A Hole-in-One Kind of Life: Golfing the Blue Ridge with Bernie Gilchrist

Let’s set the scene: a golden afternoon in May, the kind of day that feels like it was handpicked by the golf gods themselves—sunlight brushing the mountaintops just so, the breeze carrying the scent of spring and wild azalea, and the light making everything look like it had been painted by a master. It was league day at Smoky Mountain Country Club in Whittier, North Carolina—a gem tucked between the folds of the Blue Ridge, just a scenic drive from Sylva.

I was five points deep into a modest round—pars and bogeys, nothing to write home about. In our local nine-hole league, the stakes are simple but sharp: one point for a bogey, two for a par, three for birdie, five for eagle—and should the impossible happen, eight glorious points for a hole-in-one. It’s a scoring system that turns every swing into a quiet dare.

Now, if I didn’t rally soon, folks might start accusing ol’ Bernie of sandbagging. So, I stepped to the tee, the cool mountain air brushing my face like a quiet nudge from fate, and looked at that elevated green—framed by mountains older than memory—like it owed me rent.

“I need a hole-in-one,” I said aloud, half in jest, half in hope.

And wouldn’t you know it—that little white ball must’ve been eavesdropping.

A smooth swing with my 9-iron sent it soaring like a hawk catching a thermal. It landed soft, rolled true, and then... vanished. Straight into the cup. Eight points. Just like that. A miracle in real time. My buddy Craig stood there wide-eyed, snapping a photo that now hangs in the gallery of my memory—evidence, yes, but also a little slice of legend.

That, my friends, is mountain magic.

But as it turns out, Smoky Mountain Country Club is just the beginning.


A Golfer’s Guide to the Blue Ridge Shangri-La

There’s a quiet thrill to golfing in Western North Carolina. The moment you step onto the tee box, surrounded by 5,000-foot peaks and kissed by cool mountain air, you realize: this isn’t just a game—it’s a ceremony. Here, golf comes with deer sightings, distant hawk cries, and the occasional bear sauntering across the fairway like he owns the place. Spoiler: he probably does.

Let’s take a tour of the region’s greatest hits—courses that could easily tempt the ghost of Arnold Palmer to come back for one more round.

Smoky Mountain Country Club – Whittier, NC

Where my story began. Nearly 400 feet of elevation change makes this course a dance between mountaintop tee shots and valley-floor finesse. Designed by Thomas Walker, this 18-hole course offers pristine bentgrass greens and Bermuda fairways, flanked by whitewater rivers and peaks that look like something out of a dream. Four sets of tees invite every level of golfer, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a sunset that could stop time.

Stay the weekend. They’ve got luxury condos, a heated pool, whirlpool spa, tennis courts, and dining at The Persimmon Grille—where the food is as satisfying as sinking a 12-foot birdie putt.

Bob Cupp, who once helped build the empire of Jack Nicklaus, designed this course with a poet’s heart and an engineer’s mind. Laurel Ridge spans 6,904 yards of rolling meadows, mirrored ponds, and undulating greens that test even the best. But don’t be intimidated—it’s as playable as it is beautiful, with fairways that wind like bluegrass melodies and vistas that could make a grown man weep.

The average temperature here? A perfect 70 in summer, 40 in winter. Translation: year-round golf, surrounded by gardens that bloom like Monet had a hand in it.

Maggie Valley Club & Resort – Maggie Valley, NC

Here’s a two-act play: the Valley Nine welcomes you with a handshake, gentle and forgiving. But the Mountain Nine? That’s where the drama lives—800 feet of elevation, sweeping panoramas, and the kind of challenges that separate the contenders from the pretenders.

This isn’t just a course—it’s a highland odyssey. And when you’re done, the town of Maggie Valley awaits, full of charm, coffee shops, and Appalachian warmth.

Springdale Resort – Clyde, NC

A phoenix risen from the floods, Springdale is a tribute to resilience and natural grace. Shadowed by Cold Mountain, this 6,969-yard par-72 course is Western North Carolina’s soul wrapped in turf and tranquility.

GPS-equipped carts guide you past soaring ridgelines, rhododendron tunnels, and tranquil hollows where turkeys strut and trout dance in the nearby streams. Grab a bite at The Village Grill, then try to figure out how a place this peaceful still has a course that’ll make you break out your A-game.

Bear Lake Reserve – Tuckasegee, NC

Think: mountaintop golf kissed by heaven itself. Sitting at 3,700 feet above sea level, this nine-hole Nicklaus Design® course delivers both technical precision and panoramic glory. The seventh hole offers a 40-mile view you’ll remember long after you’ve forgotten the score.

Designed by Jack’s son Michael (The Golden Cub), this course is tight, technical, and stunning. You’ll want to bring your camera—and a steady hand. Public tee times on Mondays, but plan ahead; this hidden treasure doesn’t stay hidden for long.

Lake Junaluska Golf Course – Lake Junaluska, NC

Perfect for families and casual players, this 5,108-yard par-68 layout hugs the edge of a 200-acre lake and delivers more joy per stroke than most courses twice its size. Whether you’re hosting a tournament or introducing your grandkids to the game, the energy here is light, fun, and refreshingly unpretentious.

And after your round? The 1919 Grill serves up burgers, chili, and Southern comfort with a view of water so still, it reflects the mountains like a mirror.

Waynesville Inn and Golf Club – Waynesville, NC

If Donald Ross had painted landscapes instead of designing courses, he might have ended up here anyway. Originally built in 1926, now reimagined by Bobby Weed Golf Design, this course blends historic charm with modern brilliance.

You’re playing on the bones of one of America’s greatest architects, set against a cinematic backdrop of the Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains. Stay-and-play packages make it easy to turn a weekend into a lifelong memory.

Why It’s More Than Golf

There’s something timeless about this place. It’s the kind of land that humbles you, even as it lifts your spirits. Wildflowers bloom in meadows between holes. Red-tailed hawks soar overhead, shadowing your backswing. A bear might wander near the cart path—polite, indifferent, king of the hills.

This is golf as it was meant to be played. Not sterilized. Not engineered. But wild, beautiful, and alive.

Let Me Be Your Hole-in-One Broker

If the idea of living near these natural wonders gets your heart racing as much as that hole-in-one got mine, I’d be honored to help you make that dream a reality.

I’m Bernie Gilchrist, your local real estate guide here in Sylva. I don’t just help folks buy and sell—I help them find their place in the rhythm of the mountains. Whether it’s a cabin perched above a ridgeline, a cottage tucked beside a fairway, or a homestead where the trout streams hum and the morning fog curls like smoke over the valleys, I’m here to help you call it home.

Because up here, every day feels like a brush with something extraordinary. The golf is world-class, the views will steal your breath, and the lifestyle? Well, it’s nothing short of poetic.

So, whether you're chasing the perfect round or the perfect mountain home, I invite you to come see for yourself why...

It’s Another World Up Here.

Now go ahead—take the shot.