When I played the classic Tom Fazio designed Thornblade Club golf course in Greer, SC, a few years ago, my host and hostess pointed to the modest home behind one of the tee boxes and informed me that pro golfer Lucas Glover's grandparents lived there, and that Glover had honed his golf game on Thornblade's funneled fairways and tricky greens. How proud Thornblade and its members must feel today as their former junior golfer and current club member is the new U.S. Open champion.
Glover had some excellent role models at Thornblade, including fellow members and PGA tour players Jay Haas, who lives in the community, his son Bill, and Charles Warren, as well as former LPGA tour player Dottie Pepper. Since then rising PGA star Matt Bettencourt and Nationwide player Justin Bolli have joined the club.
When U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover returns to his home course at Thornblade, one or two of the holes may remind him of Bethpage Black.
Thornblade, which threads its way through a community of nicely landscaped homes, is not exactly Bethpage Black, but who knows if Glover, during the round today and as he lined up his final putt from four feet to win the toughest major of them all, might have thought back to the days on his home course in the South Carolina foothills. Surely, at some point in his youth, he stood over a four-footer and imagined it was for the U.S. Open title. Haven't we all?
Homes in the neighborhood around Thornblade begin in the mid-six figures and rise into the seven-figure range. Thornblade, which offers all the typical country club amenities, is $26,950 for an equity membership and $18,000 for non equity. Today, Thornblade added one more amenity that few other clubs can claim -- a homegrown U.S. Open Champion.
For membership information, contact Membership Director Morgan Page at (864) 234-5100, extension 1007. If you would like to learn more about real estate in the area, contact me.
Tomorrow: A review of Thornblade.