Scope: New Mountain Golf Course Construction
Location: Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Architect: Bill Bergin and Rees Jones
Acreage: 275 Acres
Services Provided:
– Hydrologic Engineering for Off-Grid Water Sourcing
– Negotiation of Special Permits for 275-Acre Land Disturbance
– Surface and Well-Water Collection Systems
– Stormwater Retention Designed as Landscape Assets
Unique Solution:
We secured a rare permit to disturb 275 acres — well beyond the standard 50-acre limit — and engineered a self-sustaining irrigation system using only surface and well water to overcome the lack of public water sources.
Case Study - High-Altitude Innovation: The Keep at McLemore
Context & Services
At The Keep at McLemore, we provided the technical savvy for a new mountain masterpiece. Operating in a region with no public water sources, we secured the course’s future by negotiating special permits with the Georgia EPD to utilize irrigation water sourced solely from surface and well water collected in onsite ponds. Our full-circle approach integrated hydrologic engineering and earthwork balance to ensure the architect’s vision remained undisturbed by the complex realities of mountain utility planning.
The Unique Solution
To meet a demanding schedule, we acted as a dedicated project, successfully negotiating a rare permit to disturb 275 acres—well beyond the standard 50-acre state limit. We bridged the gap between artistic routing and rigid municipal codes, using 3D modeling to preserve strategic sightlines, along with precisely balancing “cut and fill” to protect the owner’s budget.
By designing stormwater retention as a landscape asset, we fulfilled our promise of functional craftsmanship — transforming necessary drainage into aesthetic water features. Our team looked beyond the immediate transaction to prioritize long-term functionality, specify custom drainage depths, stabilize service zones to prevent future maintenance headaches, and ensure the course remains playable even after heavy mountain rains.
Success & Impact
Our intervention overcame significant environmental concerns and hurdles to yield a streamlined construction phase. By securing critical water resources and expansive land-disturbance rights, we ensured the project moved from a high-risk concept to a high-ROI reality. The result is a premier destination where the infrastructure is as reliable as the views are breathtaking.
