MGS Experience: Balsam Mountain Preserve

Western North Carolina is home to natural beauty and, not coincidentally, Balsam Mountain Preserve.

If you are an outdoor lover, it is a bucket list area to visit. You have the Blue Ridge Parkway at your fingertips. There is the cultural richness of Asheville, N.C., and the surrounding foothill towns and communities. Ultimately, it is a mountainous paradise to explore and experience.

Fortunately for us, it is also a region rich in golf. There is a handful of golf communities nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. A newcomer is vying for attention, especially from individuals looking to escape to the rural peacefulness the mountains provide. And, to its credit, this upstart is rooted in preserving the natural scene and beauty of Sylva, N.C.

This is Balsam Mountain Preserve.

Balsam golf is an Arnold Palmer masterpiece

Balsam Mountain Preserve is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course. The views are breathtaking. The routing will leave you speechless. Soaking in the beauty at every turn will satisfy your soul, especially if you believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

From the tips, Balsam Mountain Preserve has a course rating and slope of 73.8/152. It is a beast, and elevation plays a factor. (Thankfully, there are some tee shots and approach shots that are downhill or level.) I don’t have much experience hitting at these altitudes and the ball was flying one to two clubs further just on level shots. So that club selection calculation adds to the challenge during your first round at Balsam Mountain Preserve.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” That saying is never truer than here. Take a look for yourself at the breathtaking front nine.

Golfing at Balsam Mountain Preserve is a continuous test

Making the turn to the back nine at Balsam makes you wonder, “Can this golf course maintain this level of brilliance?” The answer is an emphatic “yes.”

Every hole at Balsam Mountain Preserve demands precision off the tee. However, as you play the golf course, you realize it is more open than it appears. That is a testament to the architectural design the Arnold Palmer team achieves here. But be forewarned: the rough and native grasses are thick. The hilly terrain makes the simplest shots from the fairway difficult as well.

See for yourself below.

Why Balsam Mountain Preserve?

A golf and outdoor enthusiast will love what Balsam Mountain Preserve offers.

You’ve seen the wonder of the golf course above, which is enough on its own to tempt any visitor. Yet, if you are an outdoor enthusiast, this unique location will call to your soul. At 3,300 feet above sea level, there is plenty of natural, untouched terrain to explore. Furthermore, you aren’t limited to BMP. You have access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and all of its sights and sounds within a short drive.

In addition to hiking, Balsam Mountain Preserve has its own equestrian center. Hiking at this altitude can be an ordeal for some so try exploring on horseback. There are roughly 42 miles of trails on the property. What better way to witness the masterpiece that is the great outdoors?

Golf, hiking, horseback riding. Sign me up.

But the appeal doesn’t stop there.

Convenience is a selling point

Traveling to some mountain destinations can be time-consuming and complicated. In contrast, Balsam Mountain Preserve is roughly 40 minutes from Asheville’s airport and directly off state highway 74. This convenient location allows you access to Asheville and other surrounding amenities.

Real estate options

Balsam Mountain Preserve is a private club where the main focus is to have members on property and keep them on property. There are only 354 residences here but there is a variety of other accommodations.

• Custom Residences
  • If patience isn’t your virtue, there are custom residences available for purchase. These sites vary in pricing and location on property. They are gorgeous properties designed and built by North Carolinians. These are the perfect option for someone looking to transition into the life at Balsam Mountain Preserve quickly.
• Homesteads
  • These are where your dreams become a reality. If you’ve been craving to move to the mountains, this is the space to build your dream mountain home. If you have a vision, Balsam provides building specs and guidelines since maintaining the preserve will always be at the forefront.
• Fractional Ownership
  • A more unique residency experience awaits by way of factional ownership. There are two routes to fractional ownership – Boarding House Cabins and Doubletop Residence Club homes.
  • The Boarding House Cabins are rustic and embrace the mountain life with a modernized interior approach. These cabins sit at 3,700 feet and are nestled next to the Marketplace.
  • Each fractional opportunity provides membership privileges to all owners, their family members and guests. The con is that those privileges are limited in days due to the fractional ownership. So choose your real estate option appropriately based on usage.

Your mountain paradise awaits

A private mountain club is a grand option. Obviously, it isn’t for everyone. However, if you want a mountain paradise, Balsam Mountain Preserve is calling your name.