Thrilling Golf in the Southern Appalachian Mountains
Imagine standing on a tee box high above a verdant fairway bordered with trees. Decisions! What club is best to safely reach the fairway far below? Golfers must prepare to make decisions and guesstimates when golfing the beautiful Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Nestled in these infamous mountains, golf courses challenge golfers of any level and leave a lasting impression of the excitement of mountain golf. With year round temperate climate, breathtaking views, and welcoming southern hospitality, players will be astounded with the variety of challenges of each course. Golfers will leave with tales of triumph or tribulation playing golf courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Springtime has us ready to again tackle the challenges of mountain golf courses in the Maggie Valley area of western North Carolina. On this getaway we are thrilled to play the Maggie Valley Golf Course, Springdale and Sequoyah National. Visiting in May, the courses are in good condition while also featuring breathtaking views of the mountains luxuriant with new spring foliage and wild flowers. Each course has its uniqueness creating an exciting golf experience and the nuances of mountain golf.
MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB & RESORT
The Course
An 18-hole 6500 yard par-72, the Maggie Valley course features a flat Valley Nine before transitioning to a new challenge with the 800-foot rise on the Mountain Nine. Offering four sets of tees, players of all skill levels will delight in playing this course that has been welcoming guests for many years. Having played the course in the past, we are familiar with some of the nuances of the golf course. The Pro Shop has a friendly staff that quickly checks us in for a thrilling day of golf on a Carolina blue sky day.
The Front Nine – Valley Nine
Teeing off on No. 1 a par-4, with a wide open fairway to the green with no major hazards or obstruction, initially this seems an easy hole. Staying in the center is a must as long hitters with fades or hooks find an element of drama. As the course winds through the valley, there are many aspects to consider. No. 2 a par-4 features a side-hill fairway to a huge elevated double level green and bunkers to avoid. Then a 90-degree dogleg left on the par-4, No. 3 has long hitters going into a bunker or creek beyond the fairway. Hurrah! I par it!
Challenges continue with holes that have creeks crossing fairways that aren’t always visible from the tee box. A long par-3 on No. 7 is 229 yards from blue tees with gold tees at 172 yards. The finishing hole is an uphill par-3 to a green not visible from the tee box. Challenging to judge distance to green and not roll over or off the green. Take extra club to reach this elevated green.
The Back Nine – Mountain Nine
The back 9 adds the complexity of uphill or downhill holes, greens with undulations, and deciding best club selection for mountain golf. Putting is especially difficult on the back nine with the impact of the mountains coming into play. Our first really mountain hole is No. 11 a Par-4 featuring an elevated double tier green.
Our second shots are short with balls landing in the steep front hillside below the green. It is difficult to extricate the ball and reach the undulating green. From here holes are uphill and downhill. Reaching the elevated greens on the long uphill fairways also creates a new dimension for us flatland golfers. Shots too long on some greens roll off the back or slide off the front.
A fun par-3 is No. 15 an all downhill shot from elevated tee boxes. Judging distance is essential as this hole plays longer to the massive green. Richard drives the green! An awesome par! A unique hole is No. 17 a dogleg left with the green barely visible from the tee boxes. UNBELIEVABLE! I drive the green! From the forward tees it is 200 yards (remember I’m a senior golfer and 150 yards is my max on drives). Cutting the corner, my drive flies over the corner and lands short of the green. While golfers are putting on the green, my ball rolls past them. It’s a 3 putt for a par. The finishing hole is a demanding par-5 with water crossing the fairway twice. Club selection is paramount to play this hole well. It is a fun day of mountain golf at Maggie Valley Club & Resort. Afterwards we celebrate our successes at the Pin High Grille with spectacular views of the golf course and surrounding mountains.
Note: Maggie Valley Club & Resort offers a variety of accommodations at the course. Avid golfers will want to check out their Stay & Play Packages.
SPRINGDALE COUNTRY CLUB
The Course
An 18-hole, par 72 course that stretches more than 6,800 yards from wide open fairways on the front nine to gradual elevation changes of the back nine toward Rocky Face Mountain. Springdale at Cold Mountain was purchased by the West Family in March 2018. Their goal is to create a boutique mountain resort. The new owners tackled getting the course in shape first such as reversing the front nine and back nine, adding bunkers, and addressing improvements to the golf course. New construction is underway for the Clubhouse, Tavern, Pro Shop, Fitness Center, pools, and more. The new facilities will open the fall of 2021. Golfers should definitely check out the Stay & Play Packages of this exciting Resort in the shadow of Cold Mountain – one of North Carolina’s highest and most beautiful peaks.
