Asheville has plenty to look forward to beyond just mountain hiking and its local breweries. The area is also home to fantastic golf courses. Big tournament crowds gather when the Biltmore Championship in Asheville comes to town, bringing professional PGA TOUR play back to Western North Carolina. Whether you plan to watch the tournament or play a few rounds yourself, this guide lays out what to expect for your visit.

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Understanding the Biltmore Championship in Asheville Experience

The inaugural Biltmore Championship in Asheville marks the historic return of the PGA TOUR to Western North Carolina for the first time since 1942. Mark your calendar for September 17–20, 2026. The event is part of the official FedExCup Fall lineup, bringing over 100 tour pros to town to battle for points, exemptions, and major tournament berths. Hosted at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, the tournament is presented in partnership with co-title sponsors Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville as part of a multi-year agreement bringing elite professional golf back to the region.

The tournament is held on a 7,167-yard, par-72 Jack Nicklaus Signature course situated in a scenic valley bordered by the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For fans attending the four-day competition, the event blends world-class golf with local mountain culture. Spectators can follow gallery lines across rolling fairways, visit public fan zones featuring regional food trucks and craft brewery lounges, and enjoy broadcast-level event amenities. Located just 10 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport and a short drive from downtown, the venue makes it easy to combine tournament play with local dining and sightseeing.

What Makes Golf in Asheville So Special?

Playing golf in the Blue Ridge Mountains takes some adjustment. Thanks to the higher altitude, your drives travel noticeably further than they do back home. Weather is another big perk. Temperatures drop significantly in late summer, so you aren’t sweating through 18 holes. Plus, mountain courses feature dramatic downhill drops and tight tree-lined fairways that keep every round interesting.

You cannot just hit it long and hope for the best on these courses. Steep fairways, tricky greens, and mountain creeks force you to plan every shot carefully. Most layouts follow the natural shape of the hills rather than forcing a flat layout onto the mountain. That raw terrain is exactly what keeps golfers coming back every year.

Top Golf Courses You Must Play Near Asheville

If watching the tournament inspires you to tee off, the area offers fantastic courses for players of all skill levels. You can test your game on public tracks, historic layouts, and private venues scattered across the valley.

1. Asheville Municipal Golf Course

Built in the 1920s by Donald Ross, “Muni” is one of the oldest public tracks in Western North Carolina. The fairways are wide and forgiving, but the sloping greens and steady elevation changes give golfers of all handicaps a solid test.

The front nine is mostly flat, following along the Swannanoa River, while the back nine climbs steep hillsides with tricky approach shots. Recent restoration efforts have cleaned up the turf conditions and bunkers, making it an affordable local favorite with plenty of character.

2. The Omni Grove Park Inn Golf Club

This classic Donald Ross resort course sits right in town on the slopes of Sunset Mountain. It plays shorter than modern layouts, but tight tree-lined fairways, tricky greens, and steep drops require careful shot-making.

Because it sits on a hillside, you will contend with uneven lies on almost every fairway hit. The clubhouse sits at the base of the historic granite hotel, giving you great views of downtown Asheville while you wrap up your round.

3. Reems Creek Golf Club

You can find this course ten miles north of Asheville in Weaverville. Designed by British firm Hawtree & Son, it has a Scottish-highlands layout with contoured fairways, deep turf shifts, and clear mountain vistas from almost every tee.

Elevation shifts are severe here, so renting a golf cart is practically mandatory. Blind shots off the tee and deep grass bunkers mean keeping your ball on the fairways is much more important than raw distance.

4. Black Mountain Golf Club

Set about twenty minutes east of the city at the base of the Black Mountain range, this municipal track is casual and welcoming. It is best known for hole 17, a massive 747-yard par 6 that requires three solid shots just to reach the green.

Beyond its famous monster hole, the course features gentle slopes, creek crossings, and wide fairways lined with mature pines. It is an easy walk compared to other mountain tracks, making it a great option for a relaxed afternoon round.

Want to know more about nearby golf courses? Visit our detailed area guide.

Planning Your Asheville Golf Trip

Packing for a mountain golf trip takes more thought than preparing for a flat coastal run. Weather shifts quickly in Western North Carolina, especially during late summer and fall. Mornings usually start damp and cool in the valleys before turning warm by noon. Pack light layers you can take off as the sun comes up, and always toss a lightweight rain jacket into your golf bag.

Book your tee times early, particularly during tournament week when local courses fill up fast. If you fly into Asheville Regional Airport, consider shipping your clubs ahead through a bag service or using a hard travel case to prevent damage. Pay attention to your footwear too. Hilly fairways and steep side-hill lies require shoes with good soft spikes so you do not slip on dew or loose turf.

Facade and front area of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC

Exploring Asheville Beyond Golf

Non-golfers will not run out of things to do in Asheville while players finish 18 holes. Most of the city’s main sights, historic spots, and downtown neighborhoods sit just a short drive from local courses, making quick trips between rounds easy.

