Golfers in the mid-Atlantic region should take note of three new courses that opened in 2010 in North Carolina and Virginia: Sequoyah National Golf Club in Whittier, North Carolina; Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Virginia; and 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, Virginia.
The most visually exciting of the bunch is Sequoyah National Golf Club, located in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina. There’s a small valley where the towns of Whittier and Cherokee have sprouted up and it’s the home of this excellent new course. Lots of trees and mountain views make for a memorable round of golf. Sequoyah was designed by Robert Trent Jones II. It may only run a little over 6,600 yards from the tips, but the significant elevation changes will make it play quite a bit longer.
Sequoyah isn’t located in the most accessible area, but if you’re in this part of North Carolina it’s definitely worth a visit. With rates of $85 to $110 in mid-summer 2010, it’s less than what you’d expect to pay for a course with this kind of visual impact. The town of Cherokee is home to a casino and several hotels near Sequoyah National Golf Club.
Ballyhack Golf Club is located in a similar but less mountainous area adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Roanoke, Virginia. This one’s a private club, open for play to members (local and “national” memberships are available) and guests. It was designed by Lester George and has what he calls a “Scottish highlands” feel. Elevation changes range from 50-70 feet and add to the challenge. The club is located just five miles southeast of downtown Roanoke, providing plenty of options for places to stay near Ballyhack Golf Club.
The location of the 1757 Golf Club is far less rural, right in the middle of the heavily populated area just north of Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. But it’s notable for being a new course in an area that hasn’t seen too many course openings in recent years. The course was designed by architect David Heatwole, a former design partner of Jack Nicklaus. 1757 is a par 70 course that can go as long as 6,600 yards. There’s a very nice practice facility on the site, as well as the SeventeenFiftySeven Restaurant.
