Golfable and Walkable – Enjoying The Cliffs Courses in the Carolinas

Whether you golf once a year or once a day, getting out on the course can benefit you in a myriad of ways. From helping you fine-tune your focus to lowering your stress levels, creating connections with family and friends, and developing partnerships with colleagues. The quality of life enhancements golf provides can be further enriched by taking a few steps toward a healthier game as well. Walking an 18-hole course counts as a heart-healthy exercise, and according to the Center for Health and Sport Science at the Rose Medical Center in Denver, carrying your own bag for the duration of the round can burn nearly 1,400 calories.In case you needed another excuse to get on the greens within The Cliffs, they’ve selected their top three walkable courses for you to enjoy. We’ll begin at Lake Keowee and travel east.The Cliffs at Keowee FallsAt the Keowee Falls course, the distance from green to tee isn’t very dramatic and the elevation change is gradual. Pedestrian golfers will enjoy walkways cut through the native fescue areas that are as beautiful as they are easy to navigate. To add a little bonus, the walking paths are shorter than the cart paths. Further, the course offers returning nines, meaning you can walk a 9-hole game and return to the clubhouse – in case you are tight on time. -Julian Bland, Head Golf Pro at The Cliffs at Keowee FallsThe Cliffs at Mountain ParkThe Cliffs at Mountain Park gives the golfer not only an unbelievable design, but a very enjoyable walk. As a links-style golf course, golfers will enjoy strolling over the fairway dunes at Mountain Park located at the base of a valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Golfers experience minimal elevation changes along with short walks from the green to the next tee. While walking the course, you will also be able to take in and enjoy the calming sights and the sounds of the Saluda River, as it winds throughout the entire length the golf course.  -Mike Williams, Head Golf Pro at The Cliffs at Mountain ParkThe Cliffs ValleyAlthough The Cliffs Valley is in the mountains, the golf course is relatively flat. That certainly helps make it more walkable than your average mountain course. There are not many holes where our course requires a climb up a steep hill with your bag. A big factor for walkers is the distance from each green to the next tee. Many golf communities that are built with houses on or near the course have long distances between holes that can add a lot of steps for a walker. On these courses, even the most dedicated walkers will usually take golf carts. In most cases at Valley, the next tee is located very close, or if there is a distance, the player can leave their bag and walk back to the tee with a club. -Matt Pavia, Head Golf Pro at The Cliffs ValleyIf you’re passionate about golf, wellness and the great outdoors, you won’t find a more beautiful place to live than at one of the Cliffs’ communities.

The Cliffs is a collection of seven private luxury residential mountain and lake club communities encompassing more than 20,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. One membership at The Cliffs grants access to an unparalleled suite of amenities, including seven clubs, seven nationally-acclaimed golf courses, seven wellness centers, boating and water sports, a Beach Club, full-service marina, paddle sports, cycling, tennis, an equestrian center, miles of hiking trails, more than a dozen dining and private event venues, an organic farm and more than 2,000 year-round programs and social activities to create timeless experiences. The unique setting of The Cliffs communities — seven clubs nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, from the shores of Lake Keowee near Clemson, South Carolina to northern Greenville, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina — offers members and residents four mild and inviting seasons for year-round enjoyment.