A wedding at the Duke Chapel in Durham, NC, last weekend gave Elise and me the perfect opportunity to visit some mountain golf communities in the Asheville area. Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva (just west of Asheville), Champion Hills, Hendersonville; Cummings Cove, Hendersonville; and Brights Creek, just east of Hendersonville in Mill Spring, made it on to our agenda.
Balsam Mountain, a Chaffin/Light community, was our first stop and we were treated royally by Marketing Director Bruce Fine. We stayed in the Larkspur cabin, one of 10 one-bedroom mountain camp homes that are available for vacations and for purchase as a fractional. At $250,000 for a share of 8 weeks, they make an ideal entry point into the community, and even better, wth fractional ownership comes club membership.
Larkspur cabin--simple in appearance, but very accommodating.
The cabin was cozy and an immediate relaxer. We ate at the Boarding House a short walk away which is serving as a clubhouse and gathering place. Dinner was served family style and delicious and the staff members couldn't have been nicer.
The next day Bruce gave us a complete tour of the community and its magnificent golf course.
GolfCourseHome Publisher David Lott (right) with Balsam Mountain Marketing Director Bruce Fine.
What struck us most about Balsam Mountain was the you had to look hard to see the homes. It is the lowest density private club community in the mountains of Western North Carolina and only 354 homesites will be placed in this 4,400-acre private community, an average of one home for every 12 acres. Preservation is top of mind here.
Custom home under construction.
We were also impressed with the focus on the family with an active Nature Center, Activities Director and special activities and camps for kids. We met a warm and friendly family at the pool and snapped a picture of their three children just as they had come out of the pool (below).
Construction of the homes was impressive, especially the LEED compliant home below. Dry stacked stone was used everywhere--as supporting posts, in walls, foundations and in stairways.
LEED home nearing completion.
Custom home.
Fran Luker is a glowing and knowledgeable presence in the Equestrian Center
After a full day at Balsam Mountain, we headed east towards Asheville and Hendersonville and Champion Hills. More on that in the next installment.
Wow you have some great pictures which capture the beauty of Balsam Mountain Preserve! This is one of my favorite communities and places to golf.
If you would like more information on the community and the area click on the Southern Community Guide Balsam Mountain Preserve link.
Thanks so much for the great pictures!
Posted by: Southern Community Guide Balsam Mountain Preserve | August 12, 2009 at 09:32 AM