One of the many locations Smoky Mountain Retreat has been able to acquire homes, is the beautiful gated community of Laurel Ridge. We are able to provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy a stunning 18-hole golf course, as well as several other country club amenities.
Located only minutes from Waynesville, NC, the area is home to tons of outdoor enthusiasts. People who visit the area or looking to move to the area are able to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, white water rafting, fishing and fly fishing, and sightseeing. Even as the weather turns colder, you are able to find activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
The scenery is majestic with rolling hills and meadows. Because the weather stays comfortable year-round, this course is open 12 months a year. In the summer Waynesville averages 70 degrees, and throughout the winter there is an average of 40 degrees. The fairways are a combination of 90% bent grass and 10% blue grass; with the greens and tees being a mixture of bent grasses.
Laurel Ridge Country Clubs’ golf course was created by the great Bob Cupp. Cupp was the chief designer for Jack Nicholas for 15 years before he broke off to create his own firm. Some of the courses Cupp has designed have hosted over 50 national and international tournaments. He has also had several of his courses selected for the Top 100 courses list.
This course is everything you would expect from a mountain course. Tough, but entirely playable. There are inclines and hills and rolling fairways which will test your skill to play from an uneven lie. Starting in early April, the course begins to turn a beautiful green, as the trees surrounding you are beginning to bloom. It stays beautiful all the way through October as the leaves begin to turn beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. There are reflective ponds, streams, a mix of sand and grass bunkers all working together to create an extremely enjoyable 18-hole course.
Cupp’s goal of the course was for each player to remember their game. If the player is able to see the shot, then they are able to remember the shot. If they are able to do this, then word of mouth is able to help spread how enjoyable a golf course is. This is true for Laurel Ridge; several holes stand out in each golfer’s mind.
While Laurel Ridge seems to be the leading course in the area, there are several other golf courses worth mentioning.
Number 4. It is a par 4 that plays 363 yards downhill from the white tees. There is a stream crossing about 255 yards out from the box. If you feel as though you may not be able to play over the stream, there is another way. You can consider a shot that plays uphill to an elevated green, bordered by grass bunkers. This path obviously creates its own challenges.
Number 7. This is a par 5 that plays 508 yards from the white tees. You have to hit the ball about 160 yards to stay clear of the water. The fairway slopes right to left, but you should try to find the right center because it will give you the best view of the green. You will have to figure out how to avoid the creek which rambles through the left side before splitting in front of the green. It is said that playing this hole without penalty is an achievement!
Number 15. This is another par 5. From the white tees you are at 538 yards, but it is suggested (if you are not playing for money) to go from the blacks of 609 yards. If you are able to get a ferocious drive and can get your ball over the plateau; you can gain an extra 80 yards, and possibly make it to the greens in two swings. You want to hit the ball low. Anything short of 100 yards will leave you will a downhill lie approach. Again, the greens slope left to right. It may seem easy, as there are no sand bunkers, but there is a lot of mounding grass to provide complications.
Number 18. From the white tees this is a par 4 that plays at 386 yards. There are two hills on either side of the tee you should try to split between the two but favor the right side. If you miss the fairway then you will most likely be dealing with trees. Your mid-length shot is marginally downhill and plays over a creek. The green is wider than it is deep. If you are able to shoot par on this hole, you should consider yourself a winner for the day.
If you are not interested in a day at the golf course, then Laurel Ridge has several other amenities you can choose from. Laurel Ridge is also located near the beautiful town of Waynesville, which is known for it’s walk-able streets and friendly folks. You can find anything from boutiques to farm-to-table dining in the beautiful downtown Waynesville area.
Contact Smoky Mountain Retreat to experience the magic of the mountains firsthand.