I first met Rick Robbins in 2009 when he wrote to compliment me on my photos of Canyon Ridge, a course he had designed in Rising Fawn, Georgia, 25 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This was very early in my career. I had spent several months photographing and writing about golf courses I’d run into across the Southeast that interested me. With no real idea what I was doing, I created a web site called Hidden Fairways. It gave me a chance to do more golf course photography, a passion I discovered fairly late in life. Canyon Ridge was at the top of my list of favorites. Rick had somehow gotten wind of the web site and asked if he could use some of my images. I was incredibly flattered and happily gave them to him.

You may not have heard of Canyon Ridge, but I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of the Rees Jones/Bill Bergin renovation of it, now known as The Highlands Course at McLemore. The renovation included a brand new 18th Hole that has received rave reviews and international attention. The new, second course at McLemore, The Keep, and Cloudland, a Hilton Curio Hotel opened last year, are sure to continue the growth and success of McLemore as a destination resort. And it all began with Canyon Ridge, designed by Rick Robbins over 20 years ago.