Courtesy of the club
Linville Ridge
Overview
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.
About
Awards
ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in North Carolina from 1987-'89; Top 10 in 1991; Top 15 from 1993-'95 & 2017-'20; Top 20 from 1997-'99, 2023-'26; Top 25 from 2001-'03, 2011-'16, & 2021-'22.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 20th.
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
“Two words summarize Linville Ridge in the North Carolina high county near Boone, above Linville and Banner Elk. Impeccable. Spectacular. At 4949-feet, the course plays, looks and feels as rarified as its clean mountain air. It has steep elevation changes and fair-but-challenging shots. Vistas extend miles beyond the fairways. Every hole is memorable, especially the 303-353-yard, par-4, 15th. It’s a slight dogleg right, moderately uphill, with a blind tee shot to or beyond that corner. Your approach plays into an infinity-style green perched against a background of mountains and sky. Linville Ridge is not a walking course. Long distances and vertical treks separate some holes. That’s the price for natural routings in every possible direction. They flow with rhythm across a landscape of massive boulders, rolling grasses of varying lengths, and eye-popping modern homes. Despite the visual challenges, this is a members’ course with nine sets of tees for men and women. They play from 4500-6518 yards. Course ratings range from 67.2 to 72.5, and slopes from 121 to 139. In short, the layout can be intimidating in places, but remains playable for just about anyone. Linville Ridge’s conditioning is like that of a high mountain garden meadow. This is where the word ‘impeccable’ comes in. They even trim the turf around those large boulders. Fairways? Mostly hard and fast. Bunkers? Perfect, except for some random, excessively penal, small pot bunkers that make no strategic sense. Pitching areas and fringes of greens? Uncannily pristine leading up to and around the greens. Putting surfaces? Very receptive. They're forgivingly large in places, with challenging breaks, ideal speeds, and true rolls. Combine those elements and we have the makings of perennial high in-state rankings. Linville Ridge deserves the accolades."
Read More2025
Review
“Two words summarize Linville Ridge in the North Carolina high county near Boone, above Linville and Banner Elk. Impeccable. Spectacular. At 4949-feet, the course plays, looks and feels as rarified as its clean mountain air. It has steep elevation changes and fair-but-challenging shots. Vistas extend miles beyond the fairways. Every hole is memorable, especially the 303-353-yard, par-4, 15th. It’s a slight dogleg right, moderately uphill, with a blind tee shot to or beyond that corner. Your approach plays into an infinity-style green perched against a background of mountains and sky. Linville Ridge is not a walking course. Long distances and vertical treks separate some holes. That’s the price for natural routings in every possible direction. They flow with rhythm across a landscape of massive boulders, rolling grasses of varying lengths, and eye-popping modern homes. Despite the visual challenges, this is a members’ course with nine sets of tees for men and women. They play from 4500-6518 yards. Course ratings range from 67.2 to 72.5, and slopes from 121 to 139. In short, the layout can be intimidating in places, but remains playable for just about anyone. Linville Ridge’s conditioning is like that of a high mountain garden meadow. This is where the word ‘impeccable’ comes in. They even trim the turf around those large boulders. Fairways? Mostly hard and fast. Bunkers? Perfect, except for some random, excessively penal, small pot bunkers that make no strategic sense. Pitching areas and fringes of greens? Uncannily pristine leading up to and around the greens. Putting surfaces? Very receptive. They're forgivingly large in places, with challenging breaks, ideal speeds, and true rolls. Combine those elements and we have the makings of perennial high in-state rankings. Linville Ridge deserves the accolades."
Read More2025
Review
“A wonderful golf course with outstanding views. Playing in the mountains is a very fun experience. The course was in immaculate condition. I highly recommend this course."
Read More2022
Review
“On top of the mountain, the course has some outstanding views. First hole if straight down the mountain. Lots of elevation changes as you work you way around the course which give you some interesting shots to execute."
Read More2022
Review
“Nice mountain course with good elevation changes. Really good conditions. The houses get the dry land and the course can be wet due to the drainage of the homes down onto the course."
Read More2018
