Public golf in the Highway 11 foothills

The regional tourism listing identifies The Rock as open to the public and open year-round. It lists golf carts, a practice green, a pro shop, and an on-site restaurant with seasonal hours. The club also sells memberships, but a visitor can book a round without buying one. Year-round operation is standard policy, not a guarantee against weather or maintenance closures.

The setting is part of the attraction. The South Carolina tourism office located the course near Highway 11 and Table Rock State Park, with creeks, streams, and waterfalls on the property. Use our Highway 11 guide to plan a drive around the route, and navigate to the club’s address rather than the state park entrance.

The Rock is a separate golf property, not a facility inside Table Rock State Park. Allow time to arrive, check in, and learn the day’s cart and course instructions. A morning tee time and one unhurried stop afterward work better than packing a full round between several mountain attractions.

Choose from four published tee lengths

The club describes an 18-hole layout on 112 acres. Its published scorecard shows a par of 72, divided into two par-36 nines, and four sets of tees. Those distances give visitors a more useful starting point than choosing a tee by color alone.

Tees	Front nine	Back nine	Total
Black	3,346 yards	3,349 yards	6,695 yards
White	2,970 yards	3,032 yards	6,002 yards
Gold	2,638 yards	2,781 yards	5,419 yards
Red	2,217 yards	2,402 yards	4,619 yards

Choose a length that matches the shots you can play comfortably. Moving forward changes approach distances while keeping the mountain setting intact. If your group is unfamiliar with the course, ask the golf shop which tees fit your usual driving distance and pace. Use the card supplied on arrival for the day’s setup and local rules.

The scorecard also makes nine holes a concrete planning option: the front and back are separate halves of the same 18-hole course, not an assurance that either nine will be assigned to your booking. Ask where you will start. The posted rates below are for nine-hole play, which leaves more of the day for a drive or another activity.

The eighth hole and Gauley Falls

The club’s own description identifies the eighth-hole tee as its signature waterfall viewpoint. Upcountry South Carolina names that waterfall Gauley Falls. On the published card, number eight is a par three measuring 185 yards from Black, 140 from White, 115 from Gold, and 97 from Red. Those figures vary by tee; a single distance doesn’t describe everyone’s shot.

Treat the waterfall as part of a working golf property. Before planning a visit solely to see or photograph it, ask the club about non-golfer access and where visitors may go. A golf listing does not establish a public waterfall trail or swimming permission. Stay clear of active play and follow staff directions.

For a mountain view as a separate sightseeing stop, use our Grant Meadow Overlook guide. That gives non-golfers a specific destination without treating the fairways as a public walking route. The regional listing also identifies Pinnacle Mountain among the course’s mountain vistas; do not label every peak in a course photograph as Table Rock.

Current green-and-cart rates

The club’s published rate page lists the following green-and-cart fees. These are posted planning prices, not a quote for a selected date, event, or online promotion. Check the total and terms when booking.

Category	18 holes	9 holes
Monday–Thursday	$45	$30
Friday–Sunday and holidays	$55	$40
Seniors age 60+, Monday–Thursday	$39	$28
Seniors age 60+, Friday–Sunday and holidays	$55	$40
After 1 p.m., Monday–Thursday	$42	$30
After 1 p.m., Friday–Sunday and holidays	$45	$35

For two golfers, the standard posted 18-hole green-and-cart charges total $90 Monday–Thursday or $110 Friday–Sunday and holidays, before any additional applicable checkout charges. Those totals exclude food, equipment, and lodging. Afternoon pricing can change the comparison, but a later start also needs enough daylight for the round you intend to play.

Walking rates are published separately. The walking section is members-only before 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays, so confirm eligibility before planning to walk during that time. That restriction should not be generalized to every riding tee time. Ask the shop about your intended start, cart availability, and any equipment-rental needs rather than assuming a particular item is included.

A course with several chapters

The state’s 2021 golf directory credits Russell Breeden with the design. For the property’s later development, the club’s own history records the Chastain family’s sale in 1977, the Gauley Falls Country Club name by 1982, and timeshare development in 1984. It dates the name The Rock at Jocassee to 1997 and Bear Valley Golf Club to a later management period beginning in 2013.

The same account dates the clubhouse house to 1922. These are the club’s published historical details, rather than findings from a new deed or building-record investigation. They help explain why older references list different course names, while the current visitor destination is The Rock Golf Club & Resort.

The operator reports that Anthony Anders and David Greene purchased the course in 2017, installed TifEagle Bermuda greens, and renovated the pro shop. Its history gives November 18, 2017 as the reopening date. These specific changes, with an identified source, do not establish an independent ranking of the course or guarantee today’s playing conditions.

Lodging, meals, and events

The club’s Stay & Play page advertises an upstairs apartment for $200 per night, plus a one-time $75 cleaning fee and a $25-per-night pet charge when applicable. It also lists condos with prices that vary by length of stay. Availability and blackout dates apply. Confirm the unit, occupancy, booking terms, and whether golf is included in the particular offer; the page title alone does not make golf part of every lodging price.

Two nights in the apartment at the listed base rate total $475 with the cleaning fee, before taxes or other applicable charges, and before any pet fee or golf charge not included in your agreement. That makes it easier to compare with other lodging near Table Rock using the full stay cost rather than the nightly number alone.

For a meal at the club, check current kitchen hours before building the day around lunch or dinner. The regional listing notes seasonal restaurant hours, and the club’s events page directs visitors to its Facebook page for updates. A standing restaurant listing does not guarantee meal service or a live-music event on your visit date. Nearby Aunt Sue’s Country Corner is another place to research when planning the Highway 11 portion of the trip.

Build a mountain day around the round

If golf is the main event, reserve it first and choose one additional stop. A short scenic drive or a meal fits more naturally after a full round than a strenuous hike with its own long return. For a separate hiking day, our Table Rock trail guide compares routes by distance and difficulty. The club and state park have separate access and booking arrangements.

If others in the group are exploring while you play, start with the Pumpkintown visitor guide and agree on the meeting place and return time. They can plan their own outing instead of assuming they can just walk around the golf course. For a weekend, give both golf and the foothills enough time: a confirmed tee time, the right tees, and a little room afterward to enjoy where you are.