TL;DR: Western North Carolina is home to more than 40 championship mountain golf courses, ranging from historic Donald Ross public layouts in Asheville to exclusive private clubs on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau. Burlingame Country Club in Sapphire Valley offers a rare blend of Tom Jackson-designed championship golf, full resort amenities, and a close-knit family membership community at elevations between 3,000 and 3,500 feet.
Why Western North Carolina Is One of America’s Best Mountain Golf Destinations
Western North Carolina has earned its place among America’s finest mountain golf regions because it combines dramatic Blue Ridge scenery, more than 40 championship courses, legendary architectural pedigrees, and a mild climate that stretches the golf season across nearly every month of the year. The mountains here are not just a backdrop. They are the course.
Elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet create playing conditions that feel like nothing else. The thinner mountain air sends balls flying farther than they would at sea level, which means your club selection becomes a creative act rather than a habit. Natural terrain hands course architects gifts that flat land simply cannot offer: elevation changes, mountain streams, and forested corridors that shape holes no human hand could fully invent.
This golf heritage runs deep. Wealthy families began escaping Southern summer heat by traveling to these cooler elevations in the late 1800s, and they brought their love of golf with them. Designers like Donald Ross, George W. Cobb, Tom Jackson, and Robert Trent Jones II followed, each learning to work with mountain topography rather than fight it. The courses they left behind feel like they grew from the land itself.
The mild climate keeps the season generous. Spring blooms April through May. Fall color runs September through October. Even winter offers sunny windows of play that northern mountain regions rarely see. And when the round is over, the region rewards you further: waterfalls, hiking trails, craft breweries, farm-to-table dining, and arts communities in towns like Asheville, Brevard, and Highlands are all within reach.
This comprehensive approach to mountain living is what separates Western North Carolina from a golf trip and makes it a place where families return year after year, eventually deciding to stay.
What Are the Best Golf Courses in Western North Carolina?
The best golf courses in Western North Carolina include Burlingame Country Club in Sapphire Valley, Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, the Omni Grove Park Inn course in Asheville, Cullasaja Club near Highlands, and Connestee Falls Golf Courses near Brevard, each offering a distinct mountain experience shaped by legendary designers and spectacular natural terrain.
What makes these courses stand apart is not just their architecture. It is the way each one uses its particular patch of mountain to create a round that feels earned. You are navigating ridge lines, crossing cold-water streams, and reading greens that tilt toward views no design software could replicate. Every course listed below was shaped by the land as much as by the architect.
For families and retirees seeking more than a single round, Burlingame Country Club stands as the region’s most complete golf and community experience. Tom Jackson’s 18-hole championship design winds through the Sapphire Valley at elevations between 3,000 and 3,500 feet, and it sits at the center of a membership community where golf is simply one thread in a much richer tapestry.
You can explore the 15 best public golf courses in Western North Carolina for a detailed breakdown of open-access options across the full region.
What Are the Best Public Golf Courses in the NC Mountains?
The best public golf courses in the NC mountains include Asheville Municipal Golf Course (a Donald Ross design from 1927), Connestee Falls Golf Courses near Brevard (designed by George W. Cobb), and High Hampton Resort near Cashiers, which offers public access through its stay-and-play model at more than 3,500 feet of elevation.
Public access in the NC mountains varies by region. Asheville offers the most open options, with municipal and daily-fee facilities at a range of price points. The Cashiers-Highlands plateau leans heavily private, but High Hampton Resort remains a welcoming exception. Brevard’s Connestee Falls semi-private facility welcomes outside play while serving its residential community.
If you are planning a trip on a tighter budget, the best public courses near Cashiers under $75 are worth bookmarking before you go. Mountain golf does not have to come with a resort price tag to feel extraordinary.
For golfers who want to sharpen their game before heading out, the best public driving ranges and practice facilities near Cashiers offer a warm-up that matches the scenery of the courses themselves.
What Are the Best Golf Courses in North Carolina Overall?
