Sapphire National Golf Club

Over-all the course was a lot of fun to play. It was challenging but fair. The sand traps were in bad need of work, but just laid out behind them and played on. They are working to improve overall conditions. Greens were aerated one week ago but are growing in and have plenty of sand. After birdies on 13 and 15, I’d definitely play it again.

If they get this course in better shape with the new maintenance crew, which I sure hope they do, it will be awesome because the layout is beautiful and the views are great!

This course is in an awesome setting and extremely challenging. The staff member I met was super nice. The course is in very bad shape. I would play here again at the price I payed today, but only for the setting and layout.

I have read other reviews and question them. I have played this course 4 times now, and it is always a great day of golf. Today started a bit cold, but the sun was out and it warmed up to a nice temperature, for Dec. Course was in good shape, but played temporary tees so course was shorter and easier than normal. Found out after the round that they just over seeded the tees, getting ready for the spring. Completely understandable when you have minimal players this time of year. I would recommend waiting until spring to play, but believe is it a mountain course that should be on your play list..

It’s a shame that this course is so poorly maintained because it’s a very nice layout and very pretty. The greens are unplayable and the locals assume 2 putts when they get on the green and walk away. Unfortunately it’s the only public course in the area.

Staff amazing. Layout so much fun. Conditions just not acceptable for paying 90 dollars. Greens are awful especially front 9. Couldn't tell difference in length of grass between fairway and rough. This place used to be a gem not sure what is going on with the maintenance.
layout is absolutely amazing.

We play this course every year, and some of the recent reviews have been brutal. I want to set the record straight, at least as of October 20, 2019.

Two of the biggest complaints were no grass on the tee boxes and impossible rough. There was one par 3 with almost no grass, and a few others (mostly par 3s) with sparse grass but it was there. The rest were fine.

The rough was 3 or 4 inches in a very few places, but generally reasonable. I didn't see any 6-10 inches that some reviewer mentioned.

The greens were generally very good, although a little slow. I've played slower. Some of them had some bare patches but it did not really impact our game.

Something about this course makes me not want to play it again the same week - it can wear you down - but it is a reasonable place to play and $49 was a decent value. Some have paid as much as $90 and I agree it is not worth it - until you consider it is the only (public) game in town - probably within an hour.

Everything you have read below about poor course conditions is correct. The course is an excellent layout. Management is at fault for simply terrible course conditions. You may ask if we're being too picky. No, not at all. My brother and I play average courses all the time. Yes, the other courses (private) in the area appear pristine. But that's not the comparison at work here. We're comparing to public courses all over the country at about the same price ($90). Tee boxes are often almost bare. Greens are patchy at best. The fairways have major damage, like trucks/carts have driven through in awful conditions. Do you want the icing on the cake? We saw many bunkers with weeds growing in them. That's simply neglect. We still enjoyed our round because the layout is great and the weather was perfect.

Course conditions very bad tees no grass on tees, greens brown bumpy, rough 6" high some places 2' high. lost ball 2'off the green could not find it 10" of rough

We stay here every year (this is our 5th) and I have come off this course loving it and hating it.

My biggest complaint is that you are often not rewarded for a good shot. The greens are very tricky and the speed was a little variable. There's times you cannot keep a chip or even a putt on a green if you are going side hill or down hill.

Other negatives this time - the first green was in poor shape. Most of the others were good, some had some rough spots.

Our cart died on the 14th hole. The course was not busy at all on a cloudy, windy day with temps around 60, so it was annoying. The staff did not answer the phone, but when we called the restaurant they found someone to bring us out a new cart relatively quickly.

The cost was $60 because we stayed at the resort - it's $80 if not. This is high for the value received, but I will say there is a paucity of courses here open to the public.

Decent mountain layout - but it could be better. Par threes are challenging but interesting

No putting green and no range.

I'm a 90s golfer and can't break 100 here. Don't be fooled by yardages, it plays a lot longer (if you're from the flatlands - it will amaze you.

Golf course designer Ron Garl has created over 250 golf courses around the world and Sapphire National Golf Club is certainly one of his finest. It has received a 4 ½ star golf course rating from Golf Digest. Garl has stated that his goal at Sapphire National “was to design an exciting, innovative and unique golf course that artfully employs the natural characteristics of the mountainous terrain and waterfalls yet adheres to sensitive land design where both the environment and man can not only coexist- but also thrive.” I’ll go along with his statement for the most part although in some parts of the Sapphire National layout, it’s the course that does the thriving!

Sapphire National Golf Club is the only 18-hole golf course in the Highlands, Cashiers, and Sapphire region that is open to the public and doesn’t require a hotel stay. Sapphire National offers players five sets of tees that play anywhere from 6,724 (Black Tees) to 4,686 (Red Tees). Choosing the right set of tees is critical to the amount of enjoyment you will derive from Sapphire National Golf Club. The rule of thumb is: Right tees are delightful, wrong tees are frightful! And, in the event your round’s not going well, step back and look at the beauty God has surrounded you with. That’s what I did; come to think of it, I spent a lot of time looking at nature!

Sapphire National plays to a par of 70 on bent grass tees, fairways and greens. The front nine features three par 3s, four par 4’s and two par 5s and only one par 5 on the back. As you make your way around this 18-hole championship mountain course, you can’t help but admire the beauty and splendor of the location. Scenic mountain views, dramatic elevation changes both up and down and lush forests give way to water features and picturesque bunkering throughout the layout.

