A week has now passed since we returned from our members trip to South Carolina. Our members enjoyed a fabulous week of golf over four stunning courses that are included with in the seven that make up ‘The Cliff’s Golfing Community’.
The first half of the week saw our Wisley members go head-to-head with the members of Gary Player masterpiece, ‘Mountain Park Golf Club’ in the inaugural Atlantic Cup. This tournament is a brand-new Ryder Cup style event that has been created in celebration of our fledgling relationship with The Cliff’s. Over three days of match play (and fabulous food!), including pairs scramble, better ball and final day singles, our Wisley members battled to the very end, but victory went to the team on home soil with a narrow 11.5 to 8.5 victory!
With some great friendships being made over the course of the matches, we were made very welcome by the Mountain Park members, one even inviting us into his home for drinks one evening, this was one of the many homes dotted around the hills within The Cliffs with firepits, fireball drinks and breath-taking views across the forest and down to the lake in the distance, something we’ll all remember for sure!
Accommodation consisted of three beautiful hunting lodge style houses with our very own giant putting green on the doorstep and autumnal views across the golf course at ‘The Falls’.
The second half of the week gave us the opportunity to play several of the other Cliff’s courses and explore the area further. First up we played ‘The Springs’, which presented a very different challenge, a Tom Fazio designed track with sweeping fairways carved through classic Carolina woodland all in its full Fall glory.
The following day we were taken on a pontoon boat tour of lake Keowee by one of the hosts dropping us off at another Fazio course, this time right on the lake at ‘The Vineyard’ for our golf.
On the last day of our trip, we finally got to play the course we had been gazing at through our bedroom windows for the week and it didn’t disappoint. ‘The Falls’ is a Nicklaus design course with a subtle feel of Augusta.
The weather was kind throughout the trip (bar one soggy morning), we all enjoyed the old southern food and hospitality throughout our stay and we’re looking forward to hosting our new Mountain Park friends when they come to visit the Wisley for the return match in June 2023!
