Linville is a terrific place. The little town and lodge are first rate and the Seafood Buffets on Wednesday nights at the Eseeola are beyond belief. Oh, and the golf course is a ton of fun to play too
Not overly long but plenty of length--it is one of those courses that plays longer than the yardage. Lots of really outstanding holes:
#1 Nice opening par four that seems easy until you hit it above the hole and putt your first attempt right off the green!
#2 A "short" hole that can play long. 340 or so but blind off the tee and many lay back to 150 for a level lie into one of the most severely crowned greens I have ever played. The actual green space is 1/3 less of what you see. You can try and drive the ball farther down the fairway (bringing the mountain laurel and OB into play) to leave yourself a wedge but I never felt that confident. Hole high can leave a fifteen foot putt that breaks three feet!
#3 Long, tough hole. Great drive over a plateau then up hill to another crowned Ross gem If the drive doesn't get down the plateau you may have 225 plus for your approach. Beautiful hole with the creek bisecting the hole twice.
#4 Fun par five and now with the creek crossing about forty yards short of the green there is a lot of interest to either going for the green or laying up. Backdrop of the lake is stunning.
#5 What would be a "typical" hole at most places that stands out because of the interest at the green and surrounds.
#6 Again, a flat piece of land and yet a par three with a center spine that makes this a cool one shotter.
#7 The green on the haunted hill! Short dogleg right which is a hybrid and 9 iron or wedge for many to a sharply tilted green on a hill. Tree removal has helped a bunch and I think they may have added a touch of green to help but this is a very severe green where you can easily go from putter to wedge before you know it.
#8 If you like options this par 5 has them. You can try and go up and over the corner of teh creek and trees to leave yourself 210 to the green or play safe and left iff the tee and resign yourslef to at least three shots. Broken record but another green with just enough slope and crown to have you hitting a "do over"
#9 The second of four really great par threes. Downhill and there is a magnet of some type that pulls all balls to the golfer's right. Of course I almost always overcompensate by pulling it left of the left bunker under one of the eighty foot pine trees but.......
#10 Short, straight par 4 with maybe the most controversal green on the course. Two distinct tiers and if you are on the upper tier and the hole is on the lower there is nothing you can do to keep your ball on the green. The green is elevated so a putt that rolls down the fairway leaves an awkward 30 yard shot. If I get on the upper tier by mistake and if I was playing for a score, the play is a flanking manouver and then an easier chip to the hole.
#11 Along with #3 a stunning par four. Long and due to the creek crossing you are certain to be left with a long approach to another small, pitched green 440 yards or so but the approach is almost always from 180-200
#12 Easiest par four on the course
220 yards uphill and blind. green is not a punchbowl but is nestled into the hillside. All carry to (thankfully) the flattest (NOT flat) green on the course.
#13 Dogleg right par five that is reachable though the drive is tough. Doglegging right and fighting the land (reverse camber) the drive must thread the mountain laurel and rhodos on the right and the creek all down the left side. One of the most unique greens I have ever seen with an incredible back tier/shelf that is immenently "fair" and equally maddening.
#14 last of four terrific par threes. About 160 but plays longer uphill over a deep ravine/creek. OB tight on the right and maybe the widest target on the course. False front can mean having to fix your ball mark and drop outside and behind the hazard!
#15 Another tempting par five with numerous choices off the tee. You can try and drive over the crossing creek that runs at an angle away from you as the hole bends back to the left. Or lay up as near to the creek as possible and perhaps still have a go at the green. And, yes, another great, rolling green. Any miss right of the green is a lost shot.
#16 Short, uphill and doglegging right. Another severe and perched green that thankfully has had additional green added in the last year or so.
#17 Straight and scary. Tighest drive on the course but as you top the hill you ee yet another really cool green. A spine running at an angle from the front left to back right. A mini false front short and right leading to a depression of humps and bumps that give you countless options when plotting your recovery. Skyline green as well with nothing but death for a shot hit long.
#18 Long tough finish. Bunkers on the left and OB right always pucker me up even though you really have room. Fairway is easily forty yards wide. A long drive to the top of the hill gives a nice view to the final, smallish green that is begging for you to run your approach up. Nice backdrop with grandfather mountain and the clubhouse in the background.
An absolutely charming place.