Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Braedon Fox
Braedon Fox
Braedon Fox
Braedon Fox
Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club
Cashiers, NC • Private
Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club
1638 High Mountain Dr
Cashiers, NC 28717
United States
Overview
Unlike nearby Wade Hampton Golf Club, the Tom Fazio design that was routed through natural valleys to forego the need for dynamite, Mountaintop was blasted from solid rock. Some holes were forged through slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, like the par-4 sixth, edged by a 30-foot-high wall of granite on the right. Conservative estimates are that all that rock removal raised the cost of construction of this continuous-18 layout to $1 million per hole. The opening tee shot drops 100 feet, and six holes also play over a deep gorge formed by Hurricane Creek. Mountaintop proves there is no property too rugged for Tom Fazio.
About
Awards
Ranking History:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2017.
Previous ranking: 111th.
2025-'26 ranking: 116th.
100 Greatest: Ranked from 2011-'16.
Highest ranking: 74th, 2011-'12.
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in North Carolina from 2011-'26; Top 10 since 2009.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 5th.
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
“Beautiful mountain course with terrific front nine. Some beautiful par 3's."
Read More2023
Review
“Quite the experience and with some unbelievable views. This course is long but fair because it's not too tight. It is in great condition and while built by the same architect, is quite different from its neighbor, Wade Hampton."
Read More2023
Review
“Visually stunning Tom Fazio design. Has some of my favorite holes that he's designed including the Par 5 16th. Great use of the rock outcroppings to make it visually appealing. A must play in the NC Highlands."
Read More2022
Review
“One of the most fun times you'll ever have is spending a day at Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club."
Read More2022
Review
“Great mountain golf course. Outstanding conditions with a super layout. Lots of elevations and interesting holes."
Read More2022
Review
“This is one special mountain retreat with great golf and execptional amenities."
Read More2019
Review
“Excellent use of mountain terrain. Most of the tee box are elevated and tee shot hits down the mountain to the fairway. Great conditions. They have the discovery land company comfort stations midway between each front and back nines. Special place! Extra nice finishes on the course, like small tees in a box with yardages on them (picture included), rock with a plaque of all the holes in one on that par three."
Read More2018
