TL;DR: Burlingame Country Club in Cashiers, NC offers mountain club living above 3,500 feet with golf, outdoor recreation, and tight-knit community that goes beyond what traditional commuter clubs like Hampshire CC provide. Remote work flexibility now makes mountain retreats practical for affluent families seeking escape, space, and multi-generational experiences.
What Commuter-Area Clubs Like Hampshire CC Offer
Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck, New York is a well-established private club serving Westchester County families who live and work in the greater New York metro area. Members get access to golf, dining, tennis, and social events within a short drive of their homes.
This model filled a genuine need for decades. Busy professionals gained a nearby retreat without traveling far from work or family commitments. But club culture is shifting as remote work options grow and members ask for more than weekend golf rounds squeezed between errands.
Why Mountain Clubs Are Becoming the Better Choice
Remote work flexibility has made mountain club memberships practical in ways that weren’t possible when five-day commutes ruled the calendar. A club 90 minutes from a major city used to mean sacrifice. Now it can mean the best of both worlds: proximity to city resources when needed, plus full escape when you choose it.
Mountain clubs offer something a commuter-area club typically cannot: real space to breathe. Wide fairways, clean air, cooler summers, and a pace of life that actually lets you reset. You’re spending real time in a place that feels like a vacation every time you visit, not just squeezing in nine holes between errands.
This shift has made clubs in the southern Appalachians some of the most sought-after private communities in the Southeast. Cashiers, NC sits right at the center of that movement, and Burlingame Country Club sits right at the center of Cashiers.
What Makes Burlingame Country Club Different
Burlingame Country Club is a private, gated community and country club located in Cashiers, NC at an elevation above 3,500 feet. This is not a manufactured resort community, but rather a place that feels carefully tended over generations, with the character of an established mountain retreat.
The club brings together golf, outdoor recreation, fine dining, and a tight-knit social community. Members come from all over the country, particularly from metro areas in the Northeast and Southeast, united by a desire for a club experience that goes deeper than a golf handicap and a Saturday tee time.
Burlingame offers full-time living and seasonal membership options, giving it flexibility that many traditional East Coast clubs don’t provide. Whether you want a primary residence or a mountain retreat, the community is built to accommodate both.
How Golf Feels Different in the Mountains
Golf at Burlingame is central to club life, but it plays differently from the flat, manicured layouts common to Westchester County courses. The course winds through natural Blue Ridge Mountain terrain, with elevation changes, mature hardwoods, and mountain views that make every round feel distinct. You’re playing a course that works with the land, not against it.
Mountain golf rewards shot-making and local knowledge. Members often find that after a few seasons at Burlingame, they’ve become better and more creative players simply by adapting to the terrain.
Practice facilities support improvement at every level. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or play twice a month, the infrastructure supports your game. Golf programming connects members with instruction and regular competition through organized events and member tournaments throughout the season.
What Community and Lifestyle Look Like Here
A private club is only as good as its community, and at Burlingame the social fabric is built intentionally. Members gather at the clubhouse for dining, special events, and casual afternoons on the porch in an atmosphere that’s welcoming without being stuffy.
Outdoor activity is woven into daily life. The Cashiers area offers hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, and waterfall exploration within a short drive of the club. Whiteside Mountain, one of the most dramatic peaks in the southern Appalachians, is practically in the backyard. Members who love the outdoors find something to do every single day.
Dining at the clubhouse reflects the quality you’d expect from a well-run private club, with seasonal menus, member events, and themed dinners that bring variety and energy throughout the year. This is a place where you actually look forward to dinner at the club.
Tennis, swimming, and other recreational amenities round out the lifestyle. Families with children find plenty to keep kids active and engaged during mountain visits. This community is built for full family enjoyment, not just the golfer in the household.
How Real Estate and Membership Work Together
Burlingame offers a range of real estate options within the gated community, including homesites, cottages, and full-size residences depending on what a buyer is looking for. The combination of club membership and real estate ownership creates a lifestyle investment that many members find deeply satisfying.
Compared to real estate markets around clubs like Hampshire CC in Mamaroneck, Cashiers offers significantly different value. Westchester County home prices have climbed steadily for years, with many communities now placing primary residences well into seven figures for modest square footage. In Cashiers, buyers can get substantially more space and a genuine mountain setting for the same investment or less.
Membership at Burlingame connects directly to the real estate side of the community. Prospective members are encouraged to learn about the full membership structure and what ownership within the gates looks like. This integrated model is what makes Burlingame a true club community rather than just a facility someone pays dues to access.
Why the Cashiers, NC Area Stands Out
Cashiers is a small plateau community in Jackson County, NC at an elevation of about 3,484 feet, situated between Highlands to the west and Sapphire Valley to the east. This location forms part of one of the most scenic and desirable stretches of the southern Appalachians and has long attracted families wanting a mountain escape without sacrificing quality infrastructure.
