Cheraw State Park renovates golf course and breaks ground on future lakefront villas
November 2, 2026
State and local leaders celebrated the reopening of the golf course and a groundbreaking for lakefront golf villas at Cheraw State Park today.
The 18-hole championship golf course has undergone a series of improvements to enhance playing conditions, upgrade essential infrastructure, and support long-term course maintenance. With fresh greens and collars, reshaped and renovated bunkers, and new irrigation on every green, the friendly and engaging layout blends strategic golf with a peaceful woodland setting.
The five planned villas will be ADA accessible and feature four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen and living area, a covered back porch, and an outdoor living space. They will offer easy access to the golf course with serene views of Lake Juniper and the pine forest.
“While Cheraw State Park has been part of this community for nearly a century, strategic state investments coupled with the dedicated stewardship of our team have ensured this place remains a well-cared-for and beloved hub for recreation in this region,” said Duane Parrish, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “The golf course improvements and future villas are helping us write the next chapter, attracting more visitors and tourism dollars while continuing to serve as a treasured resource for the local community.”
Representative Richie Yow, a longtime champion of Cheraw State Park, participated in the ceremony. “I’m proud to see the completion of the golf course renovations and real progress on the long-awaited villa project,” Representative Yow said. “I was raised to understand that we must be good stewards of our God-given resources, and these investments will continue to benefit the local community, South Carolinians, and visitors to our great state.”
To celebrate the reopening, Cheraw State Park is offering golfers 20% off weekday cabin stays (Monday through Thursday) in November and December. Find additional details on eligible stays at southcarolinaparks.com/deals/Cheraw-golfers-cabin-deal.
CROFT and Associates SC, LLC of Myrtle Beach is serving as the villa project architect, with civil and structural engineering led by Davis and Floyd of Greenwood. The villas are expected to be completed by early 2028.
As the park looks to the future, its roots remain an important part of its story. Cheraw State Park holds a unique place in South Carolina history as the first state park for which land was set aside for park development. The children of Cheraw famously collected pennies to help purchase the park’s original 700 acres, and the site was later developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program in the 1930s. Today, the park encompasses more than 7,000 acres, offering golf, paddling, swimming, guided ranger programs, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor recreation opportunities year-round. Explore more at southcarolinaparks.com/Cheraw.
