and syrupy. Next, mash peaches with a wire whisk until broken into a small, chunky jam. Finish with peach schnapps and refrigerate until ready for use.

Preheat oven to 350º. Place all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and blend together. Next, if your cheesecake is uneven or has cracks, using a latex-gloved hand, push down on the cheesecake to create an even layer. Pour sour cream mixture on top of cheesecake and bake for 15 minutes until sour cream is set to a Jello-like consistency. Refrigerate for least 2 hours, or let cool to room temperature before serving.

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Par for the Course

Caddie David Wheeler with Kurt Mueller in 2017.

Kurt Mueller, member at The Cliffs Valley, recounts 17 years of playing in the BMW Charity Pro-Am.

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pril showers bring May flowers, which in turn herald the June BMW Charity Pro-Am presented

by Synnex Corporation. The event started at The Cliffs in 2001, and its 18th edition was most recently played at The Cliffs Valley between June 3–9. It is historically a massive success and has raised approximately $13 million since inception for a variety of charities. Its local impact is significant, and its list of beneficiaries for 2019 includes Cliffs Residents Outreach, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, and Roper Mountain Science Center.

Of course, the tournament is synonymous with celebrity sightings in the area, including personalities such as football great Aaron Rodgers, actor Anthony Anderson, Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus, and comedian Larry the Cable Guy. Kurt Mueller, a resident of The Cliffs Valley, has been playing in the tournament for nearly two decades. Here, he shares his vast experience of participating in the BMW Charity Pro-Am.

HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO GOLF? HOW DID IT HOOK YOU? Up until I was 12 years old, we lived a few doors down from a public nine-hole course. As kids, one of our favorite activities in the summer was to get up at 5:30 am and hunt golf balls in the woods surrounding the course. We learned very quickly where the best spots were, and after a couple of hours of hunting, we would shine up the balls and sit at the ninth tee box, out of sight from the clubhouse. As the golfers 30

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came around, we would sell the balls and then take the proceeds up to the clubhouse to spend on candy. We would each keep our best find for ourselves and compete against each other on the practice putting green. Sitting on that ninth tee, watching all those golfers hit — the whole atmosphere of the course got me hooked.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM? I work for the German automotive supplier ZF Group. We are a supplier to BMW and have local facilities in the Greenville area.

What attracted my colleagues and me was the opportunity to focus our charitable giving on one event that would support a variety of local charities important to our community. We also wanted a way to be visible in our community, and a premier event such as the BMW Charity Pro-Am — with several days of tournaments and social events — was just the ticket. As a golfer, I was drawn to the chance to get inside the ropes and experience the excitement of a professional tournament.

AFTER YOUR INITIAL EXPERIENCE, WHAT MADE YOU SIGN UP YEAR AFTER YEAR? At the end of the tournament, South Carolina Charities would publish a report on the amount of monies raised and the list of charities that were helped. As a participant, I would attend a reception where the nonprofits would receive their checks. It was there that we could really see how our participation could make an impact in the Greenville community.

“Sitting on that ninth tee, watching all those golfers hit — the whole atmosphere of the course got me hooked.”

FAIRWAY

Kurt & Mary Mueller with Sebastian Munoz in 2018.

IT’S NO SECRET THAT THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM DRAWS ITS FAIR SHARE OF CELEBRITIES. DO ANY INTERACTIONS STAND OUT? The pros and their caddies were always very gracious to us amateurs. I never played in the tournament with any of the celebrities, but the event offered many opportunities to rub shoulders with them. I remember that my wife, who is a big tennis fan, really enjoyed speaking with Jim Courier one year. We also shared drinks with Terry O’Quinn (John Locke from Lost) on the evening of the season finale. He was very friendly but would not reveal the surprise ending.

The nicest celebrity, however, was Kevin Sorbo, the actor who played Hercules in the TV series. He was one of a group that returned year after year and was always very approachable on the course and at the events.

DO YOU HAVE PERSONAL TIES TO ANY OF THE CHARITIES? My wife and I support Cliffs Residents Outreach (CRO) and are very happy

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that some of the proceeds from the event go back into the schools and organizations in northern Greenville county near our home. My wife has been a teacher at Roper Mountain Science Center for over 20 years, which is part of Greenville County Schools and services students from across the state and Southeast in STEM education. We are both very happy that they have been selected as a recipient this year.

DO YOU RECRUIT FRIENDS OR FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE? WHAT’S YOUR PITCH? I always circulate the final report on the monies raised and the charities supported. I also describe the events I get to attend and the people we meet.

It’s always a pretty easy sell. I also ask friends and family to come to the event and follow along on the course. When you are standing on the 18th green lining up a four-footer in front of the skyboxes, it’s always helpful to know that you have some fans watching.

T E E O F F >> V I S I T C L I F FS L I V I N G. C O M / B M W P R O A M TO R E V I S I T T H E R E S U LT S O F T H E 2 0 1 9 B M W C H A R I T Y P R O -A M.

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SPORTING LIFE

Court Side Tessa Lang, director of tennis at The Cliffs, is focused on fun, inclusive events.

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he was once the Wisconsin state tennis champion, focused on mastering her skills, but now Tessa Lang prefers helping members at The Cliffs learn about the game. “I love getting to know the members on a personal level,” says Lang, who became director of tennis at The Cliffs in 2018 after working at Walnut Cove. “It’s awesome to feel how excited the members are about tennis, because that’s what I’m feeling, too. It’s just positive energy.”

Lang’s primary goal in her new role is to create programming that is inclusive for all members, whether they play every week, are taking up the sport after a hiatus, or even if they have never picked up a racket. “I’ve had people who have never played before. But after a few months, they are out there playing full sets and feeling really good about their game,” she says.

Coming up with creative events is one of Lang’s favorite aspects of the job, so programming is extensive, with a Wimbledon Whites event (think wooden rackets, tennis whites, and Breakfast at Wimbledon refreshments), a tennis camp for kids, and an interclub event that will bring members of The Cliffs together at different host venues across the communities. “That’s a huge advantage at The Cliffs. Every member gets to go to all of the great facilities, and they are all so different and so beautiful,” she says.

Five of the seven communities within The Cliffs have tennis courts,

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with 22 courts overall, including 16 Har-Tru courts, four hard courts, and two ClayTech courts, which sport an all-weather clay surface that facilitates year-round play. With hundreds of interested players, The Cliffs continues to invest in and upgrade the tennis facilities. Last year, Valley resurfaced four courts and gave two a laser lift, a process that relevels the court to maintain the ideal playing surface. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is next in line for a full resurfacing treatment.

Lang grew up in Wisconsin, and after her tenure as high school state champion, went on to play at Iowa State University, where she played No. 1 doubles and No. 2 and 3 singles. She holds the Iowa State school record for most doubles wins in a season.

After earning a degree in kinesiology and health, Lang became a tennis pro through Peter Burwash International, a tennis club and resort management company, which placed her at The Cliffs in 2014.

She loved the location, but couldn’t pass up the chance to become the first female tennis professional at the Tokyo Lawn Tennis Club, where she had students ranging in age from three to 78.

After almost a year in Japan, Tessa was named assistant coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina, before returning to Walnut Cove in 2017 and being named director last year. “I’m based out of The Cliffs Valley, but now I’m everywhere,” she says. She typically visits two or three communities per day, which she loves:

SPORTING LIFE

“I’m a mountain girl, and they are all so beautiful.”

While Lang relished competition, she has found even more satisfaction in putting aside her competitive nature to help others capture the joy of the sport. She also appreciates the challenges and rewards of working with the same members for longer periods of time. “With resort tennis, you might do the same things over and over because you won’t see the same person for at least a year,” she says.

“This is more rewarding. I love being creative and thinking outside the box, and I love getting to know members and really helping them develop their game.”

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“It’s awesome to feel how excited the members are about tennis, because that’s what I’m feeling, too. It’s just positive energy.”

— TESSA LANG

RACQUET SCIENCE >> TESS A L ANG IS WAITING TO MEET YOU, TEACH YOU, OR SHOW YOU THE COURTS AT THE CLIFFS. EMAIL HER AT TL ANG@CLIFFSLIVING.COM TO GET IN THE GAME.

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VINOLOGY

TROPHY CASE

Quest for

THE UNICORN Eric Cooperman hunts rare and fleeting wines for members at The Cliffs.

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lusive as the one-horned mythical beast said to roam the forests in the Middle Ages, unicorn wines share the mystique of their namesake. Though sommeliers and collectors have long sought out certain rare wines, the term “unicorn” was only coined in the past decade.

What is a unicorn wine? According to Eric Cooperman, Advanced Sommelier and corporate director of beverage for The Cliffs, a unicorn wine may be one you chase your entire life. It might be a bottle you tasted in some foreign country and made a note to look for when you returned home. “Then you get back to the States and find that they don’t even import it,” says Cooperman, “and all of a sudden it becomes this mythical creature that once you had and now you don’t.”

“It tends to be something you look for

over years and years, and wait and hope for.

Part of the mythology of the unicorn is that you can sit down in a random restaurant or be in a random wine store and out of the corner of your eye, you spot it. The unicorn can pop up at any time.” Unlike a high-end cult wine, which can run $2,000 to $3,000 a bottle, a unicorn could be a $30 bottle of wine. It’s the rarity — often owing to small production — not the price, that makes the unicorn such a prize.

When unicorn wines become available, Cooperman sends emails to members of The Cliffs who participate in the program. Like a medieval hunter, he invests the time and patience until he stumbles upon a unicorn.

“It could be a red, a white, or a sparkling,” he declares, “but it’s always something that really thrills.”

1 2 3 4

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Below are Cooperman’s notes on a sampling of unicorn wines he has hunted down. As delightful as they are rare, the bottles represent wineries that challenged the regional thinking and hierarchy of governmental standards; celebrated winemakers who left a legacy of impeccable wine; and showcase varietals seldom seen alone.

1. (RED) CHATEAU MUSAR, ROUGE,

BEKAA VALLEY, LEBANON, 1999 ($80)

Against the grain and during war, Gaston Hochar pioneered one of the greatest modern-day wine estates in 1930. His son Serge studied enology at the University of Bordeaux and took over the reins in 1959. Serge promoted his family’s wines with perseverance and devotion while dodging skeptics, religious ridicule, and bloody civil war. He passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy of impeccable red and white wines.

2. (RED) MONTEVERTINE “LE PERGOLE

TORTE” TUSCANY, ITALY, 2015 ($150)

Probably the best expression of Sangiovese I’ve ever tasted. Most of the vineyards used for this wine were planted in 1968, deep within the heart of Chianti Classico. Sergio Manetti withdrew from the winemakers’ Consorzio in 1981, when they refused to allow him to bottle a 100% Sangiovese wine. This concept lives on as “Le Pergole Torte.”

