Currahee

The course at Currahee Club lies within a gated mountain community at scenic Lake Hartwell in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Designed by Jim Fazio and unveiled in 2003, this 18-hole layout occupies a rather hilly site, with playing corridors set out around residential units nestled in the trees bounding many of the fairways.

It’s a tough track when played from the back markers, stretching the layout to more than 7,500 yards, as a slope rating of 150 will bear out. Fortunately, there are at least five tee boxes on every hole so it doesn’t have to be played to its full, intimidating length. The architect also factored several dramatic elevation changes – some up to 150 feet – into the routing, adding to the challenge here.

Highlight holes include the 191-yard 2nd, played over water to the green; the 376-yard 6th, which heads downhill to a peninsula green that protrudes into the lake; the 456-yard 14th, featuring a split fairway; and the 251-yard 17th, which calls for a brave tee shot across a deep, water-filled quarry.