Sky Valley

Nestled into a tranquil valley more than 3,300 feet above sea level, Sky Valley Golf Club is within a 20-minute drive from Highlands, N.C., 15 minutes from Clayton, Ga., and just 90 minutes from either Atlanta or Athens. The resort is also within easy reach of upstate South Carolina’s rapidly growing Greenville-Spartanburg metropolitan area, making it the perfect mountain get-away retreat for many golf enthusiasts in the Southeast.

The Sky Valley golf course, which was completely renovated in 2007 by Bill Bergin, will be a pleasant surprise to anyone who has not played it recently,” said Mike Young, owner of MYD Golf and an accomplished course designer with more than 40 courses to his credit. “The course is in impeccable shape, and with the torrid summer that is gripping most of the country, the cooler temperatures in the Blue Ridge Mountains make Sky Valley the perfect destination for anyone looking to escape the heat.

Featuring bent grass fairways, tees and greens, Sky Valley was designed originally by Bill Watts and built in 1971. Bergin’s extensive renovation added some 500 yards to the overall length, stretching the par-71 layout to more than 6,900 yards. Some golf fans will remember Bergin from his career as a touring professional. In the 1984 British Open at St. Andrews, Bergin shot a tournament-best 66 in the third round en route to a top-15 finish.