3. (WHITE) TRIMBACH “CLOS STE. HUNE”

RIESLING, ALSACE, FRANCE, 2012 ($240)

Trimbach’s Riesling legacy began in 1629. At the dawn of the 20th century, the French government began classifying the vineyards in Alsace. Seemingly overnight, this propelled the perceived quality of many inferior producers, raising the value of their land and price of their wines. The Trimbachs refused to a conform to this “broken” system, opting to declassify their Grand Cru Riesling grapes simply as “Clos Ste. Hune,” now the most prestigious release in all of Alsace.

4. (WHITE) DIDIER DAGUENEAU “SILEX”

POUILLY-FUMÉ, LOIRE, FRANCE, 2013 ($130)

Known as “the wild man of the Loire,” Didier changed the perception of Sauvignon Blanc with Pouilly-Fumé.

His pioneering style of intense, rich, age-worthy whites gave birth to the new generation of producers, angering the villagers who protested his wines. It probably didn’t help that he frequently raced motorcycles though the town, held outlandish parties, and looked like a hippie with his long hair. Didier died in a plane crash in 2008 to the dismay of the wine world. His well-versed son has seamlessly taken over the winery, continuing the Dagueneau tradition.

5. (RED) VAJRA “KYE” FREISA, LANGHE, PIEDMONT, ITALY, 2013 ($45)

Freisa is an ancient grape variety grown exclusively in the Piedmont region of Italy. More commonly used as a blending grape to general rosso wines of the Langhe, Freisa is rarely bottled as a singular varietal. This limited bottling shows the exceptional nature of the grape, boasting powerful, rustic, mountain-like charm.

To purchase these wines, contact Eric Cooperman at ecooperman@cliffsliving.com.

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Welcome home... to your very own work of art.

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GIVING

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Giving Cycle The Walnut Cove Members Association Weekend of Giving is about more than feeling good. It’s about feeling connected.

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t’s late in the evening of June 15, 2019, and the Walnut Cove Members Association (WCMA) has just wrapped up its annual Weekend of Giving. More than 500 people have attended the weekend’s three events: the Sip and Stroll silent auction, the Caddy Shack golf tournament, and the Rose Gala dinner and live auction. Over $300,000 has been raised, and nearly every penny will be awarded to the 30 organizations named as grant recipients for 2019.

It’s an impressive total, one that shows how much the WCMA’s charitable giving has grown since 2007, when founding member Kevin O’Connor collected $5,600 from 56 of his friends and neighbors. This growth is not a fluke. The WCMA formally became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2013 (previously, Eblen Charities was the vehicle for charitable giving), and in 2014, the members association adopted rigorous rules governing how grants are awarded.

As the WCMA has grown into a formal nonprofit, its efforts have also become a defining characteristic of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. “The WCMA really became the calling card of our community,” says Donna Bailey,

GET INVOLVED

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an executive committee member and former president of the WCMA. “When prospective members are looking at our community, they want to know how to get involved, and this is what we talk about. We’re all from someplace else, and we all want to contribute to each other and to our community.”

And it is a community effort — one that links the members of Walnut Cove with their neighbors, as much as it links them to the Asheville community where they live. To start, the only organizations considered for grants must be local, and a Walnut Cove member must be a volunteer with that organization.

“We do that specifically because we want our members out in the community, working with nonprofits,” says Bailey. “We’re out there working with the community, and the community can also ask for our grants.”

Another added benefit of requiring volunteerism is that Walnut Cove members become intimately familiar with the impact these organizations have in the community. Even Walnut Cove members who aren’t volunteering can be assured that their charitable gifts are being put to good use in the community.

“People know our grants committee does their research. There’s a trust factor, and it’s a vehicle for people to give comfortably,” says Bailey.

Philanthropy also serves as a medium for building community within the gates of Walnut Cove. “It’s a way for our neighbors and our membership to really get to know each other,” Bailey says. “They can feel they’re part of a community that is deeper than just a drink at the bar.” This neighborly rapport extends beyond volunteering. Bailey points to the 2019 Sip and Stroll’s silent auction, which features items comprised exclusively of donations from members. “There’s artwork, we have someone who makes beautiful wooden fountain pens, and there’s someone else who makes furniture.

It’s a way to support your neighbors.”

Bailey is not surprised at the progress WCMA has made in the 12 years since its inaugural season. “When you think of the people who live at Walnut Cove, they’ve been successful. A lot of them are retired or getting ready to retire, and what they want to do at this point in their lives is to give back,” she says. “It is something we absolutely talk about when people move to our community. We will help you get involved.”

VISIT CLIFFSGIVING.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHARITABLE GIVING AND PHILANTHROPY AT THE CLIFFS. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

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MATRIMONY

Ringing in the New Year with Wedding Bells Maegan Garner and Brennen Heinz tie the knot at The Cliffs at Glassy Chapel.

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alking down the aisle at Glassy Chapel was a dream Maegan Garner had since she was a little girl. That dream came true on New Year’s Eve 2018. “The breathtaking views, intimacy, and aesthetics of the chapel are simply one of a kind. It truly meant the world to me, getting to marry my own Prince Charming in a place that meant so much to me growing up.”

Maegan Garner — owner and executive director of Greenville Fashion Week and online pageant store Crowned Prisstique — and Brennen Heinz — owner of Palmetto Lawn & Landscape and part of the management team at Southern Valet & Transportation — first met in 2008 while tailgating at a University of South

Carolina-Clemson University football game.

However, it took until 2012 before they reconnected through a mutual friend — and, according to Maegan — fate. Although years had passed since their first introduction, once they reunited, they became inseparable, dating for the next five years. They were engaged at the end of 2017 on what started as an ordinary Wednesday night.

The proposal itself almost didn’t happen.

Brennen’s detailed dinner plans were delayed due to circumstances outside of his control, and on top of that, the evening proved to be bitterly cold. With equal parts persuasion and persistence, Brennen managed to convince Maegan to step out of the car and take a walk — right to the place where they had their first

date. It was there that he popped the all-important question.

The couple was wed just before the start of 2019, a choice as deliberate as each and every other detail of their night. Maegan and Brennen decided on New Year’s Eve because they both love people and celebrating, and there’s no better way to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new, than as newlyweds.

The universe blessed their nuptials with an auspicious sign the night of their wedding: rain for unity, cleansing, and renewal. The weather, paired with the altitude of The Glassy Chapel, added another element as well: a dreamy, foggy mist. For Maegan and Brennen, it was another enchantment on top of an already fairytale wedding.

“The breathtaking views, intimacy, and aesthetics of the chapel are simply one of a kind. It truly meant the world to me, getting to marry my own Prince Charming in a place that meant so much to me growing up.”

MORE INFO >> GLA SSY CHAPEL RESTS 3,200 FEET ABOVE THE WESTERN CAROLINA LANDSCAPE, OFFERING AN INTIMATE SPACE FOR UP TO 200 GUESTS AND EXPANSIVE VIEWS THAT CAN REACH UP TO 75 MILES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A WEDDING OR SPECIAL EVENT PERCHED ABOVE THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, PLEA SE CONTACT WEDDINGS@CLIFFSLIVING.COM. 38

CLIFFS LIVING

MATRIMONY

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EXPLORE

Head for the Hills Be it a vibrant downtown scene or a cozy hamlet on high, there’s no better time of year than fall to explore the Carolinas’ diverse collection of elevated provinces — each of which come with a breathtaking backdrop already built-in.

Fortunately, The Mountain Region communities of The Cliffs at Glassy, The Cliffs at Mountain Park, and The Cliffs Valley are just within reach of these mountain stops, so even as you explore, you’ll never be too far from home.

Travelers Rest, SC SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL: Threading through 22 miles of Upstate terrain, the popular public greenway provides the ideal ambience for a walk, run, or ride — not to mention a from-scratch slice courtesy of nearby Sidewall Pizza Company.

SWAMP RABBIT BREWERY & TAPROOM: Cold seasonal drafts? Check. Savory food truck fare that ranges from BBQ to hot dogs, lobster, and sliders? Got that. Toss in a little Thursday night trivia and you’ve really got something brewing!

Saluda, NC M.A. PACE GENERAL STORE: From an eclectic assortment of antique memorabilia to locally-

made products, there’s plenty to peruse at this old-timey Main Street mercantile that was founded in 1899.

THE GORGE ZIPLINE: Eleven zip lines. Eleven hundred feet of elevation. One awesome adventure over the treetop canopy of Saluda’s stunning Green River Gorge.

Flat Rock, NC FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE: It’s showtime! The State Theatre of North Carolina lives up to its title with a broad, nearly-yearround playbill of comedies, dramas, and musicals hailing from both on and off Broadway.

Ca m p be ll’s C overe d Brid ge up on Mt. McAlpine. And what visit to Sky Top is complete without a fresh apple cider doughnut?

SKY TOP ORCHARD: Take your pick (literally) from the wide variety of apples, gourds, peaches, and grapes that ripen to perfection

Landrum, SC ANTIQUE SHOPPING: For everyone from savvy collectors to curious browsers, downtown historic Landrum is the place to be. A bevy of antique stores offer architectural salvage, fine furniture, curious relics, and more.

E IMAG E: THE GORG E ZIPLIN

CAMPBELL’S COVERED BRIDGE: Over 110 years

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CLIFFS LIVING

after its construction, South Carolina’s only remaining covered bridge continues to attract visitors with its unique historical charm, scenic surroundings, and adjacent hiking trails.

Hendersonville, NC HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HENDERSONVILLE: Don’t be distracted by the colorful acrylic bears roaring from sidewalks and shopfronts.

Hendersonville’s downtown district is a cultural melting pot of gourmet eateries, one-of-a-kind art galleries, museums, boutiques, and a handful of craft breweries.

HENDERSONVILLE WINERY TRAIL: Sommelier for a day?

Yes, please! Locally owned and operated Burntshirt Vineyards, Point Lookout Vineyards, and Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards are the holy trinity for oenophiles seeking to sip and sample the region’s best grapes.

EXPLORE

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COMMUNITY

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Batting A Thousand Craig Brown, owner of the Greenville Drive and member at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, sees more on the horizon for Fluor Field.

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s the Greenville Drive plays through its 14th season this year, Fluor Field is evolving from a minor league ballpark into a yearround events facility. It’s all part of the vision of Craig Brown, who owns the Class A minor league affiliate for the Boston Red Sox. Brown, who became familiar with South Carolina in 2003 after leaving his New York City advertising career, has always loved baseball. (A Michigan native, he’s a Detroit Tigers fan.) After more than 20 years in advertising, Brown decided to indulge his love of the game. “I’m an operations person by nature,” he says, “so when I left the agency business, I wanted to explore looking at a minor league baseball team. I love the way a minor league team connects with the community and provides quality, affordable family entertainment.”

So he stepped up to the plate and purchased a team in Columbia, South Carolina, and ran it for two years before moving the team to Greenville. “Of the three teams competing for the [Greenville] territory, we were the only ones who said if the City of Greenville would donate the land, we would privately build a new ballpark downtown,” Brown recalls. The stadium — a scale replica of Boston’s Fenway Park, complete with a Green Monster in left field — was finished in only 10 months. On April 6, 2006, Mayor Knox White threw out the first pitch for the Greenville Drive’s opening game.

