Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of the club
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Brian Gomsak
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Courtesy of Laurence Lambrecht
Wayne Freedman
Grandfather Golf & Country Club
Grandfather Golf & Country Club
2120 US Highway 105 South
Linville, NC 28646
United States
Overview
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.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked from 2015-'24.
100 Greatest: Ranked from 1971-'78, 1993-'94, 2001-'10, & 2013-'14.
Highest ranking: 65th, 2007-'08.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in North Carolina from 1977-'85 & 1993-2009; Top 10 in 1987 & since 2011.
Previous ranking: 8th.
2025-'26 ranking: 10th.
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
“This private club is a Perry Maxwell masterpiece. Standard superlatives don't do it justice, especially in perfect weather with the fall colors beginning to show. This is a golf course that feels like an enclave surrounded by spectacular North Carolina mountains near Banner Elk. The Grandfather Golf and Country Club's Championship course checks every box in our criteria. That's a tall task, especially for a mountain layout. From tees to greens, golfers execute shots that can be both demanding and inspiring. Perry Maxwell's routing never feels forced. Elevation changes are constant but not overwhelming. With seven sets of teeing grounds ranging rom 5681 to 7047 yards, the course is playable and walkable for most anyone. Maxwell worked with the landscape. He even used massive boulders in place of fairway bunkers, sometimes with near disastrous results. Should you receive an invite to this very exclusive and magical golf course, just go!"
Read More2025
Review
“This private club is a Perry Maxwell masterpiece. Standard superlatives don't do it justice, especially in perfect weather with the fall colors beginning to show. This is a golf course that feels like an enclave surrounded by spectacular North Carolina mountains near Banner Elk. The Grandfather Golf and Country Club's Championship course checks every box in our criteria. That's a tall task, especially for a mountain layout. From tees to greens, golfers execute shots that can be both demanding and inspiring. Perry Maxwell's routing never feels forced. Elevation changes are constant, but never overwhelming. With seven sets of teeing grounds ranging rom 5681 to 7047 yards, the course is playable and walkable for most anyone. Maxwell worked with the landscape. He even used massive boulders in place of fairway bunkers, sometimes with near disastrous results. Should you receive an invite to this very exclusive and magical golf course, just go!"
Read More2025
Review
“Despite losing a lot of trees in the hurricane, they have managed quite well to maintain the character of the holes and their difficulty . Altered some water features and created some turf changes."
Read More2025
Review
“Fun, beautiful and stunning mountain course."
Read More2024
Review
“Private club but the opportunity to play should not be passed up if offered! To be at the foot of Grandfather Mountain provides a unique backdrop for the course and its dense forests. The Linville River meanders throughout the property requiring thought for going for par 5s in two or laying up off the tee. Singular pines and hemlocks native to the area shape the holes and natural rock outcroppings are well placed also shaping the holes. These features would bring me back regularly if I could."
Read More2023
Review
“Challenging course with natural streams and rock outcroppings. Wonderful greens that can be very tricky. Lots of class."
Read More2023
Review
“Nice setting in the mountains. Course is a good test of golf in all aspects."
Read More2023
Review
“Overall, the course is visually stunning with views of Grandfather Mountain on literally every hole. The fairways are generally wide but somewhat deceiving in that you have to be in the correct area off the drive to set up either your second shot into the green or your second shot on a longer part five. The greens are in general quite large and have huge slopes and undulations. Like many courses, the pin placement dictates the first shot placement and definitely the second or approach shot. There are a few holes where it is possible to run the shot up onto the green and others it is not the best shot to run it up onto the green. The green complexes are visually incredible and allow numerous pin placements, which dictate the type of approach shot. There are areas though on the greens that are so steep that a pin placement is not possible. There are pin placements where the break is often between 10 and 15 feet, and other pin placements where being above pin on the green is almost an automatic 3 putt, unless one is quite careful. The hazards in the fairways and around the green, are visually intimidating; they are generally deep but they are fair and for the scratch golfer a good recovery shot is most often possible. I walked away from the course and remembered many more holes than in a typical round of golf, where one generally only remembers the first few and the later holes. The design of this Ellis Maples course is noted, like many of his others, for its subtlety and simplicity and built to fit the land. Some have noted that the Maples courses were built from high point to high point and take advantage of the natural landscape, and that certainly shows in Grandfather. Again, in many of his courses, the bunkers are built for framing and direction and you feel that at Grandfather also. Even with the terrain, it is possible (and preferable) to walk the course and experience the surroundings even more so. In its subtlety and simplicity and beauty, the uniqueness of Grandfather is memorable."
Read More2023
Review
“Views/quality experience and then add the design and test of the golf, a great place to play."
Read More2022
Review
“The course offers a nice challenge in elevation changes and beautiful views of the mountains including Grandfather Mountain and the mile high bridge. I highly recommend playing this course. It was a very wonderful experience."
Read More2022
