I was just wondering what everyones favorite mountain courses are.

thanks!

The mountains of Maine have 2 Gems:

Sugarloaf
Sunday River

And another great Semi Mountain course:

Belgrade Lakes

Diamond Creek in Banner Elk, NC is a great mountain course. Great views off of nearly every tee.

You won't hear much about them outside Utah, but in/around Salt Lake we have some absolutely spectacular mountain courses that are extremely reasonably priced. South Mountain and Mountain Dell, in particular. Last year I played Wasatch's mountain course with drstroud and was very impressed with its layout and scenery.

I've heard that the best part about Diamond Creek is the clubhouse. The golf course is nice, but itsn't anywhere in the league of Linville and Grandfather. Any truth to this?

Koolau....Hawaii


The ocean view is not bad either.


Makaha Valley CC...Hawaii isn't too bad either.

Linville is very nice...Grandfather is nice but easy. The scenery is fantastic, however my favorite is Mt. Mitchell Golf Club. I played there during my wedding weekend and the course was VERY challenging and the sites were amazing.

Paa-Ko Ridge outside of Albuquerque, NM is pretty spectacular in my opinion.

by mountains what area? or just mountain in general?

Not far from Mt. Mitchell is Mountain Air CC. That area of NC just has scenic views for miles and the golf is outstanding.

Those views and that layout are AMAZING.

Grandfather and Linville GC are both better courses than Diamond Creek, but both sit in the valley at the foot of Grandfather Mountain. They are both realtively "flat" as mountain courses go. Diamond Creek was built more on a mountain, partially on the site of a failed and never opened ski area. Fazio did a great job on the course. Conditions are usually perfect. Views are better than Grandfather and Linville. You can't go wrong playing any of those 3, they are awesome courses. All of the courses up here in the Blowing Rock-Boone-Banner Elk are great.

The Fazio and Norman courses in Wolcott, CO (Between Vail and Eagle) are about as good as it gets. Also agree with the previous poster on Paa Ko Ridge in New Mexico.

I'm sorry the place is called Red Sky Ranch in Wolcott. Tim Finchem is a member there, they let the public play one course a day and the other is reserved for the members, then they rotate the next day.

Agree with wingz about Red Sky, having played it a couple of weeks ago while on holiday. I played the Norman course (apparently the harder of the two - cetainly hard enough for me looking at my scorecard...). Fantastic views on every hole, only a few houses to spoil the view and seclusion but they're not exactly eyesores anyway. As a brit and not having played that high up before the yardage gains you get when playing at altitude are staggering. I hit a 9 iron 165+ - normally 135 for me. 21 deg hybrid 240, vs 200 at home. The greens also were about 50% faster than those I am used to.

The other 'mountain' course I played (some years ago now) was the Cascades course at the Homestead in Virginia. Totally different feel but very pretty and testing.

Agree about Red Sky fantastic pair of courses the Norman to my mind is far the greater challenge but the Fazio is still superb

I could not agree more...The Cascades Course at the Homestead is amazing. Very tough course and many beautiful holes. I was pleasantly surprised by the layout and condition f the course.

Linville is probably my favorite course in the world. I never get tired of it after probably 100 times playing it, but you are right as it has no views. Same with Grandfather. In that respect they are very similar to the Cascades Course at the Homestead. From what I gather both from my own experience, and that of others is that the courses like Linville and Cascades are timeless courses that you never get tired of, but courses like Diamond Creek and Linville Ridge are spectacular to play once a year because of the views, but because the courses aren't as good, they don't tend to have the staying power.

I had the oppurtunity to play that a couple years ago and you are right, that course rocks!!!!! Here in SC we have quite a few good mountain courses. The Cliffs @ Glassy is probably one of the tops I've played.

Another vote for Grandfather. Super layout. Only one iffy hole and it isn't that iffy.
Mt Mitchell is a beautiful course but it has three very weak holes-one, ten and eleven. That said, twelve, 13, 14 are awesome holes. The trout in the river on the second tee are worth the trip-huge big jumping rainbows.

Im glad someone mentioned The Flynn course Homestead Cascades. That is the king of all mountain courses. Most of the rest are modern fluff with no substance. Very pretty but gives one the sense that they have played the holes before even on the first go round.

For trips to Canada

Banff Springs in Alberta and Greywolf in BC are spectacular.

Here's a shot from Banff Springs

Click to view attachment

And GreyWolf...

Click to view attachment

Cheers!

El Conquistador Golf Course in Puerto Rico. Visitors get tired from the elevations, uneven lies and winds.

http://www.elconresort.com/golf/

Paa-Ko is great...Black Mesa is even better.

Come to the Mountain! Apple Mountain in Camino California. http://applemountaingolfresort.com/index.html

Kapalua Village course in Maui. Total thrill ride. Loved it.

http://primland.com/newpages/golf/highlandcourse.aspx

I agree Mountain Air is great but it can become somewhat "novelty" after a while. The 185 yard par three that plays 115 put the nail in the coffin for me.

My summer home track is Jefferson Landing just North of Boone, NC and it is built in somewhat of a valley but it is still a great NC style course also.

Isn't Diamond creek super-private?

I have not played a lot of mountain courses, but I have played the Highland course at the Primland resort probably around 10 plus times now and nothing I've ever played compares to it! From the tips every hole is a challenge and there are some of the most spectacular views you will ever see on a golf course. If you get the opportunity to play it do not pass it up.

Primland.com

Relatively new, but what a course. It's a hike to get there on gravel roads, but a great layout, awesome greens and amazing views.

I live in Boone and have played Jefferson Landing many times. I love Ashe County. Diamond Creek is very private and very expensive.

If your out East, and find your way to Vermont, check out Green Mountain National in Killington. $59 to walk on weekdays, and you won't spend a better $59 or twice that for a course near as good as this. Great track you wouldn't be disappointed

another vote for the Upper/Lower Cascades at the homestead resort

these tracks are the ORIGINAL mtn course design

ive been lucky enough to have a friend whose dad went to school with one of the starters at the homestead

all he requires is 24 hour notice and a nice tip....