BATTER UP!

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Fourteen years since purchasing the team, he and his wife, Vicki, call Greenville home and have a cottage at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls. Two of their three adult children moved to Greenville with their own families to work with their father. Brown’s son, Jeff, oversees corporate partnerships as the Drive’s vice president of marketing, while his daughter, Jennifer Burgdorfer, is the team’s director of merchandising and planning.

With a constant eye on the future, Brown launched a $15 million renovation of Fluor Field two years ago. The project added several new premium service spaces, including the Champions Club, a new lounge for season ticket holders, and a new kitchen. At the same time, they rolled out West End Events as the event-planning and management arm of the Greenville Drive. “In spinning out West End Events as its own stand-alone brand, we can leverage the equity of our baseball business over the past decade and create event spaces around the park,” notes Jeff. Recently, they even hired an executive chef, Wilberto Sauceda, to oversee food and beverage for VIP events at Fluor Field.

By opening up the Drive facilities for corporate and annual events, such as NESS Fest, the opening gala for Artisphere, and the Euphoria Food, Wine, and Music Festival, the Brown family is hitting it out of the park with their investment in Greenville. As Brown says, “It’s all about trying to be part of the fabric of the community.”

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Class Act

As the saying goes, age is just a state of mind, and for members at The Cliffs, exercising the mind is as rewarding and beneficial as exercising the body. UNC Asheville, Furman University, and Clemson University all offer continuing education programs via Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) that delve into topics from social justice to regional ecology. With broad catalogs of courses, satisfying intellectual curiosity is simply a matter of choice. Here, each institution sheds light on the importance of keeping the mind engaged.

// WHAT IS OLLI?

family — have unmatched meaning and complexity.”

“The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, or more casually OLLI, is dedicated to the notion that education never ceases. Just like people themselves, education is always changing and it is constantly revealing new ways to nurture people as they grow through life.”

– CATHERINE FRANK, Director, OLLI at UNC Asheville

– G. HERBERT GUNN, Program Manager, OLLI at UNC Asheville

“At 87 years old, Michelangelo said, ‘Ancora imparo!’ or ‘I am still learning!’ To be a part of this community, to hear and see the impact of what our program does for our members is a true honor.”

– JULIE VIDETTO, Director, OLLI at Clemson University

// WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFELONG LEARNING?

“OLLI at UNC Asheville offers more than 350 courses in four terms every year: fall, winter, spring, and summer. We offer over 100 courses in our eight-week fall and spring terms, and usually between 60 and 90 courses in our six-week winter and summer terms.”

– CATHERINE FRANK, Director, OLLI at UNC Asheville

WE KNOW THAT THOSE WHO STAY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY ACTIVE BY LEARNING NEW THINGS TEND TO LIVE LONGER, MORE PURPOSEFUL LIVES. – CATHERINE FRANK

CATHERINE FRANK

// WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR COURSES? “Our most popular subject area is history and politics, followed closely by arts, culture, and music.”

– NANCY KENNEDY, Director, OLLI at Furman University

“Upcoming classes range from ‘Traditional Chinese History and Culture’ to ‘Joan Baez: The Queen of Folk.’ There’s also a course on 100 years of World Series history taught by a volunteer who worked for Sports Illustrated.”

– G. HERBERT GUNN, Program Manager, OLLI at UNC Asheville

“We offer four terms of courses, excursions, outdoor adventures, and special interest groups. Each year, more than 350 unique programs provide opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise in a wide variety of academic and recreational pursuits and to share our experiences and perspectives with others.”

“History and contemporary affairs tend to be our most popular subjects, but every term we offer exciting new possibilities for learning. We also have some very popular instructors, and people will take whatever they teach. We have had incredibly popular discussion courses on Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal about end of life care, taught by a retired physician from the Mountain Area Health Education Center, who also gives popular lectures on various health issues.

Our members just love great teachers who are able to introduce new ideas about timely subjects.”

– JULIE VIDETTO, Director, OLLI at Clemson University

– CATHERINE FRANK, Director, OLLI at UNC Asheville

– NANCY KENNEDY, Director, OLLI at Furman University

– NANCY KENNEDY, Director, OLLI at Furman University

HERBERT GUNN

// HOW MANY CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE TO OLLI PARTICIPANTS?

“We offer about 115 courses in the fall, winter, and spring terms, and about 25 in our shorter summer term. Fall term lasts nine weeks; winter and spring terms last eight weeks each; and the summer term is four weeks long.”

“Learning in retirement is fun, and it gives you the chance to try things you never had time to before. Taking a course just for the joy of learning — without the worry of tests, papers, and homework — is, I believe, the very best kind of learning.”

“We know that those who stay mentally and physically active by learning new things tend to live longer, more purposeful lives.

Relationships are also the key to long, healthy lives, and we frequently hear that friendships formed in our classrooms and activities are among the strongest and most meaningful people have had. It may seem surprising, but friendships based on shared interests — not on work or

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NANCY KENNEDY

JULIE VIDETTO

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Fall Cycling It may take longer for the sun to crest the horizon, and there might be a chill in the air, but fall and winter at The Cliffs are the perfect time to hop on a bike and head for the hills. We checked in with the cycling legends ­— who often ride alongside members at The Cliffs — for tips to maximize your enjoyment on the bike during fall and winter.

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GEORGE HINCAPIE:

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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In the chillier months, you might want to be conscious of the altitudes you’re climbing because the weather can change so quickly.

If you can, always ride the lower elevations. I always keep a real strict eye on the weather to make sure there are no storms rolling in, and I always have an exit plan. I use Dark Sky as my go-to weather app.

In short, I try to stay as close to home as possible, while being able to do some good climbing. Just nothing too high, where you might get up into unpredictable weather patterns.

You also don’t want to suffer too much after the ride. As soon as you get back, get into dry clothing and warm up quickly. You don’t want to stay wet for too long or get too cold after a ride. I wear merino wool undershirts all the time, and if it’s a particularly cold ride, I always like to have warm tea or hot chocolate to drink.

BOBBY JULICH: Riding in the fall and winter can be just as enjoyable as riding in warmer weather, as long as you dress correctly. I would suggest the three-layer approach.

Start with a quality base-layer made of moisture-wicking material, then a middle layer such as a long sleeve cycling jersey made of thicker material, and finally an outer layer such as a vest or thermal jacket to protect against the windchill. Make sure that the middle and outer layers have zippers so that you can easily open them when riding uphill and then close them as you start the downhill.

CHRISTIAN VANDE VELDE: Cold weather riding in the Carolinas is — let’s face it — not that cold. But you always have to stay comfortable in any condition, and the things that always hurt for me are my extremities: head, hands, and feet.

Head: My favorite go-to is a thin headband that can cover my ears without compromising my helmet fit. You’d be surprised how a thin piece of Lycra can make your life so much better.

Hands: Merino wool gloves are great and truly stand the test of time, but any thin glove that wicks moisture and offers protection from wind shear helps a ton.

Feet: Simple neoprene toe covers are amazing. Keeping your toes protected, in turn, keeps your entire foot warm. What I like the most about toe covers is they don’t impede my pedal stroke, and they are easy to take off if it gets warm.

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THE SHOPPE

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Home, Made Over the last 20 years, German expatriate and shoe designer Armin Oehler has discovered a new home in Upstate South Carolina and The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.

W

hen Armin Oehler first arrived in Greenville, South Carolina in 1999 for an internship with an automotive supplier, the German native would never have guessed that he would still be here today.

Another surprise? In the 20 years since arriving, Oehler has steered his career far from his original role in the automotive industry.

After many years of balancing a career working in sales for companies such as BMW, Tesla, and Mercedes, Oehler discovered a passion for designing fine men’s shoes. As that passion grew into potential, he decided to put his energy into the shoes. “The hobby and the heart started to take over,” he explains.

Within 24 months of deciding to pursue his passion full-time, Oehler’s artisanal shoes and belts are now sold in 64 locations across the country.

The company’s roots reach back to Germany, where fine leathers are sourced from the Oehler tannery founded in 1823, but operations are based in the Upstate, a region that gives the company — and his family — plenty of room to grow.

Throughout Oehler’s time in the Upstate, The Cliffs has been a steady and important fixture. He first visited The Cliffs with a colleague during his internship, just as he was completing his engineering degree. He continued to visit as his career and family life evolved, and three years ago became a member at Keowee Springs. The

Oehlers — Armin, his wife, Sara, and their daughters, Sophia and Addison — plan to build a home and look forward to being close to the water with a boat and a dock, so that they can enjoy the lifestyle The Cliffs offers. “The beauty of The Cliffs is there’s a calendar with so many options for getting out and socializing,” he says. “From being able to enjoy the clubhouses to kayaking tours and hiking, it is a really nice way of spending time with family and friends. It’s just wonderful.”

As Oehler focuses on his next collection for the spring of 2020, he hopes to grow his business, add more jobs, and give back to the community. He also wants to carve out more time to enjoy the place he’s chosen as his home. “When I first arrived in Greenville, it was totally different than it is now,” he reflects. “Now, people come here from all over the country and the world. It’s a smalltown city with everything you want and need.

It’s a safe, family environment and has given us so many friends and experiences over the years.”

It goes without saying that the Oehlers could be anywhere in the world — exploring, traveling, and living — even as they talk about their life, family, and future in the Upstate. But as Oehler recalls an ordinary night with Sara as they sat out on the porch enjoying a glass of wine, he says with contentment, “Now, this is home.”

“The beauty of The Cliffs is there’s a calendar with so many options for getting out and socializing.”

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A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK The game of golf is evolving, and these young players at The Cliffs are helping lead the charge.

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K

yle Mueller’s first experience with golf in Athens, Georgia, was not an auspicious one. When he was six years old, his dad gave him and his older brother a set of cut-off adult clubs.

“Basically, they went outside and dug holes and played in the dirt with them,” their father, Eric, recalls.

One day, about four years later, Mueller asked his dad if he could go to the driving range with him. “I don’t exactly know what happened, but something just clicked,” he says. “After that day I asked to go to the driving range more often, and pretty soon I was going every day after school.”

Smitten with the game, he joined the golf team at Athens Academy and was AllState three out of his four high school years.

After, he studied sports management at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he played on their NCAA Division 1 golf team. The team went to NCAA Regionals every year he played, and Mueller made it to the NCAA Finals as an individual two of those four years. On top of those accolades, he was a two-time All-American and earned All-Academic honors as well. He continues to hold the all-time low-stroke average at U-M: a 70.76 during his senior year.

Today, 23-year-old Mueller represents a younger generation of rising stars on the circuit. He splits his golf time between Athens and The Cliffs, where his family has a home at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards. “I’ve been trying to treat golf like my job,” acknowledges Mueller, who hits the links every day. “I’m very fortunate that I can pursue this for a living, and I’m trying to give it my all.”

