The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards

The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards sits in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills of upstate South Carolina, overlooking Lake Keowee near Sunset. Tom Fazio designed the course, which opened in the early 2000s as part of The Cliffs Communities collection of private clubs in the Carolinas. Beau Welling, who has worked extensively with Fazio, contributed to the design. The routing takes advantage of significant elevation changes and lake views, characteristic of mountain golf in this region where the Piedmont meets the Appalachian range. The course occupies rolling, wooded terrain with fairways carved through native hardwoods and pines. Several holes play along ridgelines or descend toward the lakeshore, offering long views across the water and surrounding mountains. Fazio's design approach here emphasizes natural contours and strategic bunkering, with greens that reflect the property's topography. The layout balances risk-reward opportunities with playability across different tee sets, typical of his resort and high-end residential work. The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards operates as a private club within a gated residential community. The property includes vineyard plantings that give the club its name, and the clubhouse incorporates wine-related amenities alongside traditional golf club facilities. The community attracts retirees and second-home owners drawn to the lake lifestyle and mountain climate of this corner of South Carolina, near the Georgia and North Carolina borders.