Elk River Club
Banner Elk, NC
Elk River Club is a private 18-hole, par-72 golf course in Banner Elk, North Carolina, playing 6,778 yards with a course rating of 73.4 and slope of 143. It is ranked #29 on Golf Digest's Best in North Carolina (2025-26).
🏛 Designed by Jack Nicklaus (1984)
Elk River Club's course was Jack Nicklaus' first Signature Golf Course design in North Carolina, laid out with cascading mountain streams and views of Beech, Sugar and Grandfather Mountains. After Hurricane Helene damaged the club, it completed a post-storm rebuild and renovation that included reworked greens, improved drainage and additional short-game areas.
Accolades
- Ranked #29, Best in North Carolina (Golf Digest, 2025-26)
📍 1000 Clubhouse Dr, Banner Elk, NC 28604
Course layout
Hole lines and layout © OpenStreetMap contributors. Tap a hole line for par and yardage.
Scorecard, hole by hole
- Par 72 over 18 holes: 4 par 3s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 5s
- Longest hole: No. 18, 552 yards, par 5
- Shortest hole: No. 12, 163 yards, par 3
- Hardest hole by handicap: No. 11 (par 4, 385 yards)
- Biggest elevation change: No. 14, about 110 ft downhill from tee to green
- Water in play on holes 1, 8, 9, 16, 17 and 18
- Doglegs: 4 right
| Hole | Par | Yards | Hcp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 475 | 2 | water in play, 1 bunker |
| 2 | 3 | 199 | 16 | 3 bunkers, plays about 10 ft downhill |
| 3 | 5 | 548 | 10 | 10 bunkers |
| 4 | 4 | 385 | 14 | 1 bunker |
| 5 | 4 | 418 | 4 | 3 bunkers |
| 6 | 5 | 497 | 12 | dogleg right, 6 bunkers, plays about 35 ft downhill |
| 7 | 4 | 360 | 8 | 4 bunkers, plays about 25 ft uphill |
| 8 | 3 | 193 | 18 | water in play, 1 bunker, plays about 20 ft downhill |
| 9 | 4 | 414 | 6 | dogleg right, water in play, 1 bunker, plays about 10 ft uphill |
| Out | 36 | 3,489 | ||
| 10 | 4 | 369 | 11 | 4 bunkers |
| 11 | 4 | 385 | 1 | 1 bunker, plays about 30 ft uphill |
| 12 | 3 | 163 | 15 | 3 bunkers, plays about 20 ft uphill |
| 13 | 4 | 317 | 13 | dogleg right, 6 bunkers, plays about 50 ft uphill |
| 14 | 4 | 466 | 3 | 4 bunkers, plays about 110 ft downhill |
| 15 | 3 | 169 | 17 | 5 bunkers, plays about 30 ft downhill |
| 16 | 5 | 507 | 7 | water in play, 2 bunkers |
| 17 | 4 | 361 | 5 | dogleg right, water in play, 4 bunkers |
| 18 | 5 | 552 | 9 | water in play, 2 bunkers, plays about 15 ft downhill |
| In | 36 | 3,289 | ||
| Total | 72 | 6,778 |
Scorecard from the Gold Tees tees. Doglegs, water and bunkers are read from the OpenStreetMap hole lines and mapped hazards © OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: Open-Meteo / Copernicus DEM, approximate.
Nearby golf courses
| Course | Miles | Holes | Par | Rating / slope | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Mountain Golf CourseSugar Mountain | 2.8 | 18 | 64 | 62.3 / 111 | Municipal |
| Mountain Glen Golf ClubNewland | 3.3 | 18 | 72 | 71.3 / 138 | Public |
| Diamond CreekBanner Elk | 3.3 | 18 | 70 | 74.8 / 149 | Likely private |
| Linville RidgeLinville | 3.8 | 18 | 72 | 74 / 143 | Private |
| Beech Mountain ClubBeech Mountain | 4.0 | 18 | 72 | 70.2 / 136 | Private |
| Grandfather Golf & Country ClubLinville | 4.6 | 18 | Private | ||
| Linville Golf ClubNewland | 6.8 | 18 | 69 | 66.4 / 124 | Public |
| Linville Land Harbor Golf ClubNewland | 7.8 | 18 | 69 | 66.8 / 124 | Semi-private |
| Hound Ears ClubBlowing Rock | 8.7 | 18 | 72 | 70.1 / 133 | Private |
| Willow Creek Golf CourseVilas | 9.7 | 72 | 74.6 / 140 | Public |
Straight-line distance from this course.
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