Golfing
Golfing in the Asheville area
With panoramic views and rolling hills characteristic of a mountain region, Western Carolina offers some of the finest golf courses in the state. In addition to the spectacular scenery, the mountain landscape creates naturally challenging courses that appeal to the avid golfer. However, the region is also appealing to the novice, as most courses prove to be both demanding and rewarding for all ability levels. More than 50 public and semi-private courses are scattered across the area, and a number of private and resort courses offer scenic play as well as exclusive amenities.
The Asheville area features several courses designed by the pre-eminent golf course architect Donald Ross. Among these is the Country Club of Asheville, founded in 1894 and later redesigned by Ross. With rolling hills and undulating greens, the course is recognized by USGA and GOLF Magazine as one of the first 100 clubs in the country.
Opened in 1899, the course at Grove Park Inn and Spa is one of the oldest course in the South. The course was redesigned in 1924 by Donald Ross and underwent restoration in 2001. With tree-lined fairways and Bermuda grass, the course emphasizes accuracy over power and is hailed as one of the finest conditioned courses in Western North Carolina.
In the center of Biltmore Forest one of the wealthiest towns in the country lies Biltmore Forest Country Club, another Donald Ross creation. The course is characterized by its rolling landscape and scenic views of the mountains. Water comes into play on seven holes. In 1999, the Biltmore Forest Country Club hosted the U.S. Womens Amateur Championship.
Another Donald Ross course is the Asheville Municipal Golf Course. Opened in 1927, this course is one of the oldest in Western North Carolina and remains one of the busiest, perhaps because of its affordability. Providing golfers with a leisurely walk on the front nine, the course becomes increasingly more strenuous on the back nine.
The Hendersonville Country Club features a beautiful Donald Ross course that Tom Fazio redesigned in 1990. With tree-lined fairways, the course also includes lots of sand bunkers and water hazards.
Also near Hendersonville, Champion Hills is a Tom Fazio design which the architect hails as the perfect representation of my design philosophy. Ranked the 10th best course in North Carolina by Golf Digest, Champion Hills features 14 holes that play downhill. The surrounding Champion Hills community spans more than 700 acres of hardwood and pine trees and offers wooded, golf and mountain view homes and homesites. The community also includes a club with tennis courts, a fitness center and a swimming pool.
One of the most visited courses is Etowah Valley Country Club, located just west of Hendersonville on U.S. 64. The course was named in Golf Digests Top 50 Golf Destinations. Calling itself a golfers paradise, this course is located on a mountain plateau and features bent grass greens as large as 9,000 square feet. The original 18 holes follow a classic design, but the newest nine offer variety and are significantly more challenging.
Ranked in North Carolina Magazine as one of the Top 10 golf courses in the state, Mount Mitchell Golf Club is also one of the most scenic. Located near Burnsville about an hour northeast of Asheville, the course is surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest. At 3,000 feet in elevation, the course is surrounded by the 6,000-foot peaks of the Blue Ridge and Black Mountain chains. The relatively flat course also includes the South Toe River, which winds through the course and comes into pay on a number of holes.
Rated four stars by Golf Digest, Reems Creek Golf Club in Weaverville offers 18 holes, a clubhouse and grill, a swimming pool and tennis court in addition to its spectacular views and breathtaking lakes. Located on 300 acres of rolling hills, Reems Creek features natural surroundings within close proximity to the conveniences of Asheville.
Just south of Asheville in Arden, the Cliffs at Walnut Cove is a gated community spread out over 940 acres of custom homes and homesites. A Jack Nicklaus signature course at the Cliffs at Walnut Cove opened in 2005.
Golf Course Info (by alphabetical order)
Asheville Municipal Golf Club
226 Fairway Drive, Asheville
828-298-1867; municipal; 6,680 yards
Biltmore Forest Country Club
31 Stuyvesant Road, Asheville
828-274-1261; private; 6,606 yards
Black Mountain Golf Club
18 Ross Drive, Black Mountain
828-669-2710; public; 6,215 yards
Brookwood Golf Club
Mills Gap Road, Arden
828-684-6278; semiprivate; 5,286 yards
Champion Hill Golf Course
1 Hagen Drive, Hendersonville
828-693-0072; private; 6,719 yards
Cliffs at Walnut Cove
1910 Brevard Road, Arden
828-247-3466; private; 7,278 yards
Connestee Falls Golf Course
170 Windsor Road, Asheville
828-258-9183; private; 6,638 yards
Crown Plaza Resort
1 Resort Drive, Asheville
828-254-3211; resort; 5,600 yards
Cummings Cove Golf Club
20 Cummings Cove Pkwy., Hendersonville
800-958-2905; semiprivate; 6,008 yards
Etowah Valley County Club
U.S. 64 West, Hendersonville
828-891-7022; semiprivate; 6,800 yards
Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave., Asheville
800-438-5800; resort; 6,520 yards
Hendersonville Country Club
1860 Hebron Road, Laurel Park
828-254-2947; private; 6,544 yards
High Vista Country Club
88 Country Club Drive, Arden
828-693-8481; private; 6,509 yards
Lake Junaluska
19 Golf Course Road, Waynesville
828-456-5777; public; 5,744 yards
Laurel Ridge Country Club
788 Eagles Nest Road, Waynesville
828-452-0545; private; 6,904 yards
Maggie Valley Club
1819 Country Club Drive, Maggie Valley
866-659-4725; resort; 6,336 yards
Mount Mitchell Golf Club
11484 N.C. 80 S., Burnsville
828-675-5454; public; 6,495 yards
Mountain Air Country Club
Phipps Creek Road, Burnsville
828-682-4600; private; 6,425 yards
Orchard Trace
942 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville
828-685-1006; public; 2,139 yards
Reems Creek Golf Club
36 Pink Fox Cove Road, Weaverville
828-645-4393; semiprivate; 6,492 yards
Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure
112 Mountains Blvd., Lake Lure
800-419-3854; resort; 6,283 yards
Waynesville Country Club Inn and Resort
176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville
800-627-6250; resort; 5,943 yards
