You’re driving up through Weaverville, maybe thinking about grabbing a coffee at Well-bred, when you see the mountains start to fold in on themselves. That's where you find it. Reems Creek Golf Club isn't just another mountain track; it's a Hawtree-designed piece of work that honestly feels more like you’re playing in the Scottish Highlands than ten minutes north of a North Carolina craft brewery hub. It’s hilly. It’s tight. And if you aren't careful, the par-5s will absolutely ruin your scorecard before you even make the turn.
Most people heading to Western North Carolina for golf think of the Grove Park Inn or maybe the fancy private gates of Walnut Cove. Those are great, sure. But Reems Creek is the place where the locals actually go when they want a challenge that doesn't cost $300 a round. It was modeled after the classic links courses of the UK, which is kind of ironic considering you’re at an elevation where the air gets noticeably thinner.
The Hawtree Legacy in a Blue Ridge Setting
The name Martin Hawtree carries a lot of weight in the golf world. His family firm has worked on everything from Royal Birkdale to Trump International Golf Links in Scotland. When they came to Weaverville to layout Reems Creek, they didn't try to flatten the terrain. They leaned into it.
The result? Elevation changes that are, frankly, a bit ridiculous if you’re trying to walk. Don't walk here. Just don't. You’ll be gassed by the fourth hole. The course is built into a valley, meaning you’re constantly dealing with uneven lies. Even if you hit the middle of the fairway, you might find the ball six inches above your feet. It’s golf that requires you to actually think about physics, not just swing hard.
What the Scorecard Doesn't Tell You
The yardage looks manageable on paper. From the back tees, it plays around 6,400 yards. In the modern era of 7,500-yard monster courses, that sounds like a breeze. It’s a lie. Because of the doglegs and the verticality, you’re rarely hitting the same club twice. You might hit a 7-iron 180 yards because of a 50-foot drop, or you might need a 3-wood to cover 190 yards uphill into a breeze.
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There is a specific kind of "mountain golf" logic here. The greens are generally large, but they are undulating. If you end up on the wrong tier of some of these surfaces, a three-putt is basically a gift. It’s more likely you’ll be staring down a four-putt.
Surviving the Front Nine
The opening hole is a bit of a "handshake" hole, but the grip is firm. It’s a par 4 that requires a precise tee shot to avoid the trouble lurking on the sides. But the real fun—or misery, depending on your handicap—starts once you get deeper into the woods.
Reems Creek Golf Club forces you to be honest with your driver. If you have a slice, the mountain will eat your ball. There’s no "playing from the other fairway" here. Most holes are lined with dense Carolina hardwoods or steep drop-offs.
Take the par 5s. They are reachable for the big hitters, but the risk-reward ratio is skewed heavily toward "risk." You’ll see guys try to hero-shot a 3-wood over a ravine only to find themselves reloading from the tee. It’s better to play boring golf here. Lay up. Hit the wedge. Make the par.
The Beauty Factor
It’s hard to stay mad at a double bogey when you look at the view from the elevated tees. In the fall, the entire valley turns into a literal painting of burnt orange and deep reds. Even in the dead of summer, the elevation keeps the temperature about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than downtown Asheville. That’s a huge selling point when the humidity hits in July.
The club has gone through various management shifts over the years, and like many semi-private courses, it has its "up" seasons and "down" seasons regarding conditioning. Currently, the greens are the standout feature. They roll true, which is a testament to the grounds crew dealing with the unique microclimate of the Reems Creek valley.
Why "Local Knowledge" Actually Matters Here
If you talk to the regulars in the clubhouse—which has a great, unpretentious vibe, by the way—they’ll tell you the same thing: aim for the high side. The drainage and the natural slope of the mountains mean that everything breaks toward the valley floor, even when your eyes tell you otherwise.
- The Wind Factor: The valley creates a wind tunnel effect. A calm day at the clubhouse doesn't mean it’s calm on the 12th tee.
- Club Selection: Always take one less club on the downhillers than you think. The air is thin, and the drop is steep.
- Green Reading: Trust the "mountain effect." If you’re putting away from the peaks, it’s going to be faster than it looks.
People often complain about "unfair" bounces at mountain courses. Reems Creek has them. A ball that looks perfect might catch a slope and kick into a bunker. But that’s the charm. It’s a "rub of the green" kind of place. If you want a perfectly flat, predictable experience, go play a municipal course in Florida.
The Clubhouse and the Weaverville Vibe
One thing that sets Reems Creek apart is the lack of "golf snobbery." You’ll see guys in hoodies playing alongside retirees in pressed polos. The bar and grill serves actual food—not just soggy hot dogs—and the patio is arguably one of the best spots in Buncombe County to have a beer after a round.
Weaverville itself has changed a lot. It used to be the quiet neighbor to Asheville. Now, it's a destination. Staying near Reems Creek gives you access to the Blue Ridge Parkway (literally minutes away) and some of the best small-town dining in the South.
Addressing the Difficulty Myth
Is Reems Creek too hard for beginners? Maybe. If you can't get the ball in the air, you’re going to lose a lot of Titleists. But for a mid-handicapper, it’s the perfect place to learn how to shape shots. You can't just "bomb and gouge" here. You have to learn how to hit a "stinger" or how to play a ball that's way below your feet.
It’s a shot-maker’s course. That’s why the high-school teams and local pros love it. It exposes the flaws in your game that a flat course hides.
Planning Your Visit: The Logistics
If you’re coming from out of town, don't just show up and expect a tee time on a Saturday morning. The locals are loyal, and the morning blocks fill up fast.
- Check the weather: Asheville weather is fickle. It can be pouring in Reems Creek and sunny in Biltmore Village. Check the local radar, not just the general "Asheville" forecast.
- Bring extra balls: Seriously. Even the pros lose a few here. The terrain is unforgiving.
- Book online: Their website usually has better rates than the third-party booking apps, and you’ll get a better sense of any aeration schedules or tournament closures.
- Hydrate: The elevation and the constant climbing (even in a cart) can sneak up on you.
The rates are incredibly reasonable for the quality of the layout. You’re getting a world-class designer’s vision for a fraction of what you’d pay at a resort course.
What Most People Get Wrong About Mountain Golf
There's this idea that mountain golf is just about hitting off cliffs. While Reems Creek Golf Club has its share of dramatic drops, it’s more about the lateral movement. The fairways aren't just sloped; they’re canted.
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Understanding how to use the slopes to your advantage is the secret to scoring well. On several holes, the "correct" play is actually to hit your ball toward the rough on one side and let the mountain funnel it back into the center. It feels counterintuitive. It feels like you’re aiming for trouble. But when you see your ball catch the transition and roll 40 yards back into the short grass, you feel like a genius.
The course rewards patience. If you try to overpower it, Reems Creek will win every single time.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Round
If you're heading out to play Reems Creek, keep these three things in mind to save your sanity and your score:
Focus on the 150-yard marker. On almost every par 4, getting to the 150-yard stake is more important than distance. Use a hybrid or a long iron off the tee if it keeps you in the "flat" part of the landing area.
Practice your side-hill lies. Before you go, spend ten minutes on the range hitting balls with the ball above and below your feet. This is 80% of the shots you’ll face at Reems Creek.
Trust the Hawtree design. The bunkers are placed exactly where you think you want to hit it. If a landing area looks too good to be true, there’s probably a reason. Look for the "safe" miss, which is almost always on the side of the hill that goes up, not down.
Go play it. Whether you shoot your career best or lose a dozen balls, you won't be bored. That's more than you can say for most of the cookie-cutter courses out there today.