GRANADA GOLF COURSE

The mountain backdrop frames every shot at this Blue Ridge foothills layout, where Donald Ross protégé Ellis Maples carved routing through rolling hardwood forests and granite outcroppings that give the town its name. Elevated tees reveal strategic angles that reward course management over raw distance, particularly on the par-4 12th where a creek winds through the landing zone. What elevates this daily-fee gem above typical mountain golf is Maples' subtle green complexes that demand precise iron play—a trait that keeps locals coming back despite newer, flashier options nearby.