The Cliffs at Keowee Springs among best new private courses

SIX MILE, S.C. – Recognized for its gently rolling mountainside layout, the Tom Fazio championship course at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs was named one of the Top 10 New Private Golf Courses by Golf Magazine.

“The Cliffs Communities has such an enviable track record, I was predisposed going in to expect something special at Keowee Springs. I wasn’t disappointed,” says Joe Passov, senior editor for travel and rankings at GOLF Magazine. “Tom Fazio and his team had their skills on full display in transforming a challenging piece of property into their trademark layout –one that’s a stiff test from the tips, but remarkably playable for the Average Joe.

“What really made this course stand out for me,” Passov adds, “is how the layout intentionally incorporated three loops of six holes, plus a set of ‘family’ tees. Few courses I’ve played in recent memory offer such terrific flexibility.”

Opened in September 2008, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs golf course plays 7,100 yards from the championship tees and features the distinction of having two turns at six-hole increments.

“We are honored to be recognized by GOLF Magazine,” said John Mitchell, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs PGA Professional. “We pay particular attention to course conditions so the subtle nuances of the Fazio design are evident on each hole. Whether it is from the the back tees measuring 7,100 yards or the Family tees measuring 4,600 yards, the appeal of Keowee Springs is that players of all skill levels can enjoy the course on a daily basis while also finding ways to challenge their skills.”

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs is also the home of the International Institute of Golf, led by esteemed instructors Steve Bann and Dale Lynch. The International Institute of Golf’s training facility at Keowee Springs is scheduled to open this Spring. Located on the shore of pristine Lake Keowee in the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (www.discoverkeoweesprings.com) spans 1,600 acres and offers a variety of waterfront, water view, and golf course home sites and turnkey residences, including the 2008 GOLF Magazine Dream House. Homesites at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs start in the $200,000s; homes, in the mid-$700,000s.