Best golf courses near Boone, NC

While architecture purists scoff at the notion of waterfalls on golf courses, there is something magnificent about a cascading water feature done right. Few are as effective as the one behind the par-3 17th green at Diamond Creek. Tom Fazio positioned the green nearly at the base of a sheer granite quarry wall, down which a slender stream of water drops more than 100 feet. Amazingly, the club entrance’s drive is also at the base of the quarry wall, hidden from view on the 17th as effectively as Fazio hides his cart paths.

Situated at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the Elk River Club, home to Jack Nicklaus’s first golf course design in North Carolina. The course, which debuted in 1984, follows the natural slopes and undulations of the landscape as players traverse 1,200 feet of elevation change alongside the Elk River amidst the tranquil North Carolina pine forest. Wide driving areas reveal stunning views of the surrounding mountains, while difficult putting surfaces showcase large slopes and fast conditions, meaning accurate approaches aid in enjoying this stunning golf course.

Back when Grandfather Golf & Country Club made the 100 Greatest in 2001, we wrote, “This is a Grandfather we haven’t seen often enough ... a reminder of the architectural talent of the late Ellis Maples ... With roughs of rocks and rhododendron amid ever-present hemlocks, and sweeping greens guarded by bold bunkers, Grandfather feels like home. Maybe this time he’ll stay.” He didn’t, dropping off in 2011. But Grandfather made it back on in 2015, only to slip to the Second 100 Greatest in 2017, despite some remodeling by Bobby Weed in 2016. Will it ever climb the summit again? Who knows, but it helps that there is probably no more attractive mountain course anywhere in the rankings. Never count this Grandfather out.

Linville Golf Club was originally founded in 1892 and is one of the oldest clubs in North Carolina. Originally designed by Donald Ross in 1924, the course traverses over steep Blue Ridge Mountain terrain, featuring an out-and-back design where players ascend over steep terrain before heading back down, all the while being flanked by clear, flowing creeks that often dissect fairways. Known for its challenging and demanding green complexes, the standout hole at Linville is the par-4 third with a fairway split three times by a running creek, and an elevated green with a raised center, repelling all but perfectly struck iron shots.

The George Cobb-designed Linville Ridge Golf Course is set among the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains and sits almost 5,000 feet above sea level. The almost 60-year-old golf course underwent extensive renovation in 2008, commissioning Bobby Weed to add a more natural and rugged feel to the layout. The course features fairways and greens that follow the land's natural contours with borders of dense vegetation and exposed rock walls giving the players an aura of seclusion and tranquility. While the course surroundings can relax the mind, fast sloped greens and dramatic holes like the par-3 16th playing 110-feet downhill quickly refocus any golfer's attention.