| Golf |  |
 South Carolina is renowned for golf links along the coastline. While Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach offer some of the world’s most memorable courses, those in the rolling hills of the Upstate offer variety in topography, elevation, vegetation and scenic beauty that can’t be matched at the beach. And, more and more homebuilders in the Upstate are creating golf communities for people looking for a year-round recreational lifestyle.Greenville and Spartanburg counties have long had exclusive golf-course developments. Greenville’s first and oldest, Greenville Country Club, features two 18-hole layouts. The Riverside course lies along the banks of the Reedy River, just south of downtown. The Chanticleer course regularly shows up in rankings of the country’s top 100 private courses. Spartanburg’s older, established golf and country clubs include the Spartanburg Country Club and the Carolina Country Club. In recent years, thanks to developers’ efforts, choices have broadened considerably. Younger than the Greenville Country Club but still well established are Green Valley Country Club and Holly Tree Country Club. Green Valley lies north of Greenville near Furman University and affords views of nearby Paris Mountain. Holly Tree spreads across the countryside near Simpsonville. Greenville County has a number of newer communities offering quality homes and well-tended courses. Pebble Creek, near Taylors, features 36 holes of golf and hundreds of beautiful houses. North of Greenville near North Greenville College at Tigerville, you’ll find Cherokee Valley Golf Club. The P.B. Dye-designed course is rugged and challenging, but also beautiful and fair. It’s the centerpiece of the Laurel Valley development. No one’s quite sure — even the highway markers differ — whether it’s Gowensville with an “e” or Gowansville with an “a.” But when you get there, you’ll find the Links O’Tryon, and everyone’s sure it’s a great place. Taking its name from the nearby North Carolina town of Tryon, the Links combines a residential community with a well-regarded golf course that has spectacular views of Hogback and Glassy mountains. The crown jewels of residential golf communities in Greenville County have to be The Cliffs at Glassy and Thornblade. The Cliffs, in Landrum, named the fourth most beautiful golf course in the nation by Golf Digest in 1995, was carved out on the top of Glassy Mountain. The development offers views flatlanders envy and a course that cascades over the mountaintop. Thornblade is east of downtown Greenville in Greer. New communities are growing in Spartanburg County, as well. Convenient to both Greenville and Spartanburg is River Falls Plantation, which features an 18-hole layout designed by Gary Player. The course has been dubbed the “player’s course” not only because of its designer, but also because it’s challenging for better golfers and rewarding for average players. Growth in that part of Spartanburg County already was brisk, but BMW’s decision to build its auto manufacturing plant at I-85 and S.C. 101 focused new attention on the area. Take the S.C. 101 exit and head toward Woodruff, and you’ll travel only a few miles before coming to Willow Creek, the area’s premiere public course. Greenville County Bonnie Brae Golf Club 1116 Ashmore Bridge Road, Greenville 864-277-9838 6575 semi-private Carolina Springs Golf 1680 Scuffletown Road, Fountain Inn 864-862-3551 6800 semi-private Cherokee Valley Golf Club 253 Chinquapin Road, Tigerville 864-895-6758 6614 semi-private Cliffs Valley 250 Knights Ridge Road, Travelers Rest 864-836-4653 7023 private Fox Run Country Club 215 Club Drive, Simpsonville 864-967-9505 6082 private Furman University Golf Course 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville 864-294-9090 6800 semi-private Green Valley Country Club 225 Green Valley Road, Greenville 864-246-3941 6950 private Greenville Country Club 239 Byrd Blvd., Greenville 864-233-6227 6800 private Greer Golf & Country Club 2990 E. Gap Creek Road, Greer 864-877-9279 6321 semi-private Hillandale Golf Course 109 S. Parker Road, Greenville 864-250-1700 6800 public Holly Tree Country Club 500 Golf Club Drive, Simpsonville 864-967-9510 6790 private Lakeview Golf Club 315 Piedmont Golf Course Road, Piedmont 864-277-2680 6455 semi-private Pebble Creek Country Club 101 Pebble Creek Drive, Taylors 864-244-8872 6558 private The Cliffs at Glassy 200 Fire Pink Way, Landrum 864-895-8104 6805 private Thornblade Club 1275 Thornblade Blvd., Greer 864-234-5110 6669 private Verdae Greens Golf Club 650 Verdae Blvd., Greenville 864-676-1500 6773 semi-private Spartanburg County Pickens County Anderson County |
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