Cherokee Valley adds a chapter

New history being made in Cherokee Valley

story by Bill Bauer | photos by Logan Childs

At the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Travelers Rest, there is a golf course community that takes its name from the first people to set foot in South Carolina — the Cherokee.

On 452 acres of rolling topography, Cherokee Valley Course and Club offers outstanding mountain golf just minutes from downtown Greenville and less than an hour from Hendersonville and Asheville, NC. If you’re looking for a round of golf in a serene setting with spectacular scenery and the solitude that is synonymous with mountain courses, you’ll find it at Cherokee Valley

The course is a modern P.B. Dye design that opened in 1994. Not only did Dye create the course, but he was married on it. One of the more impressive holes is the sixth, a 175-yard par-3 with an elevation drop of 70 feet. It was here, with Glassy Mountain in the background, that Dye tied the knot.

While the sixth easily owns the signature hole label on this demanding layout, each hole is spectacular in itself. In fact, Discover South Carolina’s team of golf writers described Cherokee Valley’s “thoughtfully sculpted and masterfully designed” design as “top notch golf with stunning mountain vistas.” Adding to its recent accolades, Cherokee Valley has been named to the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism list of “Can’t Miss Upstate Golf Courses.”

Whether heading to the golf course on scenic Highway 11 or on U.S. 25 out of Travelers Rest, it’s a winding drive through the countryside. On the way to The Shop, the course’s well-appointed golf shop located under the new Core 450 restaurant, you get a glimpse of what awaits — a stunning, awardwinning golf course with dramatic changes in elevation that will not only challenge your game, but provide a fun round of golf regardless of your age or skill level.

The Shop itself is welcoming at check-in or at the turn. Its bright, modern interior has flat screen televisions and a craft beer cooler for building your own six-pack. Add an extensive selection of golf gadgets, clubs and apparel, and you have more than your average pro shop offers.

This is the 13th hole green and 14th hole tee complex at Cherokee Valley.

For 23 years Cherokee Valley was a semiprivate course with a country club feel. But in 2017, Matthew and Renee Jennings acquired the property, and an exciting new chapter in the club’s history began.

As the Jennings enter their fourth year, the opening of Core 450 and The Shop enhance an already great golf experience.

“The timing could not be better to shine,” said Jennings of the opening of his restaurant, which overlooks holes one, nine and 18. “This area needed a place that is a safe beacon to enjoy great food in a welcoming atmosphere. We have the opportunity to serve our guests in our open-air, indoor dining room along with dining outdoors, while enjoying beautiful views and music.”

According to Cherokee Valley’s website, the course “offers golfers a ‘softer’ start to their round with a manageable par-4, a short par3 and a reachable par-5. Second, it allows for a true ‘turn’ after the ninth hole where golfers can restock on drinks, snacks or grab a lunch to-go.”

After the opening four holes, be prepared for the challenge that ensues as you cross into “The Summit” neighborhood of Cherokee Valley and ascend to one of the highest points on the property on the tee box of hole six.

From there, it’s all downhill, so to speak, on holes seven through nine.

Cherokee Valley’s back nine continues the roller coaster ride making club selection and placement paramount. Hole 11, a 540-yard par-5 — one of the hardest holes in the Upstate — is the number one handicap hole. It presents golfers with a 120-foot rise from tee to green. Plan on an extra club or two as you make your way up. Starting with the 11th hole, be prepared for one picturesque hole after another until reaching the sharp descent at 16, the beginning of three daunting finishing holes.

If the back nine had a signature hole it would be hole 17. From the tips, it is a monster par-4 at 461 yards with a sizeable lake sitting below and right of the green. The finisher, the par-4 18th, is the No. 3 handicap hole and requires a full-carry over a ravine from the tee. On all three, shorter hitters have a distinct advantage from the green tee boxes, taking the hazards out of play. Par these three and head to Core 450 for a post round meal, small plate or drink.

TOTAL EXPERIENCE

Jennings is not a newcomer when it comes to restaurants and golf, and he is passionate about having created a first-class venue for the Greenville area. A seasoned entrepreneur and golf course manager from a family-owned course in Ohio, he has fulfilled his dream in opening Core 450, having envisioned it before purchasing the course. It didn’t take long for him to hire Executive Chef Todd Warden to head the Core 450 team. And, it’s not just for golfers adds Jennings.

“Whether you come by golf cart, car, bicycle or Harley, or if you’re wearing a suit and tie or coming over from the pool in your beachwear, we have a spot for you,” he said.

And, although Cherokee Valley is a short hike from anywhere in Upstate SC, its stayand-play packaging makes it a destination as well. Its cottage collection features three elegantly appointed homes on the course, each with four suites.

The cottages afford a relaxing atmosphere with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rates start at $130 a night for one room with one bed and range up to $600 for a four-bedroom cottage with two beds per room.

A round of golf at Cherokee can be added for $33 on weekdays (Mon. – Thurs.), $43 on weekends (Fri. – Sun.) or $60 for “all you can play,” subject to availability. n

For more information on all that Cherokee Valley has to offer, peruse www.cherokeevalleyclub.com. Be sure to click on “The Kee” from the pull-down menu for the most up-to-date information. Golfers can also call The Shop at 864.689.3585.

The sixth hole, a 175-yard par-3 with an elevation drop of 70 feet, is the signature hole on the course. It was on this tee that designer B.P. Dye was married with the view of Glassy Mountain in the background.

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