This summer, he traveled constantly, mostly for tournaments on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada. Besides the Mackenzie Tour, he currently has status on the Latin American Tour, with a goal to make it to the Korn Ferry Tour in the next year, and the PGA Tour in two years.

What is golf’s appeal for Mueller? “I really think it started with Tiger Woods,” he says.

“The reason I started playing is because Tiger made it cool to play golf. I watched what he did and how dominant he was. Before him, golf was kind of a boring, old man’s game.

Tiger brought all the excitement, and he led the way. Now you see guys like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas — young guys

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KYLE MUELLER

“I really think it started with Tiger Woods.

The reason I started playing is because Tiger made it cool to play golf.”

— KYLE MUELLER

who are making the PGA Tour. They’re doing exactly what Tiger did: making golf cool, fun, and exciting.”

Fun is also what drew 28-year old Furman alum Keith Early to the game. In 1995, Early’s father, Sheldon, took a new job and moved the family from St. Louis, Missouri, to Greenville, South Carolina. His first assignment was to review the company budget. He immediately noticed the company was spending $50,000 a year on golf expenses. When Sheldon Early asked why the firm was spending so much money on golf, his boss replied, “You must not play, do you?” Sheldon admitted he’d never played golf in his life, so his boss gave him two sets of clubs and told him to go play golf with his son. “So my dad and I started playing,” recalls Early, who was six at the time. The roots of a passion were planted

in those father-son rounds.

It wasn’t until high school that Keith became involved in competitive play.

He played in South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) and Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA) tournaments, traveling for the sport almost every weekend.

He dialed back on golf in college, but after receiving his master’s degree in accountancy at the University of Notre Dame and landing a job, Early started playing again. That’s when his game changed. “I didn’t have as much time to practice as I had as a kid, so I didn’t expect things to be perfect every time I went out,” he says. “I just tried to do the best that I could with what I had on any given day, and my scores dropped 10 strokes.”

Early landed Top 10 finishes on minitours around the U.S., which boosted his

“I’ve been trying to treat golf like my job. I’m very fortunate that I can pursue this for a living, and I’m trying to give it my all.”

— KYLE MUELLER

KYLE MUELLER

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confidence. In February 2016, Early quit his job to play golf full-time. “It was one of the coolest decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” he says. He gave himself two years to achieve his goals of making a check in at least half the tournaments he played; having an annual scoring average below 73 (his was 71.3); and making the second stage of Q School for the Web.com Tour — the only goal he didn’t realize. At the end of 2018, Early gave up his dream of going pro.

He hasn’t given up the game, though.

He’s competing in amateur events in the CGA (Carolinas Golf Association) and comes back to play at his parents’ home club at The Cliffs at Glassy during time off from his career as an international tax planner and CPA. “My golf now is a mix of tournaments, practice, and taking clients out for my job,” Early says. He hopes to qualify for the annual U.S. Golf Association (USGA) Mid-Am Tournament and win a CGA event. “That gets me back into the amateur game.”

Getting young people into the game is a focus of the sport these days. New rules implemented by the USGA at the beginning of this year — such as being able to leave the flagstick in when you putt, and dropping the ball from knee (instead of shoulder) height — are making the game simpler and faster. “It’s difficult for many people to spend five hours a day on the course,” notes Early. He cites Keowee Springs, with its six-hole loops, as the perfect setup to give younger golfers more options.

“My golf now is a mix of tournaments, practice, and taking clients out for my job.”

— KEITH EARLY

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AIDEN TUGMAN

Such changes will help hook the next generation of players, like Aiden and Tyler Tugman, who live at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs. Aiden, age 17, gave up baseball two years ago to play on his high school golf team. “I enjoy the fact that golf is all on you,” he says. “If you put in the time and effort, you can get to where you want to be. You don’t have the excuse of saying a teammate is holding you back.”

His younger brother, Tyler, 14, has been playing golf since age six.

“I’m pretty serious about golf,” Tyler declares. “I played in The Cliffs Junior Championship this summer, and I’ll go out for the golf team in high school in the fall.” Both boys appreciate the variety of venues The Cliffs courses provide. “The facilities here are fantastic!” Aiden exclaims.

“If you put in the time and effort, you can get to where you want to be. You don’t have the excuse of saying a teammate is holding you back.”

— AIDEN TUGMAN

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“Courses are always in good condition, and each one has a different feel, a different design, and different scenery.”

The Tugman boys play golf with their dad, Justin, just about every weekend. In fact, they have played on more courses within The Cliffs than their dad has. “This summer Tyler and I have plans to play all seven Cliffs courses — in one week,” says Aiden.

Engaging younger players means making golf more accessible. Early believes that means taking into account what younger players like to do, and integrating that into the club culture — as The Cliffs at Mountain Park has done with their craft-beer collaboration with Asheville’s Wicked Weed Brewing.

“The Cliffs has also been great about allowing younger players who aren’t members to come up and play with Aiden,” Justin Tugman says. “I know they want to grow the game to attract younger kids. That’s the case at Keowee Springs, and our pros deserve a lot of credit for that.”

By instituting new rules to make the game less complicated and to speed up the pace of play — while loosening old ones like prohibiting music on the course — the sport is driving more young people to the game. Clubs at The Cliffs, for their part, are focusing on incorporating the likes of craft-beer collaborations and other programming options, such as six-hole sections and lessons and tournaments for juniors, to appeal to the younger generation of players. As the game of golf evolves, it’s all par for the course.

PRO TIPS For young duffers starting out, Kyle Mueller and Keith Early offer the following tips: KYLE MUELLER: • Take one shot at a time. Don’t let what happened before this shot affect you, and don’t let what’s going to happen after this shot affect you — just stay in the moment. You’re not playing against the field, you’re playing against yourself.

• On the collegiate level, play in as many tournaments as you can. Getting that recognition and experience is the biggest thing for young players trying to get to the next level.

TYLER TUGMAN

• Remember that you’re never going to play the same round of golf. There are so many variables — weather, course conditions, your mental state, your swing — that are always changing.

KEITH EARLY:

“I’m pretty serious about golf. I played in The Cliffs Junior Championship this summer, and I’ll go out for the golf team in high school in the fall.”

— TYLER TUGMAN

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• Learn how to practice with a purpose. Getting the ball to go the exact distance you need it to go is the hardest thing to do. If you focus on hitting the number, you’re going to improve.

• Don’t think you’re doing better than is possible for yourself.

Players make a birdie or two and say, ‘This is the best round I’ve ever played in my life.’ It drains your entire performance because statistically you’re saying, ‘I’m not supposed to be this good.’ So on the next nine holes, your mind says, ‘If this is the best I’ve ever done, I’m going to do worse than that.’ And it averages out your score and your performance

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New Ownership,

OLD FRIENDS The dynamic new ownership group, South Street Partners, has a fresh vision for The Cliffs.

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“T “Chris’s loyalty and confidence are his most valuable character traits when it come to the success of South Street Partners.”

ime, in many cases, is more precious than money.”

Wise words from Patrick Melton, managing partner of South Street Partners, the Charlotte- and Charlestonbased investment firm that recently acquired the seven mountain and lake communities that comprise The Cliffs.

Melton married his college sweetheart — they celebrate 20 years of matrimony this year — and together they have two daughters, ages 11 and four. His time away from work is filled with soccer and basketball, and he knows all too well the challenges associated with getting kids to look up from electronics and engage with the important people in their lives.

“It’s our goal to create an environment where people can connect with their families,” Melton says.

His partners are also busy raising young families. Jordan Phillips is a father of two toddlers, and Will Culp has three kids under 10. Chris Randolph, the newlywed of the group, is dad to a three-year-old yellow lab.

The firm was well represented at the Randolph nuptials, as Chris asked each of his partners to stand beside him in the wedding. Not many business partnerships are quite this close, but the South Street team is a tight group of friends who love their families, their dogs, and the occasional round of golf.

They’re also in sync in their passion for taking The Cliffs to new heights.

“We have the opportunity to define a new future for The Cliffs, and that challenge is something that gets us all excited,” Melton says.

– PATRICK MELTON

“We have the opportunity to define a new future for The Cliffs, and that challenge is something that gets us all excited.”

– PATRICK MELTON

“Of all of us, Jordan is the most patient, thoughtful, and diligent.”

– WILL CULP

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Phillips and Culp claim the longest connection, born four days apart and growing up as best friends in High Point, North Carolina. They were freshmen roommates at the University of North Carolina, where they met Randolph, who made his way to Chapel Hill from Long Island, New York.

Melton, a few years their senior, is another North Carolina native and UNC alumnus.

“We’re business colleagues with a common vision and goal, but first and foremost, we’re friends,” says Culp. “We have dinners together, our kids are friends, our families vacation together, and that helps breed our culture into our properties.

We’re a family, and we operate our company as such.”

Phillips and Culp headed to Asia together after college graduation to begin their careers in the private equity industry.

Randolph followed a similar path back to New York.

“After school, I went to work for Summit Capital Management, a family office / private equity firm focused on opportunistic real estate investments,” Randolph says.

“There I was able to not only work on acquisitions and asset management but they also gave me the opportunity to raise outside capital to invest in our deals.”

Phillips and Culp eventually returned to the States. Culp joined Hillwood, a leading real estate developer owned by the Perot family, and Phillips went to work with Discovery Land Company, where Melton was a partner. Hillwood and Discovery were partners on a number of deals, so Phillips and Culp — and now Melton — continued to work closely despite being at different firms.

While at Discovery, Melton and Phillips were involved with the development and operation of roughly a dozen high-end, masterplanned golf course communities, including Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club in Cashiers, North Carolina, and Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club in the Bahamas. The vast portfolio meant that Melton and Phillips were spread across the country: Melton was traveling to the West Coast every week, leaving behind his young family in Charlotte; Phillips was based in Scottsdale, Arizona, later moving to Mexico.

And then the Great Recession hit.

But even with the economy spiraling downwards, Melton and Phillips found a backer that was willing to get them set up on the East Coast. “So we left Discovery and got South Street going,” says Phillips. “Chris Randolph was our first call.”

“The sky’s the limit at The Cliffs. This area is one of the most dynamic places in the United States in terms of quality of life, cost of living, and access.”

“Patrick has the ability to always be thinking several steps ahead and that is a valuable trait. I tend to be a bit reactionary and he helps balance that out.”

– JORDAN PHILLIPS

– WILL CULP

South Street Partners was founded in 2009 and based in Charlotte. Randolph remained in New York for the first few years to raise a steady stream of capital for the young firm’s investments in the Southeast. Culp, by this time, was back in Charlotte working for Crescent Resources and keeping in close contact with his college friends and former colleagues. By 2012, he was solidly in the fold as the fourth partner.

