Roaring Gap Club

If you enjoy old-world charm, then look no further than Roaring Gap Club. This unique Donald Ross mountaintop layout in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains is perched about 3,500 feet above sea level and offers far-reaching views from the edge of the escarpment.

Leonard Tufts, President of Pinehurst Resort, along with Hugh Chatham and business leaders from nearby Winston-Salem, helped form the club in 1926 as a mountain getaway during the summer months when Pinehurst was too hot to attract clientele.

The grand, 65-room Graystone Inn was established here to operate as the summer counterpart to the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. First heralded as "The Pinehurst of the Hills,” the course soon became known as "the finest mountain golf course in America.”

At only 6,400 yards, the course setting is packed with design character. Besides The Graystone towering behind the 4th hole and serving as today’s clubhouse, watch out for the following “wow" moments:

The volcano green at hole 6; the two bunker-less par-5’s at holes 7 and 11; the blind punchbowl green at hole 16 in the dell; the rolling green tiers at holes 13, 15 and 18; and the skyline green at hole 17 offering 50-mile views.

In 2014, Roaring Gap hired Ross restoration specialist Kris Spence to restore the size, shape and dimensions of all greens. They even preserved the turf blend of their evolved putting surfaces to produce some of the most authentic Ross greens anywhere.

Spence also started a tree management program, refurbished bunkers and installed some new back tees, lengthening the layout by almost 300 yards.

You’ll need to look hard to find a layout more engaging and fun course than Roaring Gap. You may also need specific directions to get there as this club is largely unmarked.