Golf In Asheville, North Carolina

Nestled among the perky peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachians, Asheville in western North Carolina is one of the country's hippest cities. Inspired by the region's natural beauty and a climate where the average annual temperate is a moderate 58 degrees, many well-known artists call Asheville home.

Believing the fresh mountain air and clear waters helped cure what was then called "consumption" ("TB") many came here in the late 1800s and early 1900s to get well. Sanitariums and health spas sprung up at a good rate. Asheville's reputation as a fabulous mountain destination spread attracting famous people like the Vanderbilts, William Jennings Bryan and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Resorts and grand homes were built. And so the city grew.

Today the energized downtown has dozens of sidewalk cafés and trendy bars, trolleys, more than 30 art galleries, a wonderful collection of art deco buildings and dozens of craft shops, open air markets and boutiques. Five colleges are located in Asheville and "Barons" named Asheville one of the Top Ten Best Places to Retire.

In order to keep Asheville as authentic and eclectic as possible, there is an ongoing effort to promote the growth of one-of-a-kind places like the Appalachian Craft Center, the Chocolate Fetish (yummy truffles), Biltmore Coffee Company and Beads and Beyond.

From just about anywhere in Asheville, vistas are extraordinary, vineyards march over hills, golf courses hunker in valleys and the Festival of Flowers welcomes each new spring.

Golfers will find more than ten scenic courses, many with impressive designer pedigrees. Best known is Grove Park Inn's historic Donald Ross track framed by views of Sunset Mountains. Built in 1924, the parkland-style track with strategically located bunkers and rolling greens, is lined by mature trees and features some mild elevations. (Hint- don't trust your eyes: everything breaks away from the mountains.)

A few miles' drive up and around some pretty steep bends, Mount Mitchell Golf Course is a scenic treat in the Toe River Valley characterized by tight rolling fairways and tall trees.

Reems Creek Golf Club sits in a valley surround by Blue Ridge Mountains with a Scottish Highland look and Lake Lure, a beautiful mountain course, lies southeast of Asheville.

Asheville is the perfect destination for golfers who want both the opportunity to play the game on fine designer tracks plus interesting things to do from wine tasting to hiking and art browsing.

Those into healthy eating will love the choices they find in Asheville thanks to a huge farm-to-table movement with a big nod to organically grown foods and locally crafted beer. Many of the area's top chefs visit farmers' tailgate markets for their fruits and vegetables along with free-range and hormone-free meats.

Be sure to visit The Biltmore Estate and Winery that is housed in a renovated dairy on the grounds of the 8,000-acre former Vanderbilt estate with its exquisite 250-room French chateau with more than 40 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. Visit the winery and fuel up at the European-style Bistro. Dishes are created in the sophisticated open kitchen where the day's harvest is sautéed and stirred, grilled and flavored with themes of the region. Much of the meat and produce comes from their own farms and gardens.

Where to Stay

Asheville has one of the country's largest collections of Victorian B&Bs, and most major hotel chains are represented. But if grand is what you crave, book into the majestic granite castle-like Grove Park Inn Resort. Sitting on a crest looking out to pine-clad hills and swooping down to Ross's scenic golf course below, Grove Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The resort has hosted many famous guests including eight presidents, Robin Williams, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Patrick Swayze.

The lobby area can hold 1,000 people and fireplaces can fit 20 adults standing up. Now there's a castle!

One of the most indulgent on-site perks is the 40,000 square foot, $42 million spa considered one of the best in the country. It has a grotto pool framed by two waterfalls and a lap pool where you can flout and gaze at fiber optic stars twinkling in the rock ceiling overhead.

Off-Course

Take a drive out to the 1,000-acre Chimney Rock Park, featured in the " "Last of the Mohicans". Climb up the steps to top of a 500 million-year-old rock set on the edge of a tall mountain and catch the views 1,200 feet down to Lake Lure and out to Kings Mountain 75 miles away. Hiking trails lace the park.

And if you like music and happen to be in Asheville at the end of July, you're in for a treat. That's when Asheville's annual music and street festival, Bele Chere, takes place.

More Info

www.Exploreasheville.com