“A Fun Smoky Mountain Golf Experience”
Golfers seeking a fantastic mountain golf course experience with panoramic vistas and scenic landscapes will find it at Sequoyah National Golf Club. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course provides golfers an awesome 18-hole course in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Sequoyah National continues to be a favorite course for us fulfilling all the aspects expected of true mountain golf. Here we find an 18-hole exciting golf journey as each hole offers fantastic mountain scenery in a beautiful mountaintop. Only 45-minutes from Asheville, North Carolina, Sequoyah Nation is owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Today, we are a threesome as Richard’s son, Matt is joining us. Arriving early for our morning tee time, the weather is blue skies with some clouds over the mountains. Due to heavy rains the night before the driving range is closed and it is cart path only for this entire mountain course. That means a lot of walking. Practicing a few putts and chips, we head to the first tee to begin our exciting golf experience at Sequoyah National. This trio is ready to tackle this demanding, fun, and scenic golf course.
Sequoyah National Golf Club – The Course
A par 72 championship course measuring 6,600 yards, Sequoyah Nationals sits in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Featuring immaculately groomed bent grass greens, it is currently going through a re-grassing project of converting current fairways, tees, and green surrounds to Zeon Zoysia. Additionally, the club is installing capillary concrete bunkers throughout. These improvements will provide the best year-round playing conditions at this award winning Robert Trent Jones II layout. During the renovations only 15 holes are currently available for play. Golf carts are equipped with GPS provide excellent guidance for the best way to play each hole. Sequoyah National layout is continuous not returning to the Clubhouse after nine holes. We get beverages and snacks at the snack shop needed for playing 18 holes.
Playing the Front Nine & Favorite Holes
Standing atop the tee box of No. 1, a par-5, it is long way to the dogleg right fairway below. Before hitting our tee shots we admire the amazing 360 degree views from this elevated tee box. Wow! It’s difficult to see our balls in the fairway. This hole is downhill then a slight uphill with out of bounds on the left and thick tall grass on a hillside along the right side of the fairway. Ugh! None of us play it well, as we each get into trouble on our second or third shots. Thankfully, on No. 2 a par-3 over a deep hazard, getting pars and a bogey buoys our confidence.
As we step up to the tee on No. 3 another downhill dogleg right par-5, we notice the dark clouds on the mountains. Despite attempts to stay left for a better approach shot and be closer to the cart path, we still have some walking to do to get to our balls. As a mist descends on us, we are glad with bogeys. So much for the weather holding off, reaching the 4th Hole, we’re in a downpour. Quickly donning our raingear, we wait (almost patiently) for the rain to subside. Playing the challenging 5th hole in the light rain, adds to the demands of this hole. Hurrah! The rain stops bringing sunshine and blue skies as we approach No.6. These changes from sunshine to fog to mist to rain to sunshine remind us of the typical weather when playing in Scotland and Ireland.
Now to see if we have the finesse to score well on the number 1 handicap hole a par-3, Hole No. 6. The hole requires a shot to carry the long skinny lake and then safely land somewhere on this huge green. It takes both a straight shot and proper club selection for distance. Matt hits a terrific shot and lands on the green. He sinks the long putt! A great birdie!
Playing the Back Nine
Playing the back nine under clear skies, we are able to really appreciate the spectacular 180 and even 360 degree views of the Smoky Mountain. We even spot Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The back nine starts with No. 10 a par-4 with a hazard to carry and dogleg fairway. Matt is in a zone as he easily pars this hole.
Holes 12, 13 and 14 are under construction, so we drive by these holes seeing the amazing work being done. Renovating golf course holes is a major undertaking. Seeing the work in progress, we have a better appreciation for the many aspects of design, manpower, cost, and time to make such significant improvements to a golf course. An even more demanding job for a mountain golf course.
On the mountaintop of Hole No. 15, a par-4 it is ALL downhill. Being Floridians, it is challenging to decide the proper club selection with downhill and uphill fairways. Thankfully, the GPS provides good strategies for playing the hole. Awesome, Richard and I are great shape with our drives. Matt over clubbed and goes out of bounds in the forest to the left. It is still a challenge for proper club selection to the green. Hurray, I make my par! Putting is a challenge on the greens today as often we are having 3-putts.
No. 18 a downhill dogleg left with fairway bunkers is a fantastic finishing hole. First the 360 degree views are absolutely spectacular. This is a photo opportunity, so grab your smart phone and snap some pictures of the view and golfers. Most of us are visual people. Yes a picture is work a 1000 words. Matt and I have great shots giving us a clean shot to the green. Richard is in a fairway bunker (a long walk from the cart path). Matt finishes with a par while Richard and I attempt to be content with bogeys. Still a fun finish to this demanding and challenging golf course.
Fantastic Golf & Mountain Vistas
Sequoyah National is an awesome golf course in the Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina. The course offers some of the most fantastic panoramic mountain vistas including the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Challenges abound on this mountain course so golfers of any level will be thrilled as each hole tests ones golf skills. Yet, all golfers will revel in the excitement of playing this dynamic course. It definitely keeps golfers on the alert for good course management. Sequoyah National continues to be a favorite mountain golf course. It is an absolutely fun course and we leave with fond memories of our day of golf even with the changing weather.
- If you go:
Sequoyah National Golf Club, 79 Cahons Road Whittier, NC 28789, Tel: 828.497.3000 - Carefully decide the best tee options for ones level of play and handicap. Afterward, Richard admitted he should have moved up on the tees, as this course, with all its terrain changes makes it play longer than it seems (for seniors anyway).
- The cart has GPS providing both instructions for playing each hole (take time to listen to it) and distances.
- Slow down and take in the magnificent scenery- take some pictures.
- After golf relax for lunch or afternoon beverage on the outdoor deck with 180 degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
- If time allows visit Cherokee, North Carolina which is rich with Native American Culture.
- Visit the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Cherokee.
Course Facts:|
Year built: 2009
Architects: Robert Trent Jones Jr and Notah Begay III
Grass: Green: Bent Grass; Fairways: Zoysia (new with change over)
Holes 18
Par: 72
Length: Black: 6,517, Gold: 6,135, Silver: 5,691, Bronze: 5,235, Jade: 4,572
Slope: 139, Rating: 71.3