Balsam Mountain Preserve – Played September 2020
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 81 Preserve Road, Sylva, North Carolina
- Year: 2007
- Original Architect: Arnold Palmer
- Additional Work By: Ed Seay
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 6,823/6,775 yards, Par 70, 73.5 Rating/149 Slope
- Blue: 6,241/6,193 yards, Par 70, 70.2 Rating/144 Slope
- Palmer: 5,923/5,875 yards, Par 70, 68.9 Rating/140 Slope
- White: 5,655/5,607 yards, Par 70, 68.1 Rating/132 Slope
- Gold: 5,237/5,189 yards, Par 70, 66.0 Rating/126 Slope
- Red: 4,563/4,515 yards, Par 70, 66.8 Rating/124 Slope
I will come clean and say I hadn’t really heard of Balsam Mountain Preserve until recently. Even when I got a chance to play it I didn’t know much. I knew it was designed by Arnold Palmer in 2007 and it was in Sylva, NC. That’s it.
What I found was a visually stunning mountain course reaching elevations of 3,700 feet. The community also includes equestrian activities, hiking, and other pursuits.
Since the golf course at Balsam Mountain Preserve isn’t widely known that is about all I have on the course.
The real history goes back much further than 2007 though. The land was held for nearly a century by timber and mining companies. It is one of the largest unspoiled tracts in the region. You can check out more here.
Let’s move on to the course tour. All yardages are from the blue tees.
Hole 1 – 393 yards – Par 4
Mountain courses are always easier the second time around and Balsam Mountain Preserve is no different. You can run out of room if you go too far left on this dogleg that goes the same direction.
With the approach playing downhill you’ll want to make sure you don’t have too much club.
Hole 2 – 392 yards – Par 4
Here we flip the dogleg to the right. The fariway view is a bit more open than the first hole.
The approach plays over a hazard with trouble long. The bunker in front of the green is better than the hazard but just barely!
Hole 3 – 177 yards – Par 3
Mountain golf, like desert golf, ensures you will see something different than most other courses. In mountain golf, the drop shot par three is a staple. I don’t love this type of hole from a playing perspective but they are beautiful to behold. Obviously, the challenge here is determining what club to hit.
Hole 4 – 457 yards – Par 5
The yardage may suggest this hole is an easy shot at birdie. It plays uphill all the way, however, playing longer than the yardage. The objective is target golf hitting the split fairways on your way to the green.
This view back down the hole gives you some perspective on the slope and targets.
Hole 5 – 371/323 yards – Par 4
You see in the hole information that this can play from different yardages. I got the shorter number. This dogleg left plays to a green perched on the side of the mountain.
I played through here so I missed a photo of one of the best views on the property. Looking out over this green is simply stunning.
Hole 6 – 425 yards – Par 4
This stout hole plays downhill from the start as it bends to the left. Let the driver fly!
As you get to your tee shot (in the fairway hopefully) the incredible view comes into focus as you take in the approach shot.
Hole 7 – 203 yards – Par 3
This pretty, downhill hole features a big target for your tee shot. You can only get in trouble going left or long.
Hole 8 – 412 yards – Par 4
Honestly, I didn’t like this hole. The fairway is mostly hidden and, for a first-timer, it’s difficult to pick a line.
Your distance control has to be spot on for the approach shot.
Looking back up the fairway really shows the elevation change.
Hole 9 – 383 yards – Par 4
I think you can miss subtle elevation changes at mountain courses since you face so many that are dramatic. This hole is a great example as it plays a good bit uphill all the way to the green.
The green features a serious false front and plenty of slope.
Hole 10 – 166 yards – Par 3
This is the flattest and most straightforward of the short holes. The green, however, has plenty of intrigue with the contours.
I couldn’t get any information on what these ruins were but I wanted to share them. Passing them on the way to the 11th hole, I stopped to check them out for a minute.
Hole 11 – 311 yards – Par 4
You must hit the fairway on this short four. I was a little wayward and never found the ball.
Hole 12 – 453 yards – Par 5
If you dislike elevation change, this is not the hole for you. You can not see the green until you walk up to it.
Hole 13 – 206 yards – Par 3
I did not play this one from the listed yardage. I was in the 220-230 yard range which makes this hole incredibly difficult.
Hole 14 – 535 yards – Par 5
This tee shot plays to an infinity fairway. You can hug the left side as the hole bends that way.
The green runs up to the edge of the cliff. With the opening in front, you shouldn’t make the mistake of going long.
Hole 15 – 344 yards – Par 4
The suggested aiming point here is the fairway bunker in the distance. From there you get an open look at the shallow green.
As I mentioned, the green is shallow, but it also has a great deal of slope.
Hole 16 – 447 yards – Par 4
This could be the most difficult tee shot at Balsam Mountain Preserve. I always feel like downhill tee shots have the most time to get into trouble.
By comparison, the approach shot is a bit easier. If you avoid the bunkers you’ll have a decent chance at par or better.
Hole 17 – 369 yards – Par 4
Longer hitters can take on the bunkers but the rest of us should focus on the wider portion of the fairway. The hole turns left and moves uphill to a tucked green.
Hole 18 – 197 yards – Par 3
Not many courses finish on a par three. I don’t mind this quirk at all. This makes 3 out of 4 of these holes that play downhill. Make sure to stay out of the deep bunkers.
I also wanted to share some additional photos from the course, including the range and tee markers.
Balsam Mountain Preserve is a visually stunning golf course. You will find yourself distracted from the course by looking at the views. That can be a compliment and a knock.
The golf course is incredibly target oriented. You have to be on your game to play well and not lose balls. I can see how this may be frustrating for some players. I certainly felt that way at times.
That being said, the course is phenomenally conditioned and not unfair. Simply put, good play will be rewarded but bad play will be punished severely. I recommend playing Balsam Mountain Preserve so you can form your own opinion of this mountain stunner.