Mills River – A perfectly beautiful golf course tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains around Mills River, situated between Asheville and Hendersonville, near the Asheville airport, and on the Buncombe/Hendersonville county line, is the Chestnut Mountain Golf Club. This was formerly the High Vista Country Club. Now the golf course is a nonprofit member managed club. It has rebranded itself as the Chestnut Mountain Golf Club and has made phenomenal improvements and progress in a very short period of time.
Under new management, the course is open to the public. Just call for a tee time any day of the week. (828) 393-4531 (Weekend Green Fees are $60; Monday through Friday are $50, with a senior greens fee of $45 for weekdays.) You do NOT have to be a resident of High Vista Community to play or join the Club. Yes, the 18-hole course is challenging, like any mountain course, but the surrounding beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains is breathtaking. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of croaking frogs, spot a snapping turtle, or get a fleeting glimpse of a spotted fawn, all while waiting to swing your club at a golf ball.
Golfers will be delighted with the improvements that have taken place under the new management. Paul Lynch is the President and has been active in the transition to make this a first-class course run by the members. Thanks to the Superintendent of the Golf course, Mike Fridl, a wide range of improvements have taken place, making it absolutely competitive with courses in this area. He started early to make the course ready to play by early summer. He hired a competent crew, which reseeded the course so it would be ready in time for summer play. They joined forces with an active crew of volunteers under the leadership of Chris Cradduck, and they have been working on the course all winter. They perfected the greens, fairways, and bunkers; the cart paths have been repaired; there are now 30 brand new golf carts to be used; new flags and pins have been installed; and new signs have replaced all signage where needed. Perhaps of interest to environmentalists, the golf course is watered with recycled water. Food service is available throughout the day at the Robinson Pub for golfers.
Other changes have taken place. A new pro shop opened on the side of the existing cart barn, behind the swimming pool. Previously, the pro shop was in the original stone homestead, built in 1928. Golf play opened to the public on Saturday, May 27th, with a number of events to follow, such as a Memorial Day tournament for members. Peter Black and his fellow golfers very kindly donated the proceeds of their Memorial Day tournament to the CMGC.
An open tournament was held on June 17—with cash prizes for being the closest to the pin as well as a gross or net winner. Wednesday is a popular night for the ladies, who enjoy themselves putting on the green and often participate in a 9-hole scramble during the day.
The Chestnut Mountain Golf Club is a private, members run Club on private property. Golf, dog walking, fishing, walking and jogging is available only to members. Compared to so many golf clubs in Western North Carolina, the initiation and monthly payments are certainly bargains. To find out the specifics, email info@chestnutmountaingolf.com or call 828-393-4531.
President Lynch was happy to report that the Club is attracting new members, and along with the public revenue, he can safely say “we are operating in the black.” It has been a wonderful beginning, and hopefully all will continue to go forward. Of course, he would be happy to speak to anyone about membership and invites the public to sign up with their friends for a tee time to learn more. For more information, go to the website: www.chestnutmountain.golf. A new chapter has begun in Mills River, and many changes are taking place. The Chestnut Mountain Golf Club is a place where you can relax and enjoy yourself away from bustling, noisy city life, away from honking cars and bumper-to-bumper traffic jams.