The town of Cashiers offers local shopping, restaurants, and services that make full-time or extended seasonal living practical. For bigger city needs, Asheville is roughly two hours north and Atlanta is about two and a half hours south. The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau area is recognized as one of the premier mountain destinations in the eastern United States.
The climate is one of the biggest draws. Summers in Cashiers rarely break 80 degrees, making it a true escape from the heat and humidity that blankets much of the Southeast from June through September. Fall color peaks in October and draws visitors from across the region. Winters are mild by mountain standards, though occasional snow adds charm for members who enjoy the full seasonal cycle.
The natural environment around Cashiers is exceptional. The area sits within or adjacent to the Nantahala National Forest, giving residents access to hundreds of miles of trails, rivers, and public land. This kind of access simply isn’t available in Westchester County or most other affluent commuter club markets.
Burlingame vs. Traditional Commuter Clubs
| Feature | Burlingame Country Club (Cashiers, NC) | Traditional Commuter Clubs (e.g., Hampshire CC) |
|---|---|---|
| Location/Elevation | Mountain setting, above 3,500 feet | Suburban metro area, near city |
| Primary Purpose | Full lifestyle immersion and escape | Weekend convenience near home |
| Summer Climate | Rarely exceeds 80 degrees | Hot and humid July-September |
| Golf Course Character | Natural terrain, elevation changes, mountain views | Manicured, flat layouts |
| Membership Flexibility | Full-time or seasonal options | Typically year-round commitments |
| Real Estate Value | More space for equivalent or lower investment | Limited space, seven-figure modest homes |
| Outdoor Activities | Hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, waterfall exploration | Limited outdoor recreation nearby |
| Community Feel | Intimate, multi-generational family focus | Weekend social convenience |
Quick Recap
- Remote work flexibility has made mountain club living practical in ways that weren’t possible a decade ago.
- Burlingame Country Club sits above 3,500 feet in Cashiers, NC, offering genuine escape and space that commuter-area clubs can’t match.
- The golf course reflects the natural mountain terrain, making it fundamentally different from flat suburban layouts.
- Community life is built around multi-generational family experiences, outdoor recreation, and seasonal rhythms.
- Real estate at Burlingame offers significantly better value than comparable properties in Westchester County or other northeastern metro areas.
- Access to Nantahala National Forest and the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau gives members hundreds of miles of trails and outdoor recreation daily.
- Membership structures accommodate both full-time residents and seasonal retreat members from all over the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country club offers the best exclusive private club experience?
The best club depends entirely on what you’re seeking. If you want weekend convenience near a major metro area, traditional commuter clubs like Hampshire CC in Mamaroneck serve that purpose well. If you want a full lifestyle experience with outdoor recreation, cooler climate, better real estate value, and multi-generational family focus, mountain clubs like Burlingame Country Club in Cashiers, NC offer significantly more.
What factors should I consider when evaluating a luxury mountain home development with private club access in Cashiers, NC?
Key factors include: elevation and climate benefits (Cashiers sits at 3,484 feet with summers rarely exceeding 80 degrees), membership flexibility (full-time or seasonal options), golf course design and mountain terrain, community character and social fabric, real estate value compared to metro alternatives, access to outdoor recreation (Nantahala National Forest with hundreds of miles of trails), proximity to services and larger cities (Asheville is roughly two hours north, Atlanta is about two and a half hours south), and how the club and real estate ownership integrate as a lifestyle investment.
Can I join Burlingame if I live out of state?
Yes. Many Burlingame members are from out of state, particularly from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The club has membership structures designed to accommodate both primary residents and those who use Burlingame as a seasonal retreat. Contact the Membership Director to learn about current membership categories available to you.
What is the golf season like at Burlingame?
The course is typically playable from spring through fall, with peak season running through the summer months. The cooler mountain climate makes summer golf genuinely enjoyable, unlike courses in lower-elevation markets where summer heat can make afternoon rounds challenging.
Is Cashiers, NC a year-round destination or primarily seasonal?
Both. Cashiers has a strong seasonal community that peaks in summer and fall, but year-round residents enjoy the area comfortably in all four seasons. The club and surrounding community infrastructure support full-time living year-round.
What kinds of homes are available at Burlingame?
Burlingame offers a range of real estate options within the gated community, including homesites for custom building, cottages, and full-size residences depending on what a buyer is looking for.
How does the real estate value at Burlingame compare to Westchester County?
Westchester County home prices have climbed steadily for years, with many communities placing primary residences well into seven figures for modest square footage. In Cashiers, buyers can get substantially more space and a genuine mountain setting for the same investment or less.
Ready to Learn More?
Please Contact Jennifer Webb – Membership Director for more information. Please use the form below or call 828.966.9200.
Visit Burlingame Country Club’s contact page to reach out or learn more about membership options that fit your family’s lifestyle.