Hole 1
The opening hole is a three-shotter at the foot of Grandfather Mountain, featuring a straight away tee shot with an immediate risk/reward on the bold player’s second. The approach narrows as you near the green and a pond, undetectable from the fairway, swallows anything that drifts to the right. The putting surface is deep, but narrow and slopes slightly from back to front. Welcome to Grandfather!
Hole 2
From the elevated tee box, the fairway is defined by a supporting hillside on the left and big trouble on the right. Avoid the fairway bunkers down the right side for an ideal approach to a green that angles left. Take care attacking the back pins as the green slopes away sharply in the rear and back right. Ellis Maples’ signature swales and contours accent the left side of the green complex.
Hole 3
A downhill, ‘caddywampus’ tee shot that slopes to the right but angles to the left. Known as a “reverse-slope” par 4, it is best to shape the tee shot from right to left. The green pitches sharply to the right and to the front, where weak approaches may feed back down. Level par is a good score here. And, be sure to glance at the pristine creek on your right, as you leave the tee box area.
Hole 4
This long 4-par plays uphill then slightly downhill, demanding a drive which must be carved to the right into a generous fairway. The slightly downhill approach affords a full view of the green flanked by bunkers, where everything slopes to the right. Don’t forget to look back. Mountain views surround you.
Hole 5
The first par 3 is a beauty, with massive trees that both envelope and dwarf the green complex. From the elevated tee, the hole gives way to a creek before meandering up to the ridge to a putting surface that is wide, but not deep. Club selection here is a challenge, and the right front bunker is always in play. Note the subtle collection areas behind the putting surface. As you cross the bridge, be sure to look right, a mountain stream like no other.
Hole 6
Our second three shot hole demands a right to left tee shot over a creek into an expansive fairway. The dangers of crossing the creek a second time are softened by level landing areas setting up the approach. But beware of that lazy little stream straddling the right side of the fairway. Your third shot must find an elevated green that is deep, narrow, and well protected by bunkers on both flanks. Take a minute, as you play the hole, and enjoy your first vista of Grandfather Mountain.
Hole 7
Sneaky long from any tee box, this scenic mountain-valley par 4 surprises players with great shot values. The hole demands an accurate tee shot following by a laser-like approach. The green easily repels shots into bunkers on each side of the putting surface, and back pin locations fall slightly away to the rear. And again, there’s that familiar creek running down the right side just inside the tree line.
Hole 8
Another breathtaking view of Grandfather Mountain comes at the onset of this memorable par 4. The fairway rises to a plateau green, protected by bunkers on the left and a hillside on the right. The slopes conspire to produce subtle breaks in the putting surface, especially in the front. Views are all around. Listen, you’ll hear the water flowing over the dam before you see it just left of the green.
Hole 9
Golfers ascend to this one-shotter, playing from a slightly elevated tee to a green sloping front to back. The central feature is a tranquil pond. Edged by boulders hewn from the surrounding hillsides, it defines the left side of the green. There is no forced carry, but water is in play, to be sure.
Hole 10
An uphill par 4 from tee to green, steer clear of the fairway bunker and drive it down the left side. And, hit an extra club for your second shot. The hole plays longer than it appears on the card. A large maple tree guards the right side of the green with bunkers waiting on the left. A false front guards its approach and the back of the putting surface falls away, so don’t be overly aggressive. Take a few extra seconds while on the tee box, glance up and enjoy the view of mountain tops straight ahead.
Hole 11
Backside’s first par 5 offers numerous options once the tee shot is placed. The fall-away fairway demands a decision from aggressive players: Go for it in two or lay up. Avoid the meandering creek waiting warily short of the green, and you are rewarded. The challenge for those that play safe is a third shot pitch from a downhill lie to the tabletop green.
Hole 12
This one-shot hole demands a carry of the rugged, boulder-lined creek to a two-tiered green. Greenside bunkers make for a challenging up and down. Green slopes from right to left. Indeed, this is what mountain golf should be.
Hole 13
Picturesque and dramatically downhill, this par 4 features a creek, running diagonally across the fairway just beyond the landing area for most drives.. The approach is slightly uphill to a green that slopes back to front. Your naked eye will fool you, so play the yardage and hit a half a club extra. Views from the tee are forever real.
Hole 14
The last of the par 3’s, its main defense is a creek bordering the left side. The putting surface is flanked with bunkers and grows ever narrower toward the rear. Back off a club when pins are tucked in this narrow neck of the green. Par is always a good score here.
Hole 15
A short, two-shot hole with water running down the entire left side. Length, another creek diagonally crosses the fairway short of the green. The green is a turtle-back, so once putting, pace is the key. Close-cut collar and approach right of the green is a popular bail-out. While greenside, look up and to your left for a view of the Grandfather Mountain from a different perspective.
Hole 16
A virtual 90-degree dogleg right, the second of three par fours on the home stretch lends a hand to the well-shaped tee ball A left to right drive shortens the approach. But, beware of the creek crossing at the bottom of the hill. The green slopes dramatically towards the right rear and is protected by a large white pine short of the green. Bunkers guard its right side.
Hole 17
This three-shotter requires course management from tee to green. The island fairway slopes hard to the left and is protected by bisecting creeks. The second shot is a position play to facilitate the short approach. The receptive green is wide, but shallow in depth, requiring precise distance control. Your skills will be tested, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hole 18
The par 4 finishing hole bends slightly right and meanders down to a green hanging precariously along lake’s edge. From the tee, favor the left side. Fairway and approach both slope to the right, increasing the danger of finding the water. The green falls away to the rear, so it’s best to hit your ball short of the flag and let the ball run-out to the hole. At the green, do a 360 and take in the views, including our inviting clubhouse.