The best golf courses in North Carolina span both the coast and the mountains, with Pinehurst Resort on the Sandhills and the private clubs of the Cashiers-Highlands plateau regularly cited among the state’s finest, while Western North Carolina’s mountain layouts offer a completely different kind of excellence shaped by elevation, terrain, and cool-season air.
North Carolina’s golf identity has two distinct personalities. The Sandhills region, anchored by Pinehurst, built its reputation on sandy soil, long-leaf pines, and pure ball-striking challenge. Western North Carolina built its reputation on something else entirely: the feeling that the mountain itself is playing alongside you.
For mountain-specific discovery, the Cashiers golf directory and the Highlands golf guide offer region-by-region breakdowns that help you match a course to your game, your travel style, and the kind of round you want to remember.
What Are the Best Golf Courses in Western NC Specifically?
The best golf courses in Western NC are concentrated in four primary regions: the Asheville valley, the Sapphire Valley, the Cashiers-Highlands plateau, and the Brevard corridor, with Burlingame Country Club, Wade Hampton Golf Club, the Omni Grove Park Inn course, and Connestee Falls representing the strongest options across public, semi-private, and private categories.
Each region has its own elevation, its own pace, and its own community character. Asheville buzzes with energy and diversity. The Cashiers-Highlands plateau moves quietly, protected by altitude and privacy. Sapphire Valley sits between them, intimate in scale but rich in amenities, the kind of place where you recognize every face in the clubhouse by the second week of summer.
You can use the public course finder tool to locate open-access options within 20 miles of wherever you are staying in Western NC.
What Are the Best Golf Courses to Play in Cashiers, NC, and What Are Typical Membership Options?
The best golf courses to play in Cashiers, NC include Wade Hampton Golf Club and Burlingame Country Club, both of which operate on a private membership model, while High Hampton Resort and select semi-private facilities offer outside access; membership at private Cashiers-area clubs typically involves an initiation fee plus annual dues, with options ranging from full golf memberships to social or sports-only tiers.
Wade Hampton is widely regarded as one of the finest private courses in the American Southeast, a Tom Fazio design that uses the Cashiers plateau’s natural drama with remarkable restraint. Access requires a member invitation. Burlingame, by contrast, is a community as much as a golf club, with membership options designed for families and retirees who want the full mountain lifestyle, not just the fairways.
The complete guide to golf courses near Cashiers covers every playable option in and around the plateau, including access details and seasonal availability. If you are newer to mountain golf and want to find a group to play with, the social side of mountain golf guide will help you find your footing and your foursome.
| Course | Access Type | Membership Model | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wade Hampton Golf Club | Private (member invitation required) | Full golf membership, initiation plus annual dues | ~3,500 ft |
| Burlingame Country Club | Private membership community | Golf, sports, and social membership tiers available | 3,000–3,500 ft |
| High Hampton Resort | Public via stay-and-play | Resort guest access; no private membership required | ~3,600 ft |
| Cullasaja Club | Private (near Highlands) | Full golf membership, initiation plus annual dues | ~3,800 ft |
| Connestee Falls Golf Courses | Semi-private (outside play welcome) | Residential community membership option | ~2,500 ft |
What Are the Top Golf Clubs Near Highlands, NC, and What Stay-and-Play Options Are Available?
The top golf clubs near Highlands, NC include Cullasaja Club, Old Edwards Club, and the Highlands Country Club, all of which are private, while High Hampton Resort near Cashiers offers the most accessible stay-and-play option in the area, pairing resort lodging with golf access at elevations above 3,500 feet.
Highlands sits at 4,118 feet, making it one of the highest towns in the eastern United States and giving its golf a cool, crystalline quality that lowland courses simply cannot match. The air is lighter. The views are longer. And the pace of a round here tends to slow in the best possible way, as though the mountain itself is asking you not to rush.
The complete Highlands golf guide covers every course in and around the plateau, including current access details and what to expect from a round at each elevation. For those drawn to the Highlands experience but interested in a community rather than a single resort stay, mountain golf near Highlands and Sapphire Valley offers a broader picture of what a life built around this landscape looks like.