The Front Nine
The front nine meanders through the valley bordering the east fork of the Pigeon River and mountains such as Sugar Top and Rocky Face. Teeing off on No. 1, we see the parklike setting of the Front Nine. A par-4 with a slight dogleg right, gives the impression of simplicity with lush fairways and greens. Creeks, ponds, bunkers and trees come into play on some holes and may not be visible from the tees. So we carefully check the card with the hole-layouts. Plus knowing the green depth helps a bit with judging distances. The first few holes provide subtle challenges. No. 4 is a scenic par-4 that has a pond and bunker protecting the green and great view of a mountain as a backdrop. Getting our golf groove, we approach No. 6 a par-4 slight downhill dogleg left. The card shows a pond on the left that is a must to avoid and is not visible from the tee box. Ugh! My ball is attracted to the pond.
Arriving at No. 9 an exciting par-5 downhill to a creek running in front of the green. First we take in the views from the tees then are happy with bogeys.
The Back Nine
Now to experience the back nine as it winds through the mountains with elevations of 3,200 feet and breathtaking views of Cold Mountain. Standing on the tee box of No. 10, we see what appears to be wide open fairway. What looks like a perfect shot, quickly disappears in the creek crossing the fairway. The back nine definitely brings in a lot more elevation changes adding plenty of challenge to the golf course. Be prepared for up and downhill holes with creeks cutting across fairways. “Springdale Spasm” is the infamous name for No. 13. This 425 yard par-4 definitely tests your mental health and golf skills. It demands a strong tee shot and a “thread the needle” approach to the elevated green protected by bunkers. A funny thing happens on the par-3 No. 17. Shanking my tee shot to the right, the shot now requires staying under the tree, going over the bridge, and avoiding the creek to reach the green. Hurrah! My second shot lands easily on the green! An amazing par. Richard remarks, “Most golfers wouldn’t play it that way.”
The eighteenth hole is the grand finale on this dynamic golf course. This par-5 is a long downhill dogleg left with an elevated green and a creek crossing the fairway. A great hole that tests our golf skills, stamina and patience. We thoroughly enjoy playing Springdale. The course definitely presents plenty of challenges while being exciting and enjoyable. Overall the course is in good condition and offers sets of tees to fit golfers of all levels. In addition to a really good course, take a few minutes to admire the scenery of the surrounding mountains. We look forward to a return visit after the renovations are complete. With the Clubhouse under construction, we head to BearWaters Brewing Company – Riverside in Canton, NC to celebrate our FUN day of mountain golf.
SEQUOYAH NATIONAL
The Course
Be prepared for some of the most challenging golf in the Smoky Mountains at Sequoyah National. A truly mountain golf course that is literally perched on a mountain top just outside Cherokee, NC. Having played Sequoyah previously, we “hope” that we are ready to tackle this challenging, fun, and scenic golf course. Vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains are seen from each hole with panoramic views from the holes at the top at Sequoyah. The course is really exhilarating to play and the challenges of this mountain course will delight golfers of all levels with its five sets of tees. Playing from the Black tees it is 6480 yards.
The Front Nine
A fabulous starting hole has us high above the fairway with awesome views of the Great Smoky Mountains. This par-5 hole perched on the mountain top prepares us for the excitement of playing a true mountain course. Around the corner is a par-3 over a gorge on Hole No. 2. That is followed by a long par-5 dogleg par-5 on Hole No. 3 that is cart path only. As the course winds around the mountains each hole adds a new perspective of gorges to cross, elevated greens with undulation and even unexpected creeks. Thankfully there are a few valley type holes.
Approaching Hole No. 6 a par-3, we are excited this is a flat area. Beware, there is a large pond to cross, bunkers, and hazards to add to the challenge. Then a hazard to carry and this long par-5 tests are skills on No. 9. Bogeys are acceptable for us.
The Back Nine
Some holes were closed last year when we played, so this year is exciting to experience all 18 holes. Each hole brings a unique demand. The back nine brings some new and different challenges to golf Sequoyah. Playing two par-5’s in a row on No. 11 and No. 12, has us really focusing to play these holes well. On the 12th hole a hazard of a creek in front of the green brings drama. A favorite hole for us is the scenic and impressive Hole. No. 15 a par-4. Featuring a major elevation drop with woods on both sides of the fairway. The views of the Great Smoky Mountains are fantastic. Refocusing on our shots, we realize long shots are lost in the woods across the fairway. Just estimating the proper club and direction is a challenge. The next couple of holes give a sense of calm on basically flat terrain, but still have challengers of undulating greens that poorly placed shots have balls roll off.
Then No. 18 again has an elevation change and magnificent panoramic vistas. Here the dogleg left downhill hole has bunkers in the middle that look like a bear’s paw. Be sure that the GPS is working on your golf cart. Ours did not work creating extra challenge of not knowing details of each hole. There a many memorable holes requiring proper club selection from tees perched high above the fairway or elevated greens with major undulation. Next stop is Casino at Harrah’s Cherokee seeking to be winners at a different game.
Golfing in the Southern Appalachians is terrific. We definitely leave with tales of triumph and tribulation of our golfing in the mountains. Each course brings its own uniqueness and mountain splendor. Go to the mountains to experience some of the most demanding, scenic, and FUN golf courses. Plus the weather is cooler, too.