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Though I'm fairly familiar with the region in question, at least around Franklin (it is an area I absolutely love, what with the mountains, gem mining, and everything) I'm not too familiar with golf in the region. We were just up there for an interview for my husband in Bryson City, and if jobs don't come through soon here for either of us locally, we will definitely take this one if it does-- if we have to relocate, it is at the top of the list. Anyhow, mainly looking for recommendations for more inexpensive courses in the area... even if we do not have to relocate, I'd be interested in opinions, as once things get financially settled we may want to plan trips for the future.

Thanks!

Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk is a great course with beautiful views. That's a beautiful part of the country!

Thank you for the recommendation! I noticed on a quick search it is up near Boone-- love that town, too; my grandparents used to rent a cabin up there in the summer. Yep, that area of the country is so gorgeous! Love the mountains... though we'd be sacrificing mild FL winters, I'd finally get more chances to snowboard, at least!

My grandmother and aunt live in the shadows of Sugar...golf around there is great...for about 6 months out of the year! I visited in late May a few years ago and to my suprise the brisk mid 50s late spring day quickly changed to a snowshower while I was on the course...Boone Golf Club is the best bargain around with good maintainence and a fairly challenging and interesting set up...

Thanks! Hehe, yep, I have a feeling having an actual change of seasons will take some getting used to. I'm a FL native, and actually love the hot, sticky summers we have-- I can handle walking 18 in 'em with no problem, but am quite cold intolerant. Well, guess I will adjust, lol, and the winters in N.C. will beat some of the other places we thought jobs might come through, like upstate NY and Northern WI!

I live in the area and work in Sylva. Unfortunately, Franklin only has one course, Mill Creek, which is a decent course. There are lots of very nice private golf clubs in the area and some public courses. Highlands has one course open to the public, Highlands Cove which is a good course. I've heard of courses that are decent in Waynesville and Lake Junaluska, but haven't played there yet. I haven't been west of Franklin, so I don't know much about the courses there. I heard Smoky Mountain country club re-opened its back nine just recently and I think its open to the public. For inexpensive courses, I go down to South Carolina, but thats a little ways from Bryson City
The winters aren't too bad here (I came from Southern Calif), some snow and freezing temps, but I understand it used to be a lot worse. Let me know if you need more info on the area!

Great, and thank you for the info!

Actually, Sylva is one of the areas we are looking at for apartments-- with the housing market so bad down here right now, we really don't want to sell our home, so we'd need to rent. But I see that the area up there is pretty high on rents... we did find a really nice, new apartment complex in Rabun Gap, GA, right near the state border, with very good rents and a pretty location, but it is almost an hour from Bryson City so we'll need to be looking at closer stuff if it comes through. The Bryson City website shows the Asheville average rents, which are good, but that is definitely too far a drive.

The Boone area has some really great courses. Hound ears CC is a very well kept track with lots of elevation changes and a fun layout.

And Diamond creek......wow......perhaps the best course i've ever played. Too bad its hard to find (hidded in a remote valley in the Banner elk area), and even harder to get on.