“Over the last decade, we’ve put together a pretty sizable business,” Randolph says. “We now have over a billion dollars of assets under management.” Their largest investment prior to the Cliffs took place in 2013 when they acquired Kiawah Partners, Kiawah Island Real Estate, and the Kiawah Island Club as part of a larger portfolio purchase. Since that acquisition, they have sold over $1.5 billion of real estate, launched the largest homebuilder on Kiawah, and have reinvigorated the Kiawah Island Club via significant capital investments and elevated services and programming. “These accomplishments are the result of active attention to community input and market trends, as well as thoughtful, strategic investments in land and amenity development,” Phillips states.

“Will’s most valuable character trait is his loyalty to our team and his willingness to go to bat on our behalf, even when the odds are stacked against us.”

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“These accomplishments are the result of active attention to communiy input and market trends, as well as thoughtful, strategic investments in land and amenity development.”

– JORDAN PHILLIPS

With the insights gained from Kiawah Island, South Street Partners views The Cliffs as an opportunity to create success through community building. And they plan to begin the process through investing in amenities. First up will be The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards Lakehouse, a waterfront restaurant and events venue. (Read more about the Lakehouse on page 94). A fresh set of community-centric amenities is also being considered for The Landing at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, including food and beverage, a boathouse landing, an infinity pool and fitness area, and a unique treehouse and trail system. South Street anticipates the use of natural materials and a color palette which seamlessly blends in with the environment, complementing the natural beauty of Lake Keowee.

“We spend a lot of time in the field to assess how the site can strengthen the architecture of a project,” explains Mark Permar, a design consultant for South Street Partners, who has been involved in all aspects of planning for Kiawah’s development dating back to 1979. With a focus on balance and dedication to placemaking, South Street is currently analyzing and developing the concepts for the future Keowee Springs and Mountain Park clubhouses and related community amenities as well.

While the site plans are still in the very early stages of conception and have yet to be formalized, the team is approaching the Keowee Springs and Mountain Park clubhouses and amenities in the same manner as they did with The Landing amenities: with a focus on design that encourages engagement and family fun.

“The proposed sites for the Keowee Springs clubhouse and amenities are incredibly unique,” begins Permar. “It’s a beautiful setting that can be social as well as sport. One does not necessarily have to be a golfer to appreciate the beautiful views the course lays out. And, the overlook site will provide some of the most remarkable sunsets from the back porch.” By evolving the clubhouse concept to include openair, easily accessible social spaces, the team is diversifying its usage and potential users. As every member of South Street Partners has stated, “We want every clubhouse and amenity we design to be casual, fun, and family friendly.”

The preliminary brainstorms for the amenities at Mountain Park are grounded in the same principles with the goal of creating a place that will allow members to gather with family and friends and celebrate life to its fullest. South Street Partners and Permar recognize The Cabin is already much enjoyed by its membership. Therefore, the team will be focusing on strengthening and enhancing the already established aesthetic and casual nature of the structures in the new amenities.

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KIAWAH ISLAND CLUB PORTFOLIO

The Crudo Bar at the B-Liner

Cassique Clubhouse

Bar at The B-Liner at The Beach Club

Mens Locker Room at The River Course

The Marsh House Sports Pavillion at Cassique

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“The growth of Greenville, Asheville, and Clemson is pretty compelling. We’re going to work to connect The Cliffs communities in each of the regions to those towns because we want to grow with them.”

– CHRIS RANDOLPH

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In conjunction with the tangible side of community development, South Street is reimagining and elevating the services a club can provide its members.

The philosophy of “members first” is being quickly embraced and is setting the tone for future programming and service standards. In addition, there is a tremendous focus on family. Gone are the days of the old-school club where dad hits the links for the day, leaving the rest of the family to their own devices.

Instead, family-driven programming is where South Street plans to make its mark. A formalized kids’ camp — where little ones can be dropped off for a day of organized fun — would give parents a break from the taxi service they run all school year. Similar evening programming would also provide children an escape from the grownup table during the dinner hour. There are also plans to make golf more accessible to both beginners and those unwilling or unable to devote the traditional time required on the course.

“We’ve made some big capital investments into Kiawah since we’ve been there, but probably the most impactful has been the programming,” Randolph says. “You talk to some of these families and they use terms like ‘life-changing.’

It really makes us feel like we’re contributing to our members’ lives.”

South Street Partners knows from experience that engaged, happy, and thriving kids equal happy parents and grandparents who feel good about investing their money and time — that all too precious commodity — into a community.

“The sky’s the limit at The Cliffs,” Culp says. “This area is one of the most dynamic places in the United States in terms of quality of life, cost of living, and access.”

Capitalizing on this prime location is another priority, and the partners have already begun engaging with community leaders in surrounding cities.

“The growth of Greenville, Asheville, and Clemson is pretty compelling,” Randolph says. “We’re going to work to connect The Cliffs communities in each of the regions to those towns because we want to grow with them.”

Ultimately, the South Street team is looking forward to building on the legacy they’ve inherited and continuing to shape The Cliffs into a place they and their peers would like to spend time connecting with their own loved ones.

“I grew up going to the mountains with my family, so to be able to continue to go there on a regular basis for the next few decades is a blessing,” Melton says. “The Cliffs is a place I want to vacation anyway, and now I get to go to work there.”

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T I M E . TA L E N T. T R E A S U R E S .

A S A M E M B E R AT T H E C L I F F S , T H E R E A R E S O M A N Y W AY S T O G I V E B A C K .

The Walnut Cove Members Association (WCMA) is a charitable and social organization for Walnut Cove members and property owners. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit raises money through dues, donations, and an annual Weekend of Giving (see â&#x20AC;&#x153;Giving Cycle,â&#x20AC;? p37).

Since its creation in 2007, WCMA has donated over $1,250,000 to 306 deserving Western North Carolina charities in which our members are actively involved.

Cliffs Resident Outreach (CRO) is a 501(c)(3) with chapter organizations at Valley, Glassy, Mountain Park, Keowee Vineyards, Keowee Falls, and Keowee Springs. The CRO is a 100% volunteer organization focused on literacy, nutrition, and mentoring for kids in Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties in South Carolina. In the last 10 years, CRO has raised over $3,500,000 and donated over 18,000 hours benefiting kids in the Upstate.

Learn more and get involved at cliffsgiving.com.

Doing philanthropic work on your own? We would love to know about it and support your passion.

Email details to giving@cliffsliving.com.

Landscapes | Hardscapes | home services | Tree Work (864) 365-6565 | www.red-elm.com

Always

FORWARD Melissa Stockwell — daughter of The Cliffs Valley members Dave and Marlene Hoffman — inspires with every step she takes.

Y

ou would think she had been born on the Fourth of July. “All her growing up years, she had a red, white, and blue bedroom,” says Marlene Hoffman about her daughter, Melissa Stockwell. Hers was an innate and unabiding patriotism, one that left Hoffman in awe. “At age six, Melissa started gymnastics. She was competing, winning medals, and you could just see her pride to stand there with her hand on her chest, looking at the flag. I don’t know where that incredible respect for our flag and our country came from.” She continues, “In middle school, a recruiter from the Army came and talked to all the kids, and Melissa brought home three or four stickers: Go Army and the Uncle Sam one, We Want You, with his finger pointing out. She wanted those on the bumper on our car and we said, ‘No, but you can put them in your bedroom.’”

Dave and Marlene Hoffman — members at The Cliffs Valley — watched the youngest of their three daughters follow her patriotic calling when she was commissioned as an officer into the United States Army. They also watched as Stockwell’s life changed dramatically — nearly tragically — on April 13, 2004. As Stockwell has described it, she woke up with two legs and went to sleep

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with one. Stockwell was deployed in Iraq as a first lieutenant when her Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. She was 24 years old, and in that moment, became the first female soldier to lose a limb in combat.

It was a dubious distinction at the time, especially for someone so young and just starting her career. But for this high-achieving veteran, athlete, wife, and mother, it was the first of many significant moments brought about by the life-altering loss of her left leg.

From that point on, Stockwell turned her spirit and determination toward making the most of her life — if only because she still had hers. “I feel very lucky to have my life because a lot of people gave that ultimate sacrifice,” she says. “I think a lot about how I want to run or be out there doing the things I want to do, just because I can, and a lot of people can’t.

I always tell people just try to find whatever inspires you and use it.”

For her, inspiration also comes from her husband of four years, Brian, their nearly fiveyear-old son, Dallas Patrick, and daughter, Millie Lynn, who is almost two. The family lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, so that Stockwell can train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

That’s where you’ll find her every day from 7:30 am until 4:30 pm, training to reach her goal of

representing the United States in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Stockwell, who was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, is not just a war hero.

She’s a paratriathlete, competing around the globe in biking, swimming, and running.

During her recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 2004, she learned of the Paralympic Games and earned a spot in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games for swimming. That laid the groundwork for what would, eight years later, become one of the greatest moments of her life. In Rio, at the 2016 Paralympic Games, she won the bronze medal in the women’s paratriathlon. For her, it felt like “personal gold.”

WE WOULDN’T HAVE MADE IT AND STILL HAD OUR HEADS SCREWED ON RIGHT IF SHE WASN’T

AS POSITIVE AS SHE WAS.

THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT FROM TOP: Stockwell presents President Bush with an American flag from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics; Stockwell serving in Iraq; Stockwell’s Humvee moments after it was hit by a roadside bomb; Stockwell reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. OPPOSITE PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT FROM TOP: The Stockwell family hiking in Colorado; skiing in Vail, Colorado; Stockwell’s prosthetic legs; Stockwell sharing a dance with President Bush on his ranch; Stockwell finishing her first Ironman; Stockwell on a training run.

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“The race was on September 11, with all of the meaning behind that. I’m wearing the USA uniform and my family and friends are there. And it was a USA sweep, so when my teammates got the silver and gold — ­ and not one, but three American flags go up, and the national anthem plays — I mean, it was one of the greatest moments ever. I was out of my mind. It was the most incredible moment,” Stockwell recalls.

She has made her life full of those now: incredible moments.

The extensive list of her awards and achievements includes being a three-time paratriathlon world champion; co-founding Dare2Tri, a paratriathlon club serving youth and adults with physical disabilities; using her voice to share her story and lift up others as a motivational speaker for high-performance corporations; and appearing as part of veterans campaigns in commercials from Chobani Greek Yogurt and Modelo beer.

Stockwell also turns 40 next year and is competing against much younger people who might be able to hit the snooze button — a luxury that doesn’t go along with being the mother of young children. She’s inspiring to say the very least, but this trifecta of grit, perseverance, and positivity is overmatched by one thing: love for her children and family.

“My favorite moments are Saturday and Sunday mornings when we wake up and make pancakes,” says Stockwell. “We play on the floor all the time. We do puzzles, go to the park, take out the bike. Those little moments are my favorite moments. Just sitting on the floor rolling a ball back and forth with my 1½ year old is such happiness.”