Most Memorable Hole: Number 2: Par 3, 225 yards (Black tees). This is one of the most intimidating par threes you will ever face. Even though the green is less elevated and more than twice its original size, it is still a challenge to hit and hold off of a tee box that sits over 100 feet above it. The rocks to the left add not only aesthetic value but can also offer the occasional friendly carom; unfortunately, not for me! Avoid the pot bunker on the right side or face a tough up and down. Back right pin placements can be exceptionally challenging. It’s not often that a par 3 is rated one of the 3 hardest holes on a golf course.

Favorite Par 3: Number 15, 170 yards (Black tees). In addition to being known for creating replica holes from famous golf courses around the world, Ron Garl loves to throw in the occasional island green. Although it’s not an exact copy of Number 17 on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, it is very reminiscent of it. The island green sits 70 feet below the tee box and the pot bunker on the front left side brings on an added challenge. Find it off the tee instead of the green and your par just became a whole lot tougher. With the lake surrounded by woods, this hole looks like it belongs on a Hallmark card!

Favorite Par 4: Number 13, 410 yards (Black tees). Not only is this one of the most famous and photographed golf holes in all of North Carolina, it also rates as the toughest on the inward 9. It’s a dogleg left that requires you to hit a long tee shot to make it to the turn; trees guard both sides of the fairway making it that much tougher. Your approach shot plays up a rise of about 50 feet to one of the smallest greens on the course and is protected on the right side by a beautiful waterfall. There’s also small pot bunkers that sit several feet below the putting surface in the front left and front right of the green as well as another in the back. Par is an outstanding score here.

Favorite Par 5: Number 1, 595 yards (Black tees). Nothing like getting the longest hole out of the way quickly. Your first shot of the day – provided you’re not playing in a scramble – requires a decision: try and carry the creek off the tee or not. Your second shot requires some accuracy in order to avoid the two fairway bunkers on the right and one on the left in the landing area. Success so far means all that’s left to do with your approach shot is to fly the creek and strategically placed bunker that guards the front of a small green and make your putt. Is there a better way to start your day?

After your round, be sure to stop by the Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company, conveniently located in the clubhouse. This family-friendly establishment is a full-service restaurant and bar, showcasing over 100 of the area's finest craft beers. The restaurant and adjoining patio overlook the 8th and 18th greens. The food is outstanding and not your typical clubhouse fare. Appetizers such as Soft Pretzel bites, which are served with their homemade beer cheese sauce, or Hillbilly peppers, fire-roasted jalapeno peppers filled with fresh cream cheese and wrapped in applewood bacon, served with a smoky coulis. Their “Pub Grub” features an Angry Bird sandwich; it’s grilled chicken with sriracha mayo, pepper jack cheese, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, tomato and onion served on a soft bakery bun. Good thing you’ve got ice cold beers to wash down all those hot ingredients. They may not cool down the fire in your belly, but those craft beers will sure have you feeling good! In case you’re extra hungry SMBC’s Baby Back Ribs or 12 oz Ribeye steak dinner is sure to satisfy the biggest of appetites. Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company also offers wood-fired pizzas and calzones with that one-of-a-kind wood fire flavor. Their signature pies are handcrafted, rolled and tossed the old-fashioned way and then baked in a wood-fired oven. They offer 12 varieties or you can create your own. Whatever your palette desires, you won’t be disappointed.

The golf course at Sapphire National underwent extensive renovations several years ago and now it’s the Brewery’s turn! Renovations and expansions are planned for the Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company that will make it the most happening nightspot in the area. There are also plans to greatly expand the practice facilities. On your next visit, take a look at the pictures of the proposed expansion. And, in case you want to play the course multiple times, lodging is available nearby.

No matter the state of your game, Sapphire National will prove to be a worthy adversary.

the course is beautiful and a great layout. It is a great challenge. If you are not able to keep in the fairway the course will cost you strokes. Greens are always to slow. The problem here is cost to play for condition of golf course. The bunkers were terrible and the greens to slow. The greens are in excellent condition and their is alot of grass on the course. I know that rain has been a real problem for maintenance but for the cost we should not see these issues. You could drive to sky valley and kingwood resort and pay less and play in excellent conditions. There are only three 18 holes courses in the area with non-member access. High Hampton and Old Edwards that are resort and the Sapphire Valley. I love the course and hate to see where it is at. Hope the management and staff get on this and bring it up to the standard it needs to be and to justify the cost to play.

The worst course conditions I have ever seen on a course
Staff were not hospitable at all
Carts did not work well for the other twosome paired with us had to push there court most of the last 6 holes
Food selection not that great staff seemed inexperienced
No snacks available to take on course not even a cart person for any refreshments and yet they said the course was busy
Would not recommend this course at all as course conditions were atrocious

First off, this is a beautiful mountain course. The staff are pleasant and casual. The setting alone makes this course worth playing. Many narrow fairways make for a challenging course, and none of the Par 3's are simple.

The day we played the fairways were in great shape, and the greens were good although very, very hard and fast. The tee boxes were often more sand than grass though with a liberal sprinkling of grass seeds.

It was also sad to see poor etiquette on such a nice course; very few people seemed to be raking or fixing their divots.

Lastly, it would be nice to see some beverage service here. The club-house pub is often very crowded as it serves the whole Sapphire Valley development (which is huge) so it would be nice to be able to order a beer without all the hassle of waiting up there.

Although not a long course, it is difficult. It is unusual to get a level lie; everything is either downhill, uphill or sidehill. Putting is difficult - speed on downhill putts was hard to adjust to.

Great course look forward to returning and playing again!

This course has the potential to equal virtually any course in the Sapphire Valley. Unfortunately, the conditioning of the course was very poor. The tee boxes were trashed and the fairways had many areas that appeared to have been infected with brown spot. Too many bare lies. The rough was difficult but needed mowing. The layout is superb and with some TLC this could be a fantastic course.