What Are the Best Golf Courses Near Cherokee, NC?
The best golf courses near Cherokee, NC include Sequoyah National Golf Club, which sits adjacent to the Cherokee reservation at roughly 2,000 feet elevation and offers one of the most scenic and accessible public mountain golf experiences in Western North Carolina.
Cherokee marks the western gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the golf in this area reflects that wild, forested character. Sequoyah National is a public course designed with dramatic mountain terrain and serves golfers who are visiting the park region or traveling the corridor between Asheville and the Smokies.
If you are exploring the full corridor from Cherokee toward Cashiers and Highlands, the regional golf directory maps out the options along the way so you can plan multiple rounds across multiple landscapes in a single trip.
What Are the Best Mountain Golf Courses in North Carolina?
The best mountain golf courses in North Carolina are found in the Western NC highlands, with Burlingame Country Club in Sapphire Valley, Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, and the Omni Grove Park Inn course in Asheville consistently recognized for combining championship-caliber design with the irreplaceable backdrop of Blue Ridge Mountain terrain.
Mountain golf in North Carolina is defined by what it demands of you. Every round asks you to think differently about distance, wind, and ground game. The ball travels farther in thinner air. Approach shots play differently when the green sits 200 feet below the tee box. And no GPS device has ever fully captured the feeling of standing at the top of a ridge fairway, looking out across a valley that has not changed in a thousand years.
These are the courses that people describe not by their score but by what they saw, who they were with, and how they felt when the last putt dropped. That is the particular gift of North Carolina mountain golf.
What Are the Best Public Golf Courses in North Carolina?
The best public golf courses in North Carolina include Pinehurst No. 2 in the Sandhills, Asheville Municipal Golf Course in the western mountains, and High Hampton Resort near Cashiers, offering open or stay-and-play access across a range of elevations, design eras, and price points.
North Carolina’s public golf landscape rewards exploration. The Sandhills delivers that long, sandy, shot-making challenge in mild winters. The mountain region delivers something closer to a spiritual experience: altitude, silence, and scenery that makes a double bogey feel almost irrelevant.
For golfers focused on the mountain zone specifically, the 15 best public golf courses in Western North Carolina is the most complete open-access guide available, organized by region and updated for 2026 conditions. You can also find public courses within 20 miles of your location using the interactive finder.
Overview of Western North Carolina Golf Regions
Western North Carolina golf divides into distinct geographic regions, each shaped by its own elevation, its own history, and its own community personality. Knowing these regions helps you plan a trip that fits your game, your family, and the kind of mountain experience you are looking for.
Asheville Area
Asheville anchors the region at roughly 2,200 feet in the French Broad River valley. The city hosts the widest variety of golf access in Western North Carolina: public municipal courses, daily-fee facilities, resort golf at the Omni Grove Park Inn, and private clubs serving local membership. Every budget finds a welcome here. Asheville’s central location also makes it the easiest base for reaching courses in other regions within 45 to 90 minutes by car.
Cashiers-Highlands Region
The Cashiers-Highlands plateau rises between 3,500 and 4,100 feet, creating some of the highest-elevation golf experiences in the eastern United States. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cullasaja Club, and Highlands Country Club anchor a region that leans strongly private. High Hampton Resort remains the most accessible public entry point. The altitude and exclusivity here reflect the area’s long-standing character as one of the South’s most cherished mountain retreats.
Lake Toxaway Area
Lake Toxaway sits at roughly 3,000 feet between Brevard and Cashiers, built around a restored lake and a resort tradition dating to the early 1900s. Private clubs and real estate communities here weave golf together with lake activities and mountain recreation. The moderate elevation makes for comfortable summer rounds, and the mix of water features and natural terrain gives course designers layered material to work with.