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Awards & Recognitions • Purple Heart • Bronze star • 2008 Paralympian • 2009 – Amazing Mentor of the Year - United States Olympic Committee • 2010 – Pat McDonald Female Athlete with a Disability of the Year • 2010 – Inducted into Buffalo Battalion Hall of Fame • 2010 – Presedential delegate for the Vancover Paralympic Games • 2010 – Paratriathlete of the Year • 2010 – Paratriathlon World Champion • 2011 – ESPY nominee for best female athlete with a disability • 2011 – Paratriathlon National Champion • 2011 – Paratriathlon World Champion • 2011 – Achilles GM military award recipient • 2011 – Paratriathlete of the Year • 2012 – USA Triathalon Inspirational Comeback Award • 2012 – White House Champion of Change • 2012 – Adaptive Adventures ‘FREEDOM through Mobility’ award • 2012 – Named on MSN list of Most Inspiring Athletes Ever • 2012 – Paratriathlon National Champion • 2012 – Paratriathlon World Champion • 2013 – Recited the Pledge of Allegiance at Pres. Bush Library Dedication • 2013 – Paratriathlon National Champion • 2013 – Paratriathlon silver medal, World Championships • 2013 – Wilma Rudolph Courage Award (Women’s Sports Foundation)

Stockwell dives into a pool during a commercial shoot for The Hartford.

• 2014 – Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award • 2015 – Paratriathlon bronze medal, World Championships • 2016 – Paralympic Bronze Medalist • 2016 – CAF Exceptional Athletic Performance • 2016 – ROMP Freedom through Mobility Award • 2017 – Excellence in Sports Leadership Award • 2019 – U.S. Olympic Endowment General Douglas MacArthur Award

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She is many things to many people, but what inspires her husband, Brian, most is the view he sees through the window that her fans, supporters, and followers can’t. “You would think it would be her work ethic and determination,” he says, “but honestly, it is her patience with our children. She can come home from a week of workouts and be visibly tired, but always has time

for the kids. She could easily throw on the TV and get some rest, but she doesn’t. She stays engaged with them, brings them to the park, plays out in the yard. Her energy is endless when it comes to our kids.”

Every year in April, Stockwell’s family and friends gather to celebrate the birthday of her “Little Leg,” complete with cake, beer toasts, banners, and

Stockwell competing on her bike during the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE MY LIFE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE

GAVE THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

I THINK A LOT ABOUT HOW I WANT TO RUN OR BE OUT THERE DOING THE THINGS I WANT TO DO, JUST BECAUSE

I CAN, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

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LEFT: Stockwell’s media image for Team BP during the 2016 Rio Paralympics. ABOVE: Stockwell levitates her prosthetic legs.

plenty of red, white, and blue. This year, Stockwell even wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the date April 13, 2004, followed by “I Found the IED” — a gallows-humor nod to herself that only someone seemingly Teflon-coated from negativity would wear.

“We wouldn’t have made it and still had our heads screwed on right if she wasn’t as positive as she was,” says Hoffman, who Stockwell makes clear is one of her biggest cheerleaders.

“I give her an immense amount of credit for how she impacted our life and our view of life because she was so positive.”

Stockwell has bad days, and she’s the first to

admit it. “Just ask my husband,” she says. But from faraway Iraq — a place that called to a young patriot clad in Army fatigues and fortified with unflagging love of country — to the world stage where Stockwell competes against other athletes, she can still hear the noise. Words like “no” and “cannot” are still Kryptonite to even the most superhuman of heroes. So every time Stockwell takes a step, she remembers what she can still do. And she remembers that all the steps she takes are for more than herself.

They’re also for her family, her friends, and the legions that are watching and taking inspiration from her.

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GREEN LIVING

Future

PROOF The League home at The Cliffs Valley combines extreme efficiency with extraordinary comfort.

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A

l and Nancy League may have put a bit of extra investment — of both time and money — into the early stages of constructing their home at The Cliffs Valley, but their “future-proof” choices are already paying off in the two years since its completion in June 2017.

The League’s home generated two megawatts more power than they needed last year, which they put back into the grid at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. They keep the home at 72 degrees yearround, have free hot water, and 32 kilowatts of backup power stored on lithium-iron batteries at all times. These cutting-edge features — and more — are quietly running under the surface of a home with all of the comforts and the traditional appeal you’d expect to find in The Cliffs.

“I just looked at the art of the possible,” says Al, who once ran an advanced research and development lab for U.S. intelligence agencies. “I wanted to learn how to use the available technology, which works more efficiently and effectively when integrated. I wanted to put all my costs upfront, because I want to be here forever, and I wanted a $28 power bill.” That $28 connection fee powers the main 4,900-square-foot home, as well as 1,700 square feet of additional space that includes attics and garages. The Leagues stay “onthe-grid” to use co-op power at night when the sun isn’t shining, and the extra power they generate during the day benefits the grid.

“We could go off the grid if we

wanted to, and be self-sufficient,” he says.

While some people associate highly efficient, high-tech homes with a futuristic look, the Leagues wanted a more familiar design.

“From the front, there is nothing obvious about the unique features of our home,” Al says. But a closer look reveals the home’s ultramodern methodologies.

The plan started with solar.

Builder Arthur Rutenburg and solar engineer Adam Allman worked closely with Al to position the home so that the rear of the house faced directly south. The Leagues then installed 47 300-watt solar panels that are completely invisible from the front of the residence and to all neighbors.

The collected power is stored in the mechanical room, where a MagnaSine system conditions the power and stores what isn’t needed in lithium-iron batteries — not lithium ion batteries, Al points out. Lithium-iron — also known as lithium ferrite — batteries are completely inert and never run out of duty cycles. The use of these batteries in the League’s home is the first residential application of the technology, which was originally developed for military special forces operating in the desert.

Another key aspect of the home’s self-sufficiency is its two geothermal systems engineered by Mike Estes. According to Al, they are “the most efficient heating and cooling technologies you can put in a residence.” The systems are at least twice as efficient as the most highly rated conventional HVAC

Triple-pane windows with foam board sheathing.

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Geothermal systems keep the house at 72 degrees, year-round.

“From the front, there is nothing obvious about the unique features of our home.” But a closer look reveals the home’s ultra modern methodologies.

Foam board sheathing and open-cell foam insulation.

GREEN LIVING

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The Leagues store two 100-gallon tanks of free, heated water at all times.

MagnaSine system conditions the power and stores what isn’t needed in lithium-iron batteries.

Lithium-iron batteries store collected power from 47 300-watt solar panels.

system, and they will pay for themselves within five years. Plus, with few moving parts, its lifespan is much longer than most HVAC units.

Hidden under the driveway are wells that reach 400 feet into the earth. Water circulates through the wells at 56 degrees — the temperature at that depth — and is pulled into the geothermal systems to keep the house at 72 degrees, year-round.

A serendipitous byproduct of the geothermal process is the hot water generated by the heat exchangers in the geothermal systems, which

allows the Leagues to store two 110-gallon tanks of free heated water at all times.

To maximize all of this efficiency, Al and his team made sure the home was airtight — up to four times federal Energy Star standards. This was achieved by installing triple-pane windows with foam board sheathing, along with open-cell foam insulation sprayed in for optimal coverage.

All of the systems are automatically monitored and can be remotely controlled from Al’s phone, tablet, or any computer he uses.

While any one of the features in the League

home offers an increase in energy efficiency, it is the combination of all the systems that creates a dramatic effect. Al says designing and building the home was “about discovery and education,” and he hopes the results will help others realize that non-traditional energy options can save money and allow homes to practically maintain themselves. Thanks to the seamless integration of technology and design in the League home, Al and Nancy are certainly able to show others a beautiful, low-maintenance, and ultra-efficient home is possible.

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STYLE FILE

DAVID SONTAG

Joining Forces Members Bruce Jacobson and David Sontag share a community and a passion for woodworking at The Cliffs at Mountain Park.

T David Sontag’s home includes over 1,000 square feet of space dedicated to hand crafting items including a cutting board (above), made with curved strips of wood, not inlays; and a rocking chair inspired by woodworker Sam Maloof (right).

here are hobbies and there are passions. For Bruce Jacobson and David Sontag, woodworking is the latter. These two men, as they were designing homes for their families at The Cliffs at Mountain Park, each dedicated over 1,000 square feet to woodworking shops. And through the community at Mountain Park, these two men have met and become close friends who enjoy sharing their passion.

Jacobson has been working with wood for about 25 years; Sontag for about 40 years. For Jacobson, wood was initially just a curiosity.

As he was cleaning out his basement in Carmel, Indiana, he came across some tools and decided to build a workbench. On the other hand, Sontag’s introduction to wood came vocationally: he worked construction jobs during high school and college, and through that, learned carpentry.

Their introductions to the medium of wood developed into fullblown appreciation for woodworking’s marriage of function, precision, technique, and aesthetics. Jacobson, a Master Woodworker who dedicated eight years to refining his craft through courses at the Marc

“ I E N J OY T H E P R O C E S S O F F I G U R I N G O U T H OW TO M A K E A P I E C E WO R K . ” — BRUCE JACOBSON 92

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STYLE FILE

“ I T ’S A L L A B O U T D E S I G N P O S S I B I L I T Y. ” — DAVID SONTAG

Bruce Jacobson’s intricate woodwork, as seen in a replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin floor lamp (left) and a grandfather clock inspired by Gustav Stickley (below).

Adams School of Woodworking, explains “I’ll sometimes spend 300 hours building a piece.” He elaborates, “I enjoy the process of figuring out how to make a piece work.”

“With hand tools, you can do just about anything your imagination would lead you to with wood. It’s all about design possibility and the joinery,” adds Sontag.

Joinery — the art of fitting pieces of wood together without the use of screws or nails — is what separates fine woodworking from more casual forays. Properly cut joints — dovetails and mortise and tenon — fit like precise puzzle pieces and lend strength and durability to a piece, and in the case of Jacobson and Sontag, they’re cut, shaped, and fitted by hand.

There’s no limit to how these two artisans can apply their skills.

“I work on pretty much anything that has to do with wood,” says Jacobson, giving a nod to everything from furniture to toys, to cutting boards. Sontag is much the same: “I love a new project. All I need is a picture to reference.”

Jacobson and Sontag frequently visit each other’s shops, checking out projects and offering feedback. Lately, they’ve taken their collaboration to a new level by co-teaching woodworking classes for women. The projects for these classes are smaller in scale — charcuterie boards, for instance — but the two friends are happy to share their passion. “I just enjoy being in the shop,” says Jacobson. “If I can be there with a friend, even better.”

>> JACOBSON AND SONTAG ALSO BELONG TO THE GREENVILLE WOODWORKERS GUILD. TO GET STARTED ON YOUR OWN PROJECT, OR LEARN ABOUT TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES, VISIT GREENVILLEWOODWORKERS.COM.

TAKE A TURN

BRUCE JACOBSON

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TREND REPORT

High Water Mark The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards Lakehouse blends natural beauty with community.

