Mountains typically don’t have the most hospitable terrain on which to build a golf course, but they sure yield some beautiful settings and backdrops.
From the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains out West to the rolling expanse of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S., hundreds of courses take advantage of the elevation changes, views and scenery, and tranquil seclusion that peaks can provide. Adirondacks, Blue Ridge, Cascades… the list goes on.
A golf course like The Reserve at Moonlight Basin in Montana got a lot of attention during one of the televised editions of The Match, with some of the most dramatic mountain backdrops you’ll find on a golf course anywhere. And there are well known courses in mountainous settings from the Broadmoor in Colorado to Sunday River in Maine.
But what are some of top courses that have the word “mountain,” or a version thereof, as a part of their name? Here are seven of the best “mountain” courses you can play in the U.S.
Bald Mountain at Rumbling Bald (Lake Lure, N.C.)
At the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, this golf retreat on Lake Lure features 36 holes and is one of the only multi-course destinations in the western part of the golf-rich state. The W.B. Lewis-designed Bald Mountain course is a true mountain layout, with ample elevation changes and a unique configuration of five par threes and five par fives, and the 16th green was the backdrop of a scene from the movie Dirty Dancing.
Mountain Top at Big Cedar Lodge (Ridgedale, Mo.)
One of the five (and counting) golf courses at Big Cedar in Missouri, this fun-filled 13-hole par-3 course winds through distinctive limestone formations dating back 300 million years. The Gary Player design sits high atop the property and boasts some of the most dramatic views in the Ozarks.
Boyne Mountain (Boyne Falls, Mich.)
Part of Boyne’s 10-course portfolio in northern Michigan is Boyne Mountain, a 36-hole offering that extends from summit slopes to lakeview tee boxes. The Alpine at Boyne Mountain has a spectacular mountainside setting and panoramic views toward Deer Lake, while The Monument was designed with nods to the philosophy of a host of legendary golf architects.
Gold Mountain Golf Club (Bremerton, Wash.)
Just over an hour from Seattle on Washington’s Olympic peninsula, this 36-hole facility is one of the top municipal venues in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The two courses are carved through rolling, wooded terrain and named after mountain ranges in the state: Cascade and Olympic.
Golf Club at Dove Mountain (Marana, Ariz.)
This Sonoran Desert course, and its 45,000-square-foot clubhouse, sits in the saguaro-covered foothills of the Tortolita Mountains and became best known as the host of the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play event, with a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature design that plays at an elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet. The Golf Club at Dove Mountain was Nicklaus’s first Tucson-area course in 25 years when it opened in 2009.
Mount Washington Golf Course at Omni Mount Washington (Bretton Woods, N.H.)
The award-winning 18-hole course at Omni Mount Washington Resort was designed by acclaimed golf architect Donald Ross and opened in 1915. There’s also a 9-hole layout, but the championship course was inspired by New Hampshire’s Presidential Mountain Range and, in particular, Mount Washington, which is the highest peak in the Northeast U.S.
Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta, Calif.)
One of five championship resort courses at La Quinta, this famed Pete Dye design is nestled at the base of the picturesque Santa Rosa Mountains and offers stunning visuals including dramatic rock formations, elevated tees, well-bunkered greens, and challenging pot bunkers. La Quinta Resort & Club is part of PGA West, which also features four private Palm Springs courses.
Are there other “Mountain” golf facilities that you would single out for recognition?