1. The Biltmore Estate

Stretching across 8,000 acres, the Biltmore Estate centers around a 250-room French Renaissance château built by George Vanderbilt in the 1890s. Taking a self-guided tour through the main house gives you a look at original artwork, vintage furnishings, and massive fireplaces across multiple floors.

Outside the house, you can explore formal walled gardens, walk miles of shaded trails along the French Broad River, or visit Antler Hill Village. The estate ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting at their on-site winery, making it an easy way to spend an entire morning or afternoon.

2. River Arts District (RAD)

Located along the French Broad River, the River Arts District features converted industrial warehouses that house hundreds of working artists. You can wander through open studios to watch painters, potters, woodworkers, and glassblowers practice their craft in real time.

The district is easy to explore on foot, with wide sidewalk paths connecting galleries, casual cafes, and local taco shops. It offers a relaxed atmosphere where you can purchase original local artwork or just chat with makers about their creative process.

3. Asheville Pinball Museum

Located in downtown Asheville across from the historic Grove Arcade, the Asheville Pinball Museum makes a fun, casual stop after a day on the golf course. The museum operates on a flat entry fee, meaning you do not need to carry pockets full of quarters or buy game tokens. Once you pay at the door, you get unlimited play on dozens of vintage pinball machines and classic arcade games.

It is an ideal spot if you want to grab a cold beer or soda, relax indoors, and challenge your group to a few high-score matches. Because they cap the number of players inside to avoid long lines, the room never feels overcrowded. If there happens to be a wait when you arrive, you can put your name on the list and explore downtown shops while waiting for a text.

Top Dining Options for Golfers in Asheville

After walking 18 holes or following a tournament gallery all afternoon, you are going to work up an appetite. Asheville boasts one of the most celebrated culinary scenes in the South, blending Southern comfort food with global flavors.

1. Red Stag Grill (Biltmore Village)

You can find Red Stag Grill inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel near the Biltmore entrance. The dining room has a rustic, dark-wood design, and the kitchen serves regional steaks, mountain trout, and wild game. It works well if you want a sit-down steakhouse meal after 18 holes. Reservations fill up quickly during big event weekends, so book your table a few days ahead.

2. 131 MAIN Restaurant (Biltmore Park)

131 MAIN sits in Biltmore Park Town Square, just a short drive from Walnut Cove. The restaurant uses open-flame hickory grills to cook prime rib, fresh fish, and ribs. They have a covered outdoor patio with a fire pit that makes a solid spot for drinks and food after a round. Their bar area gets lively around happy hour, making it easy to drop in for a quick bite without formal dinner reservations.

3. Cùrate in Downtown Asheville

If you are heading into the heart of downtown, Cùrate is a must-visit spot for Spanish tapas. Spearheaded by James Beard award-winning chefs, this lively restaurant serves authentic cured hams, grilled octopus, sherry-braised pork, and sangria. The small-plate style makes it easy for groups to share several dishes after a day on the course. Sitting at the long marble bar gives you a front-row view of the chefs preparing charcuterie and open-fire grilled dishes.

4. Rhubarb in Downtown Asheville

Rhubarb sits right on Pack Square in the center of downtown. The kitchen cooks over wood-fire hearths, serving seasonal Southern dishes made with ingredients from nearby mountain farms. You can order wood-roasted meats, fresh vegetables, and cast-iron specialties that change based on what local growers harvest each week. It is a comfortable spot to sit down for dinner or share plates with a group after 18 holes. Their weekend brunch is especially handy if you want a solid meal before heading out for an afternoon tee time.

8-Bedroom Asheville Vacation Rental

Choosing the Right Stay for Your Golf Group

Finding the right accommodations can make or break a golf trip, especially when traveling with a group of friends or family. While traditional hotels offer standard rooms, golf groups often find that a private vacation rental fits their schedule much better. Having a full kitchen lets you cook breakfast together before an early tee time, while open living rooms give everyone space to gather and relax in the evening.

Vacation homes also solve practical gear problems that come with golf travel. Golf bags, travel cases, and extra shoes take up a lot of room. A house rental gives you garages or mudrooms to keep equipment out of the way. You also get private outdoor spaces like decks and fire pits to kick back after a round.

Book Your Asheville Golf Getaway with Mighty Tree Properties

Finding the right place to stay for a golf trip should be straightforward. At Mighty Tree Properties, we offer local vacation rentals close to top area courses, downtown spots, and a 30-minute or less drive to the Biltmore Championship venue in Asheville. We take care of every detail of the house so you can spend your time seeing all the city has to offer and enjoying golf and the tournament.

View Our Asheville Vacation Rentals Here!

Our Asheville vacation rentals feature multi-bedroom layouts, generous living spaces, and plenty of room to store your bags and gear comfortably. We are always available to help with house questions, dinner recommendations around the area, or tips on local course conditions. Get in touch with us to help you plan out your visit and lock in your stay for the upcoming tournament or golf weekend. See you here in beautiful Asheville!