T

he Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards boasts countless amenities, but in the near future, this community is poised to become even more appealing with the addition of a new lake house. Perched on a peninsula jutting into Lake Keowee, the lake house will take the place of the beloved building destroyed by fire in 2017.

With its low profile and natural materials, the new lake house is designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings. The venue incorporates three distinct areas, starting with the dining room, flooded with natural light from large south- and west-facing windows that frame the lake. Outside, a covered dining space takes equal advantage of gorgeous water views. The open-air event pavilion also benefits from southwest breezes, cooling it in summer. In addition, a bar will service all three spaces, and a dock on the east side will provide convenient water access. Landscaping will complement the surroundings with large sweeps of indigenous plants that lead the eye from tables to the greater outdoors.

“The exterior materials are in keeping with

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surrounding homes and natural surroundings,” says project architect Paul Zugg, of Signature Architects in Clemson, South Carolina. “We will have pine, cedar, natural stone, and painted siding. The roof will be metal.

All the colors have not been finalized, but they will also blend with the natural surroundings.” The project broke ground this spring and is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2020.

“Our philosophy and values are derived from a sound understanding of natural conditions that are unique to this place and less about creating a contrived place,” adds land planning consultant Mark Permar, of Permar, Inc. on Kiawah Island, who has been working with The Cliffs on the lake house concept.

“The role of architecture with this approach is not to overwhelm, replace, or draw too much attention, but to complement and reveal the place that exists, and to provide owners and guests choices for experiencing this setting.”

As Zugg describes it simply, “The new lake house will be a place like no other, a place to come relax and enjoy a meal or drink with friends.”

TREND REPORT

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“ T H E N E W L A K E H O U S E W I L L B E A P L AC E L I K E N O OT H E R , A P L AC E TO C OM E R E L A X A N D E N J OY A M E A L O R D R I N K W I T H F R I E N D S . ”

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A Bathroom to Behold

ROOM WITH A VIEW

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Robin and Wally Sipos, members at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, deconstruct a masterful design.

I

f you’ve spent any time on the architecture and home inspiration website Houzz lately, chances are, you’ve come across the master bathroom of Robin and Wally Sipos, homeowners and members at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. It’s one of the all-time most popular images on the site, with over 82,000 “saves” by Houzz community members.

It’s easy to see why. The large soaking tub holds a commanding presence when you walk into the master bathroom. The basin’s stark square top gives way to a smooth curved base — an expression of the Sipos’ penchant for contemporary design, made more approachable with softened accents.

As striking as the tub is, there is even more to behold within the scene. Eyes naturally dart from the centerpiece to its worthy backdrop: a carved stone wall, the shading of its grooves different with each level of lighting. One might assume the curves mirror the foothills where the Siposes reside, but the pattern actually references Robin’s upbringing near the sea. The ledge directly behind the tub is designed to hold the hardware and plumbing, and doubles as the perfect spot for a glass of wine, as both Robin and Wally are quick to inform.

Across the room, another scene is set. A large rectangular window frames the curves of the hills in the valley below — another juxtaposition of hard against soft. Nestled within those hills are the homes of their friends and neighbors, and the foundation of why they’ve chosen this place as their home.

“This is the best community we’ve ever lived in,” Robin says.

FEATURED This room was featured on the cover of USA Today’s HOME magazine and Carolina Home & Garden. It was also recognized as the “Best Interior Merchandising over 1 Million Dollars” from the Asheville Home Builders Pace Awards.

BUILDER: Thompson Properties INTERIOR DESIGNER: Allard & Roberts Interior Design

ROBIN & WALLY SIPOS

UNIFIED DESIGN ELEMENTS

THE CURVE: Subtly sophisticated design details span the entire house. Within the Sipos home, you’ll find subtle curves in drawer pulls, wall sconces, fan blades, and of course, the master bath. Unified in nature, and inspired by the ocean, they also complement the Blue Ridge Mountain views.

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The Ultimate Driving Machine®

VISIT THE AUTOBAHN. LOCATED IN THE UPSTATE.

It’s time to plan your trip to the BMW Performance Driving School.

Get behind the wheel of multiple Ultimate Driving Machines® in programs that are packed with seat time, adrenaline and excitement.

Choose from Car Control, Teen and M Schools, PC Drives and Ultimate Mixers. We also offer customized group outings for 10 to 200 people—or more. Our Upstate location boasts almost 2 miles of newly paved track, a 300’ polished concrete skidpad, off-road course and extensive motorcycle training obstacles and trails. Make your reservation for the destination where we help create memories that last a lifetime.

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VISTAS

SAVE THE DATES 速

MEMBER SUBMITTED PHOTOS 速

LAST LOOK 速

CLUB CONTACT 速

Save the Dates!

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

OYSTER SEASON | OCTOBER & NOVEMBER Any reason is a good reason to break out the shucking knives.

Throughout oyster season — that’s any month with the letter “R” — there are plenty of opportunities at The Cliffs to join your fellow members around a table and a pile of this esteemed shellfish.

• Oct. 3: Shucking on the Lawn (The Cliffs at Glassy) • Oct. 12: Annual Oysterfest (The Cliffs at Walnut Cove) • Oct. 19: 2nd Annual Fall Oyster Roast & Farmers Market (The Cliffs at Mountain Park) • Nov. 10: Al Fresco Oyster Roast (The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards)

AUGUST

SEPT. 7-8 • THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE MEMBER CLASSIC

SEPT. 19-21 • THE LINKS MEN’S INVITATIONAL (Mountain Park)

OCT. 3 • GRAN FONDO TRAINING RIDE (Mountain Park)

SEPT. 12-14 • MEN’S DARK CORNER CLASSIC (Valley)

SEPT. 21 • WINE DINNER WITH A VIEW (Keowee Springs)

AUG. 29 • LOBSTER NIGHT & SEASIDE FARE (Glassy)

SEPT. 13 • MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT (Mountain Park)

SEPT. 23 • AUSTIN ERNST INVITATIONAL (Valley)

OCT. 3-5 • LADIES’ CRYSTAL CLASSIC (Valley)

AUG. 30 • LABOR DAY WEEKEND BASH (Keowee Falls)

SEPT. 14-15 • KEOWEE FALLS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

AUG. 24 • LAKE KEOWEE HUSBAND & WIFE TOURNAMENT (Keowee Falls & Keowee Springs)

SEPT. 18 • WELLNESS FAIR (Glassy)

• SADDLE & SIP (Keowee Vineyards Equestrian Center)

SEPT. 18-21 • 20TH ANNUAL KEOWEE CLASSIC MEN’S INVITATIONAL (Keowee Vineyards)

• CHEF’S SERIES (Walnut Cove) AUG. 31 • MUSIC BINGO (Valley)

SEPT. 19 • DUPONT FOREST MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE (Cedar Mountain, NC)

SEPTEMBER SEPT. 3 • MEMBER CHEF NIGHT (Mountain Park)

• CHEF’S TABLE – UNCORKED (Keowee Falls)

SEPT. 5-7 • 12TH ANNUAL LADIES’ FAIRWAY CLASSIC (Glassy) GO 100

CLIFFS LIVING

• WINE MAKER’S DINNER (Glassy)

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SEPT. 24 • FARM TO TABLE DINNER (Mountain Park) SEPT. 25-28 • MINI WINE + FOOD WEEK (Valley) SEPT. 26 • THE CLIFFS LADIES’ PLAYAROUND (Valley) SEPT. 27 • WOMEN WHO WINE — SPAIN (Glassy) SEPT. 28-29 • KEOWEE FALLS MEMBER-MEMBER

OCTOBER OCT. 2-4 • KEOWEE LADIES’ INVITATIONAL (Keowee Falls & Keowee Vineyards)

• LINE DANCING AT THE BARN (Keowee Vineyards) OCT. 13 • THE WINE MAKER WINE DINNER (Keowee Vineyards)

OCT. 4 • FALL GRAND WINE TASTING (Walnut Cove)

OCT. 16 • THE CLIFFS LADIES’ PLAYAROUND (Keowee Falls)

OCT. 5 • SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Vineyards)

OCT. 17 • OKTOBERFEST (Valley)

OCT. 6 • WALNUT COVE COUPLES CHAMPIONSHIP OCT. 10-12 • RENEGADE MEN’S INVITATIONAL (Keowee Springs) OCT. 11 & 12 • TWO-DAY GOLF SCHOOL WITH ERIKA LARKIN (Mountain Park) OCT. 12 • OKTOBERFEST STREET CELEBRATION (Keowee Falls)

OCT. 18-19 • THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP OCT. 23-26 • KEOWEE COUPLES’ INVITATIONAL (All Lake Keowee Clubs) OCT. 24 • WOMEN WHO WINE – CALIFORNIA (Glassy) OCT. 25 • OCTOBERFEST & FALL FESTIVAL (Walnut Cove) • HAUNTED HAPPY HOUR (Valley)

FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE, VISIT MEMBERS.CLIFFSLIVING.COM

DISTINCTIVE INTERIORS FOR MODERN LIFESTYLES

Photos by Rebecca Ledhe / Inspiro 8 Studios

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CAN’T MIS S EVENTS AUGUST 29

RIDE WITH CHRISTIAN VANDE VELDE With two top-10 finishes in the Tour de France and a first-place win in the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Christian Vande Velde is yet another living legend among the cycling guides for The Cliffs.

Join him — and like-minded members — for a late summer ride. (Can’t make the ride? Get more tips from Vande Velde — and the other cycling legends at The Cliffs — on page 50.)

SEPTEMBER 1–2

LABOR DAY The unofficial end of summer comes with this long weekend, so you might as well send out the season on a high note. Whether a kayak tour, a bocce ball tournament at The Cliffs Valley, or cookouts across all clubs, there are plenty of ways to soak up the remaining sweet summer sun.

OCTOBER 25–31

HALLOWEEN Carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, and going trick-or-treating are time-honored traditions for All Hallows’ Eve. What makes it even better is that every club at The Cliffs will be offering their own take on this spooky celebration. The only trick will be to keep from overindulging on the treats!

NOVEMBER 28

THANKSGIVING This Thanksgiving, gather with friends and family at The Cliffs for feast and fellowship. Join Keowee Vineyards, Valley, and Walnut Cove between November 28 and 29 for regional versions of the venerable bird and traditional fixings. For those who want to work up an appetite before the turkeys are carved, there’s also a pre-Thanksgiving hike to Yellow Branch Falls on November 26.

DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS Get in the holiday spirit all December long. In addition to Christmas dinners served at the clubs, The Cliffs is hosting concerts, hikes, candy cane sales, and open houses to spread good cheer to every member and neighbor.

DECEMBER 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE It’s never too early to start thinking of new year’s resolutions, but while you’re at it, grab some fireworks and a saber. They’ll all be necessary to ring in 2020 with a shower of bubbly champagne, bursting rockets, and the optimism that comes with a new year.