Sapphire Valley
Sapphire Valley follows the Horsepasture River corridor at elevations between 3,000 and 3,500 feet. Burlingame Country Club anchors this region with Tom Jackson’s championship 18-hole layout, complemented by the 9-hole Red Bird Golf Links executive course nearby. The valley’s location between Cashiers and Brevard gives members and guests access to multiple regions without losing the intimate, close-knit character that defines Sapphire. Complete mountain living here includes comprehensive dining, wellness facilities, and lawn sports beyond golf.
Brevard Region
Brevard sits at approximately 2,200 feet in the French Broad River valley, serving as the gateway to Pisgah National Forest’s waterfalls, trails, and mountain biking networks. Connestee Falls Golf Courses, designed by George W. Cobb, is the primary public golf option here, and this semi-private facility welcomes outside play while serving its residential community. The course winds through varied mountain terrain with the elevation changes and scenic vistas that define Western NC golf at its most natural.
Top Public and Semi-Private Courses in Western North Carolina
Public and semi-private courses let you experience mountain golf without a membership. These facilities span historic layouts and modern designs, and each one carries the signature of its particular landscape.
Asheville Municipal Golf Course
Asheville Municipal holds the distinction of being one of Western North Carolina’s oldest courses and the first integrated golf course in the state. Donald Ross designed the original layout in 1927, and the course remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The front nine invites aggressive driver play. The back nine demands precision and patience. Hurricane Helene in September 2024 caused severe damage to the front nine, limiting current play. Verify the current status before visiting, as restoration work continues.
Location: 226 Fairway Drive, Asheville, NC 28805 | Contact: (828) 298-1867
Omni Grove Park Inn Golf Course
The Omni Grove Park Inn course was originally established in 1899 and redesigned by Donald Ross in 1926. It has hosted PGA Tour events and earns consistent recognition among North Carolina’s top 100 courses from Golf Advisor. Stay-and-play packages combine golf access with full resort amenities at the historic Grove Park Inn. Outside play is available based on availability. The parkland design integrates seamlessly with the property’s mountain setting and spectacular long views.
Connestee Falls Golf Courses
Connestee Falls, designed by George W. Cobb, is the Brevard region’s primary public option. The semi-private facility welcomes outside golfers while serving the Connestee Falls residential community. The course winds through mountain terrain with natural elevation changes and the scenic character that defines Western NC golf at a more accessible price point.
High Hampton Resort
High Hampton Resort near Cashiers provides public access through its stay-and-play model, making it one of the few options on the Cashiers-Highlands plateau that does not require a private membership. The resort’s elevated setting above 3,500 feet provides summer temperatures that feel like permanent early autumn, and the golf course reflects the natural character of the plateau rather than imposing a manicured formality on it.
Burlingame Country Club: The Heart of Sapphire Valley Golf
Burlingame Country Club is a private membership community in Sapphire Valley where Tom Jackson’s 18-hole championship golf course serves as the centerpiece of a mountain lifestyle built around family, nature, and the kind of community where the same faces appear at the first tee, the dining room, and the morning hiking trail.
This is not a resort. It is not a hotel with a course attached. Burlingame Country Club is a place where families plant roots and return summer after summer until the mountains start to feel like home. Members describe it as the family reunion where everybody actually likes each other, which is rarer than any course rating can measure.
Tom Jackson’s design uses Sapphire Valley’s natural terrain with the same respect the best mountain architects have always brought to this land. Elevation changes create strategic variety. Mountain streams cross fairways as both hazard and ornament. And the views from certain holes stop you mid-stride in a way that makes you forget, briefly, what your score is.
Beyond golf, membership at Burlingame opens access to dining, wellness, lawn sports, and a community events calendar shaped around the rhythms of mountain life rather than the demands of a resort marketing calendar. The club also connects members to the broader network of mountain golf through the Cashiers golf directory and regional guides that make exploring neighboring courses feel like a natural extension of belonging here.
