Todd Bush
Elk River Club
Elk River Club
1000 Clubhouse Drive
Banner Elk, NC 28604
United States
Overview
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.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked Top 10 in North Carolina from 1987-'91; Top 15 in 1993; Top 20 from 1995-2005, 2023-'24; Top 25 in 2007; Top 30 in 2021-'22, 2025-'26.
Previous ranking: 18th.
2025-'26 ranking: 29th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the club and Nicklaus Design faced an enormous challenge having seen live videos from a friend who is a member and on property shortly after the Hurricane. Rivers flowed down several fairways The routing remains intact, and the fundamental character of Elk River is unmistakably Nicklaus. Yet virtually every important playing component has been thoughtfully addressed. The reconstruction of the greens, tees and bunkers, combined with improved drainage and new turf surfaces, has brought a level of definition and consistency to the course. Chad Goetz and the Nicklaus Design team deserve tremendous credit for maintaining the architectural continuity of the original design while making subtle refinements where they matter. The adjustments to tees and green contours, the strategic refinement of bunkering, and the improvements to drainage have enhanced the course from its previous version. The setting remains one of Elk River’s greatest assets. The course moves through meadows, along the river and into the surrounding mountain landscape, and the loss of so many trees has unexpectedly revealed even more of the property’s natural beauty. The river continues to be an integral strategic feature rather than simply a scenic backdrop, and the contrast between the open front nine and more wooded back nine gives the course a wonderful sense of movement and variety. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the project is that, after such profound natural destruction, the course still feels the same as if it never happened. The course was in fantastic shape and truly should be recognized again as one of North Carolina's top 20."
Read More2026
Review
“A fun Nicklaus course in a beautiful setting"
Read More2026
Review
“Really Fun course to play. The front 9 is flat for a Mountain course, but has some really Good holes. The back 9 take advantage of the Elevations and is much more demanding and Fun to play."
Read More2026
Review
“Very enjoyable golf course in a pretty setting. Wonderful greens."
Read More2023
Review
“A great Nicklaus course in a wonderful setting. The grass on the course gives you the feeling your play in Dublin Ohio. Absolutely should be on your list to play if you can get on.."
Read More2023
Review
“This course is in a very nice setting in the North Carolina Mountains. I found this to be a very enjoyable place to play that while fairly challenging there was still some "buffer" that should put the player at ease and not stress as much on how difficult the course is. Of course if they had the greens at maximum speed and rough way up that would change things so there is the possibility to make this very difficult. However, from what appears to be standard conditioning in a prime time of year it was not overly difficult. The variety was good with the way the holes were set and having most the course in the valley and then some holes up the mountain. I found this to be a course I would enjoy playing very frequently and able to test new ways to approach the holes. Also, the setting in the valley of the NC mountains is very nice with the river running throughout. Conditioning was very good, which is a common theme in the NC mountains. Great climate for golf."
Read More2022
Review
“Absolutely wonderful Nicklaus design with demanding shot values and beautiful aesthetics. An underrated hidden gem. Excellent facilities and fantastic service."
Read More2019
Review
“Excellent facilities. Great clubhouse. Well designed, beautiful, mountain course. Use of creeks and the river is very strategic."
Read More2018