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OCT. 26-27 • COUPLES CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT (Valley) OCT. 27 • HALLOWEEN HAYRIDE (Valley) OCT. 30 • SPOOKY TRIVIA (Mountain Park) OCT. 31 • CHEF’S TABLE – UNCORKED (Keowee Falls)

NOVEMBER NOV. 2 • SUPPER CLUB (Keowee Vineyards) NOV. 3 • MYSTERY WINE DINNER (Glassy) NOV. 4 • LAKE KEOWEE MEET & THREE TOURNAMENT (All Lake Keowee Clubs) NOV. 9 • FALL FEAST & FOLKTALES (Mountain Park) NOV. 10 • VETERANS DINNER (Keowee Falls) NOV. 16 • TURKEY SHOOTOUT PRO-AM (Valley) • TASTE OF THE INDIES WINE DINNER (Keowee Springs) NOV. 17 • AL FRESCO OYSTER ROAST (Keowee Vineyards) NOV. 23 • WINE MAKER DINNER (Keowee Falls) NOV. 26 • PRETHANKSGIVING HIKE TO YELLOW BRANCH FALLS (Mountain Rest, SC)

NOV. 27 • GOBBLER OPEN (Walnut Cove)

DEC. 18 • TRIVIA NIGHT (Valley)

NOV. 29 • BLACK FRIDAY BASH (Keowee Falls)

DEC. 19 • HOLIDAY WINE DINNER (Keowee Falls)

NOV. 29-30 • ANNUAL SHOP, DINE, & WINE (Glassy)

DEC. 20 • HOLIDAY HIKE TO LITTLE & BIG BRADLEY FALLS (Saluda, NC)

• FAMILY NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN (Glassy)

DECEMBER DEC. 4 • TRIVIA NIGHT (Valley) DEC. 6 • HOLIDAY COCKTAIL SOCIAL & CANDY CANE SALE (Keowee Springs) DEC. 7 • NAUGHTY & NICE GOLF TOURNAMENT (Valley) • FESTIVE FLOTILLA FOLLY (Keowee Vineyards) • TOYS FOR TOTS HOLIDAY CELEBRATION (Valley) • CHRISTMAS GALA (Walnut Cove) DEC. 8 • HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & CANDY CANE SALE (Keowee Vineyards) • SEVEN CHEFS CHAÎNE DES RÔTISSEURS DINNER (Valley) DEC. 10 • YULETIDE FAMILY DINNER (Mountain Park) DEC. 11 • HOLIDAY CONCERT (Valley) DEC. 14 • SEVEN FISHES WINE DINNER (Valley)

FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE, VISIT MEMBERS.CLIFFSLIVING.COM

DEC. 21 • CANDLELIGHT DINNER (Glassy) • HOLIDAY WINE DINNER (Keowee Vineyards) DEC. 31 • NEW YEAR’S EVE (All Clubs)

JANUARY JAN. 1 • CHESTNUT RIDGE HERITAGE PRESERVE HIKE (Landrum, SC) JAN. 7 • WHITE WINTER DINNER (Glassy) JAN. 9 & 23 • IN THE KITCHEN WITH CHEF JULIUS (Valley) JAN. 29 • TRIVIA NIGHT (Valley)

FEBRUARY FEB. 2 • GAME DAY CELEBRATION (Glassy) • BIG GAME SHOWDOWN (Valley) FEB. 6 & 23 • IN THE KITCHEN WITH CHEF JULIUS (Valley) FEB. 14 • RAVEN CLIFFS FALLS LOOP SWEETHEART HIKE (Cleveland, SC) • VALENTINE’S DAY (All Clubs)

DISCOVER A BETTER PRIMARY CARE EXPERIENCE

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JIMMY BUFFETT’S

T H E

M U S I C A L

Photo by Joan Marcus

THE LINCOLN CENTER THEATER PRODUCTION

©

P H E N O M E N O N

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FOR RESERVATIONS CONTACT 864 516 1254 GUESTSERVICES@HOTELDOMESTIQUE.COM

APERTURE

<

Dave Head

Bob Burton

M E M B E R

S U B M I T T E D

SIGHTS OF THE CLIFFS

David Malak

Richard Bromer

Frank Smith

Joe Barrera

Jill Joyce FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

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Wednesday, September 18 Exclusive to The Cliffs Residents and Friends

Fall Gathering

11:00 am until 2:00 pm

Mix & Mingle Luncheon Fall Floral Demonstration Designers Available for Individual Questions

$30/per person Includes appetizers and wine, plated luncheon, coffee and dessert.

Call 864-297-6232 x 1 for reservations and tickets.

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CLIFFS LIVING

MEMBER SUBMITTED

APERTURE

<

PEOPLE OF THE CLIFFS

Bruce Wainright

Fred O’Toole

Barbara Washington

Jacqueline Brown

Noreen Laffey

Ron & Hope Carter

Peter McNaughton

Brian O’Lear

Fred O’Toole

Joe Barrera

Jessica L McKenzie FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

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DISCRETIONARY PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

SHAWN BIRCHENOUGH, MD

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Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

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Natural Hormone Therapy

Look your best, feel your best and become your “Optimal Self.” Call today!

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Victor W. Lunka, CFP® Principal

Teresa Tsipis Senior Registered Financial Associate

We encourage you to stop by or give us a call for a complimentary portfolio review.

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The Lunka Investment Group is associated with Benjamin F. Edwards Wealth ManagementSM,LLC, d/b/a Edwards Wealth ManagementSM (EWM), an SEC-registered investment adviser; and its affiliate Benjamin F. Edwards® & Co. (BFE), a dually-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser and member of FINRA and SIPC. EWM and BFE are affiliates through their common ownership by Benjamin Edwards, Inc. Depending on the context, the name “Benjamin F. Edwards®” refers to either EWM, BFE or both

APERTURE

[LAKE KEOWEE SUNSET]

LAST LOOK

M

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EMBER KAREN DEININGER CAPTURED THIS POSTCARD-WORTHY SHOT of a Lake Keowee sunset at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs. Karen and her partner Cindy Miller enjoy this spectacular view from their back porch each evening.

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transform transform yourself. yourself.

Crescent Hospitality, LLC Luxury Accommodations and Property Management Services

Comprehensive Services.

Personalized Treatments.

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Non-Surgical Treatments Botox Dysport Cosmetic Fillers Cheek Augmentation Lip Augmentation/ Nasolabial Groove Treatment Juvederm Voluma Volbella Vollure Restylane Kybella Sculptra Aesthetics CoolSculpting Laser Treatments Broad Band Light (BBL) Therapy Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy Vascular/Redness Treatment Skin Firming Laser Hair Removal

Skin Treatments Facials Chemical Peels Dermaplaning Microneedling Permanent Makeup Microblading CryoCorrect Rosacea/ Brown Spots/ Anti-Aging Treatments Brow Tinting Waxing Lymphatic Massage Obagi Skincare SkinCeuticals Sente Cosmedical Technologies Colorescience Jane Iredale Makeup Latisse GrandeLash-MD Grande Mascara

Crescent Hospitality is proud to offer exceptional accommodations at The Cliffs.

Members, property owners, and sponsored guests can enjoy access to a wide variety of luxury rental properties in six different locations. Take full advantage of the numerous amenities available at The Cliffs, and immerse yourself in whatever you love most.

Relax on Lake Keowee at one of our many lakefront homes, enjoy the serenity of a private mountain retreat, or escape to a quiet cottage.

Whether you are planning a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or hosting friends and family from out of town, we have just the right accommodations to create memories to last a lifetime.

We also provide group lodging for golf outings, business retreats, and special events.

For more information, visit our website at www.crescenthospitalityllc.com Email: reservations@crescenthospitalityllc.com Or, call our office at 864-836-8244

Dr. Sutton L Graham II, M.D., F.A.C.S. 615 Halton Rd Greenville, SC 29607 864.676.1707 | expertplasticsurgeon.com

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CUSTOMIZED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM We offer a full-service property management program for both part-time and full-time residents at The Cliffs. For information about our Property Management services and the Residential Rental Program, contact the Property Manager at 864-660-8473 Email: brandy@crescenthospitalityllc.com

The Rewards of

Playing Well.

TaylorMade Cart Lite Bag Custom Embroidery

by The Cliffs

Maple Leaf at Home Cutting Board Personalized and Inscribed

by The Cliffs

Cenyth Red Blend 2015 Bordeaux Red Blends Sonoma County, California

This fall, commemorate a special moment made during your time on the course and celebrate shared successes with thoughtful and personalized gifts. Make your toast with the 2015 Cenyth, a bright, youthful blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, that boasts a bouquet illuminated by lilac, ripe raspberry, blackberry, and plum. Salute the date with a personalized and inscribed memento. And keep the game going with a new, personalized bag. Whatever your reason for celebration, The Cliffs is here to help you make it meaningful.

Discover a curated consortium of wines, hand-selected for daily and momentous celebrations, and make special moments last with personalized gifts from The Cliffs.

Visit cliffsliving.com/gifts

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............................................828.684.5151 Membership........................................................864.371.1003 Club & Membership Accounting..........................864.371.1075

THE CLIFFS AT GLASSY Gatehouse..........................................................864.895.0205 Clubhouse..........................................................864.895.0222 Golf Shop...........................................................864.663.8114 Wellness Center..................................................864.660.1155

THE CLIFFS AT MOUNTAIN PARK Gatehouse..........................................................864.836.2260 Cabin..................................................................864.516.1766 Golf Shop...........................................................864.660.1133 Wellness Center..................................................864.516.1684

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE FALLS Gatehouse..........................................................864.944.7657 Clubhouse..........................................................864.944.2010 Golf Shop...........................................................864.944.8721 Wellness Center..................................................864.916.6120

THE CLIFFS VALLEY Gatehouse..........................................................864.836.4411 Clubhouse..........................................................864.660.1100 Golf Shop...........................................................864.836.4653 Wellness Center..................................................864.660.1180

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE SPRINGS Gatehouse..........................................................864.868.3547 Bistro..................................................................864.372.3105 Golf Shop & Fitness Studio.................................864.372.3102 Beach Club.........................................................864.372.3106

THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE VINEYARDS Gatehouse..........................................................864.868.5022 Clubhouse..........................................................864.868.7000 Golf Shop...........................................................864.868.4444 Equestrian Center...............................................864.868.9969 Marina & Pool.....................................................864.868.7772 Wellness Center..................................................864.868.8300

THE CLIFFS AT WALNUT COVE Gatehouse..........................................................828.551.1619 Tavern.................................................................828.687.1738 Golf Shop...........................................................828.687.7965 Wellness Center..................................................828.681.9759 112

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864.836.1133 FairviewLLC.com The preferred custom home builder that members at The Cliffs trust most.

Now offering renovations • Additions • Improvements • Outdoor living spaces • Interior layout and finish updates FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

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G L A S S Y 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 K E O W E E S P R I N G S K E O W E E V I N E YA R D S WA L N U T C OV E

864.249.4379 | cliffslivingmagazine.com