Environmental stewardship shapes how the club manages its land. The surrounding Sapphire Valley landscape, with its waterfalls, hardwood forests, and native wildlife corridors, is treated as part of the membership experience, not a selling point to be photographed once and forgotten. You belong to this place as much as it belongs to you.
Quick Recap
- Western North Carolina hosts more than 40 championship mountain golf courses across five distinct geographic regions.
- Elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet create unique playing conditions: longer ball flight, dramatic terrain, and cool summer temperatures.
- Legendary designers including Donald Ross, George W. Cobb, Tom Jackson, and Robert Trent Jones II shaped the region’s most iconic layouts.
- The Asheville area offers the most diverse public access, while the Cashiers-Highlands plateau leans heavily private.
- High Hampton Resort near Cashiers and Connestee Falls near Brevard are among the strongest semi-public options in the mountain region.
- Burlingame Country Club in Sapphire Valley combines Tom Jackson championship golf with a full-community membership experience built for families and retirees.
- The golf season in Western NC runs nearly year-round, with peak seasons in spring (April to May) and fall (September to October).
- Hurricane Helene caused damage to Asheville Municipal’s front nine in September 2024; verify current status before visiting.
- Membership at Burlingame includes dining, wellness, lawn sports, and a community calendar rooted in mountain living.
- Regional guides for Highlands and Cashiers make planning multi-course mountain trips straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What elevation do Western North Carolina golf courses sit at?
Most Western North Carolina golf courses sit between 2,000 and 4,100 feet above sea level. Asheville-area courses sit near the lower end at roughly 2,200 feet. The Cashiers-Highlands plateau courses reach above 3,500 feet. Sapphire Valley courses play between 3,000 and 3,500 feet. Higher elevations mean cooler summer temperatures and longer ball flight due to thinner air.
Are there affordable public golf courses in the NC mountains?
Yes. Asheville Municipal Golf Course, Connestee Falls near Brevard, and select semi-private facilities near Cashiers offer mountain golf at accessible price points. The best courses under $75 near Cashiers lists the most affordable public options in the plateau region for 2026.
What makes Burlingame Country Club different from other mountain golf clubs?
Burlingame Country Club is a private membership community rather than a resort or daily-fee facility. Tom Jackson’s 18-hole championship course anchors a full mountain lifestyle that includes dining, wellness, lawn sports, and a multi-generational community atmosphere. Members describe it as the place where the same families return summer after summer because the belonging feels genuine rather than transactional.
When is the best time of year to golf in Western North Carolina?
Spring from April through May and fall from September through October offer the most spectacular playing conditions, with mild temperatures and either blooming or turning foliage framing every hole. Summer remains the peak season, especially at higher elevations where temperatures stay naturally cool. Winter offers many playable days, though mountain weather can be unpredictable.
How do I find playing partners or beginner groups at mountain golf courses?
Many mountain clubs and semi-private facilities organize regular member or guest pairings. The social side of mountain golf guide walks through how to find playing partners and beginner-friendly groups at courses throughout the Western NC region, including tips for first-time mountain golfers who want to ease into elevation-adjusted play.
What stay-and-play golf options exist near Highlands, NC?
High Hampton Resort near Cashiers offers the most accessible stay-and-play golf near the Highlands area, pairing resort lodging with golf access at elevations above 3,500 feet without requiring a private membership. Several private clubs near Highlands also allow member-sponsored guest visits. The Highlands area golf guide details all current access options and seasonal availability.
How do I learn more about Burlingame Country Club membership?
Full details on membership tiers, amenities, and the application process are available through the Burlingame membership page. You can also reach the membership team directly using the contact information below.
Ready to Find Your Place in These Mountains?
The golf is extraordinary. The seasons are generous. The community is the kind that gathers around a table after the round and decides, somewhere between the first course and the last, to come back next year. And the year after that. And the one after that.
If you are drawn to a mountain life where golf is woven into something larger than a scorecard, we would love to tell you more about what belonging to Burlingame feels like.
Please Contact Jennifer Webb, Membership Director, for more information. Please use the form below or call 828.966.9200.