Jack Nicklaus Opens His Signature Course At The Reserve At Lake Keowee

October 15, 2002, Sunset, S.C. - With more than 400 guests in attendance, Jack Nicklaus opened his Signature Golf Course Tuesday at The Reserve at Lake Keowee. The event included the ceremonial first tee shot, a hole-by-hole description, a question-and-answer session with Nicklaus for members of the media, and a reception at the Reserve's new Orchard Clubhouse. Due to a downpour of rain, the scheduled exhibition round where Nicklaus plays all 18 holes on his new course had to be cancelled.

Construction began on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in early 2001 and since then, Nicklaus has made several site visits to the course to check on progress. He worked very closely with his son, Jack Nicklaus II, and Nicklaus Design Associates David Heatwole and Troy Vincent on the project.

Nicklaus stated that he specifically designed the course to fit naturally with the spectacular terrain of The Reserve at Lake Keowee, making very few grade changes and allowing the land to dictate the design. "I don't believe in forcing an idea on a piece of land, but, rather, I blend my ideas with the natural environment and let it help me shape the design of each hole," he said.

"That's what we've done here at the Reserve. I believe this course is visually dramatic yet playable at the same time. I am excited with the outcome."

The nines are a continuous loop with 419 Bermuda grass on the tees, fairways, and rough and G2 bentgrass greens. The golf course adjoins Lake Keowee, with holes 14, 15, 16 and 17 playing along the lake's edge.

Adjacent to the golf course is a 19-acre practice facility large enough to support 36 holes of golf, 18 of which are planned for the future. The practice facility, which also opened today, will provide ample room for day-to-day practice for members and have more than adequate space for a practice tee at the far end for golf professionals to provide instruction. Target greens at the 50-, 100- and 300-yard marks are visible from both ends of the driving range. Golfers looking to work on a variety of shots have access to phenomenal putting and chipping areas. The putting green is more than 8,000 square feet, and the chipping green is 2,000 square feet with three sand bunkers. As an additional practice amenity, a putting green on the first tee serves as a warm up area for golfers preparing to tee off.

Located in northwestern South Carolina, The Reserve at Lake Keowee is a private lakeside community located at the northern end of the pristine waters of Lake Keowee and tucked beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. The low-density development encompasses 3,200 acres with more than 23 miles of shoreline on Lake Keowee and will offer approximately 1,200 homesites - ranging from one to six acres - with a diverse selection of lake, golf and mountain views.

The Reserve's new 20,000-square-foot Orchard Clubhouse, which officially opened today as well, offers exclusive lakeside dining facilities and a croquet lawn, with plans in development for a fitness center and a pool/pavilion. The clubhouse will also host special events for property owners at the Reserve and their guests. Most of these activities will be within the Village Center, the future heart of the community. Village Center amenities will include a general store, post office, marina, community beach and multipurpose playing fields.

Miles of nature trails will offer endless opportunities for hiking to numerous parks, green spaces and club areas. Furthermore, an onsite concierge will assist property owners and guests who wish to pursue leisure activities through educational, cultural, fitness and nature based programming for all ages at this "camp for families."

The Reserve at Lake Keowee is being built by the Keowee River Club LLC, a partnership of the Keowee Toxaway Company, LLC and Greenwood Development Corporation. Greenwood, with more than two decades of experience in the resort and golf businesses, is the developer of the community. Its major developments are Palmetto Dunes, Shelter Cove, and Palmetto Hall, all on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Other current projects in Charleston, S.C. include Coosaw Creek Country Club, a golf course community near Summerville, and Beresford Hall, a low density, deep-water community on the Cainhoy Peninsula. Greenwood also owns an interest in Big Canoe, a private golf and residential community convenient to Atlanta in the north Georgia mountains.

For additional information on The Club at The Reserve at Lake Keowee, visit their web site at www.reserveatlakekeowee.com or call (888) 217-8884.