Fairways & Front Doors: August 2026 Edition

Monthly Newsletter: F&FD Patrick Furman August 20, 2026

Another month of beautiful Upstate South Carolina golf, coupled with a busy real estate market has made for an exciting end to summer! The August Edition of Fairways & Front Doors introduces you to a couple courses across the border in North Carolina, and an opportunity to explore life on Lake Keowee.

Crossing over the border from Upstate SC into the North Carolina mountains feels like traveling somewhere much farther than an hour's drive, or in this case, a couple of hours. Cooler summer temps, incredible views, with fairways and greens carved right into the mountainside. It truly looks like the golf course was meant to be there. Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva, North Carolina quickly became one of my favorite courses (pictures below).

We started with Bear Lake Reserve, the world's first 9-hole Nicklaus Design® course. Mostly short par-4 target golf with a few very cool par 3's. A good start to the weekend and an easy way to knock the rust off.

The next day was Balsam Mountain Preserve. It's billed as an Arnold Palmer masterpiece, and that's not just a sales pitch or cliché marketing. The views are what make this course so special, and pictures just don't do it justice. This wasn't just a course in the mountains with an occasional view. Each hole offered something new, and each hole had its own view: a mountainside, a valley, clouds rolling by. Elevated tee boxes, fair greens, and target golf. It was an absolute treat to play, and if you ever get the opportunity, find a way to make it work!

Pro-tip: if you're staying north of Cashiers, NC, verify with the AirBnB host ahead of time that Starlink is working, because you'll have as many bars as one putts: zero.

Golf in the morning, enjoy a glass of wine on the boat in the evening? Yes please!

I've been in a lot of homes, and this one on Lake Keowee is truly an incredible opportunity. It sits in a deep-water cove in The Cliffs at Keowee Falls South. Private and quiet, but with the main channel right there when you want it.

A few things I loved:
- The great room. Post-and-beam construction, soaring ceilings, copper accents, and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Walls of glass pull the lake right into the room.
- The outdoor living. A screened porch you can use year-round, plus a covered deck that runs from the living areas all the way to the primary suite — lake views the whole way.
- The main-level primary suite. Vaulted ceilings, hardwoods, and a spa-style bath with a soaking tub and multi-head shower.
- Room for everyone. A guest suite over the garage, a full terrace level with two lake-facing suites, and a big bonus room that flexes as a bunk room, game room, or rec space.
- The dock. A gentle path leads down to a covered dock with immediate deep-water access. Boating, jet skis, paddle boarding, swimming, all of it.

And because it's in The Cliffs, you have golf, dining, wellness, tennis, and trails right out your door.
734 Placid Cove Way, Salem, SC 29676
Listed for $2,990,676
⭐️Click Here to See More⭐️
Want to play a round? Call me. Interested in talking real estate? Well, that's probably a conversation best suited for a golf course too! 🏌️‍♂️⛳

Hit 'em straight!
Your friend and terrible golfer,
Patrick
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Fairways & Front Doors: August 2026 Edition

Let’s Make Your Next Move the Right One

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Fairways & Front Doors: August 2026 Edition

Let’s Make Your Next Move the Right One

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