A High School Icon
Local writeups mention Cherokee Valley as a mainstay for high school matches and a course many upstate golfers associate with formative competitive memories. It holds a special place in the South Carolina junior golf scene.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Cherokee Valley Golf Club
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Established
1992
Architect
P.B. Dye
Access
Public
Par
Par 72
Length
4,308 – 6,614 yds
Green Fees
$
The verdict
A Strategic Upstate Challenge
Cherokee Valley is a classic P.B. Dye design that brings together dramatic elevation, risk-reward options, and scenic views of Glassy Mountain. With a parkland feel and a backbone of strategic greens, it’s a public-access gem for locals and visitors hunting a foothills test.
Course DNA
Difficulty
77
Scenery72
Conditioning68
Shot Variety73
Walkability62
Green Complexity75
Wow Factor65
Design Quality69
At a glance
Quick facts
Designer
P.B. Dye
Elevation Change
Dramatic throughout the layout
Turf Type
Bermuda fairways & Champion Bermuda greens
Clubhouse Views
Panoramas of Glassy Mountain
Finishing Hole
Strong par-4 with pressure approach
Practice Facility
Comprehensive with range & short game
Most Challenging Par 3
15th hole at 230 yards
Public Access
Tee times available to all
The design
The architecture
P.B. Dye’s Cherokee Valley underscores his signature: strategic fairway routing, bold earthworks, and moves that capitalize on the Carolina foothill views. The design weaves through ridges and valleys, blending risk-reward options with challenging, perched greens. Water pops up to punish over-aggression while elevation adds both beauty and bite, making each round a dynamic, upstate Dye experience.
P.B. Dye brought his father’s boldness to South Carolina, carving a foothills track that challenges both brains and ball-striking.
Defining features
- Dramatic elevation changes on multiple holes
- Guarded Champion Bermuda greens with subtle contours
- Water hazards that demand precise lines
- Meandering fairways asking for thoughtful placement
- Distinct Dye mounding and shaping
- Vistas of Glassy Mountain throughout the round
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Foothills Risk-Reward Run
PAR
5
YARDAGE
540
A big, three-shot par 5 snaking through the foothills, with water lurking for those pushing their luck. The green is reachable for longer hitters but guarded tight, making birdie tempting and bogey risk real.
Play it smart
Favor conservative play: lay up to the safest part of the fairway to set a manageable approach, and avoid the temptation to overpower your second.
Where it bites
Getting too aggressive can send second shots into water or deep rough left of the green.
Course management
Shots to think about
Greenside chip from Bermuda rough
Read the grain and play extra break—expect less spin and more run-out.
Long-iron approach to an elevated green
Club up for elevation gain and land the ball short to allow for bounce.
Decision on reachable par 5
Weigh the risk; only go for it if you have a perfect lie and angle—otherwise, lay up for a wedge.
Downhill tee shot with water left
Take less club, aim away from trouble, and trust your fade to avoid the hazard.
Short par-4 temptation to drive the green
Resist hero tactics—play for position to avoid the penal bunkers and set up a stress-free pitch.
Fast downhill putt on Champion Bermuda
Soft hands and play for extra break—let the grain and slope do the work.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Bermuda fairways and Champion Bermuda greens—smooth when maintained, but can get grainy in summer.
Pace
Typical public/resort pace, expect 4-4.5 hour rounds on weekends.
Vibe
Laid-back club feel, with a mix of regulars and traveling Upstate golfers.
Dress code
Standard golf attire required; collared shirts recommended.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Leave Time for the Drive
Twisty mountain roads mean you’ll want extra travel time, especially from downtown Greenville.
02
Brush Up on Grainy Greens
Practice lag putting on Bermuda—reading grain and speed is key.
03
Pack for the Weather
Conditions change fast in the foothills—bring rain gear or layers just in case.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1992
Cherokee Valley Golf Club opens with P.B. Dye as architect.
- 2020
Highlighted in Tiger Golf Traveler’s course profile.
- 2023
Club markets renewed focus on ‘championship style’ and public access.
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Bold Dye Contours in Carolina
P.B. Dye sculpted the course with dramatic use of the Upstate’s rolling terrain—fans say the shaping makes even routine holes feel distinctive, and the course’s elevation creates daily variety in conditions and club selection.
A Golfer’s Rite of Passage
One local blogger wrote that playing Cherokee Valley is a 'good feelings' rite of passage in the Greenville area—it’s a place where plenty of players cut their competitive teeth before moving to bigger regional or college tournaments.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The 15th hole stretches a daunting 230 yards from the back, often into the wind.
2
Views of Glassy Mountain add drama to multiple holes.
3
Bermuda-based turf offers a true Southern greens experience.
4
Cherokee Valley is a favorite for Upstate South Carolina high school golf tournaments.
5
Course was sculpted by P.B. Dye, son of legendary architect Pete Dye.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Greenville/Upstate golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
The Preserve at Verdae
Public
Relaxed, player-friendly public track—an easy add-on to Cherokee Valley.
Cliffs at Mountain Park
Private
Upscale, highly-rated mountain golf—ideal if you have member access.
Cherokee National Golf & Recreation Club
Public
Scenic upstate value with classic holes and a laid-back pace.
Greenville Country Club – Chanticleer
Private
Top-rated private for those able to secure a guest round.
Downtown Greenville for food, nightlife, and short access to both city and foothills courses.
Course DNA
If You Like Cherokee Valley Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.1
Palouse Ridge Golf Club
Pullman, WashingtonWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Palouse Ridge Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Vesper Country Club
Tyngsborough, MassachusettsWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Vesper Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Cherokee Valley Golf Club.
Strong DNA Match8.5
Stonewall (Old Course)
Elverson, PennsylvaniaWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Stonewall (Old Course)'s own setting.
Community Sentiment
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