Member Profile: Barclay and Alyssa Layman

Barclay and Alyssa Layman know precisely, down to the minute, how long it takes to drive from their condo in downtown Greenville to Cherokee Valley. 

After all, they make the drive three to five times a week to enjoy one of their favorite social activities … golf.

“We love seeing the mountains come into view as we drive up,” Alyssa says. “It doesn’t feel like South Carolina and it’s so different from anywhere else in Greenville.”

The Laymans, who split their time between Greenville and Scottsdale, Arizona, joined as members last June after hearing about Cherokee Valley from friends. While Barclay’s company has a corporate membership at Thornblade, tee times are limited to afternoons and hard to come by. 

“They showed us a picture of No. 8 and we played with them once and joined right after that,” Barclay says. “Plus, we just like the people up here. [Owner] Matt [Jennings] and [Associate Director of Operations] Lauren [Landreth] have been so good to us. It’s also easy to get a tee time when you want to play and to book online.”

Alyssa says she also enjoys having the members of the North Greenville University men’s and women’s golf teams around the property, whether they are playing the course, working, or helping out with camps and clinics. 

They’ve even had the opportunity to play with a couple of the team members over the past 10 months.

“It’s really a family atmosphere,” Alyssa says. 

When it comes to playing Cherokee Valley’s P.B. Dye-designed layout, the Laymans enjoying walking, which members are allowed to do any time or day of the week. 

According to Alyssa, they’ll hoof nine or 11 holes and if they want to keep playing, will grab a cart for the final six or seven holes that traverse the hilliest terrain on property. 

If they know in advance they’re going to play all 18 holes, they’ll opt for one of the club’s new E-Z-GO RXV carts, equipped with GPS screens and Bluetooth speakers. 

“Matt is a wonderful owner and the amenities he provides are such a value for what you pay for a membership,” says Barclay. “We have the nicest carts in Greenville and the Finn Cycles [motorized golf scooters].

While they haven’t taken a Finn Cycle for a test drive, yet, the Laymans say they might have to give it a try. The couple is quick to point out that golf is all about having a good time, and they enjoy the camaraderie more than the competition.

“We’re social golfers, playing by all the rules really isn’t our thing,” Alyssa says, laughing. 

Oh, and speaking of amenities, the Layman’s are excited for Core 450 to open. Not just for the dining, but also for the subsequent reconfiguration of the golf course holes. 

“We will take as much of [Executive Chef] Todd’s [Warden] cooking as we can get and we really enjoy all the guys who work in the kitchen,” Barclay says. “And we’re also looking forward to starting on the third hole. A golf course should shake your hand when you arrival and kiss you good-bye as you leave and the new hole setup will do that.”

Editor’s note: you can read all about the new course configuration, which will take place when Core 450 opens in April or early May 2021, by clicking here. 

As for their favorite holes on the course, Alyssa is partial to the par-4 sixteenth, with its stunning, rock-hemmed setting and tranquil streams. As P.B. once said, “this hole just has a different feel about it.” 

And of course, there’s the signature par-3 eighth, which drew them to Cherokee Valley in the first place. 

“The view from the tee box is just amazing,” says Alyssa.