From the archives ... Reems Creek G.C. write-up

Occasionally your humble scribe is asked to lend rhetorical hand to another's PR effort - usually for mini amounts of filthy lucre, but some nice fringes. Such is case below for local track. Believe item included in last management team's brochure to some new/alternative rag where piece put-in as pseudo reportage (but really paid advertisement).

Crafty devils! Surprised that team-o-suits didn't make a go of place, but wound-up selling inside 12 mos. Pic (right) is from back of 15th; enjoy:

Reems Creek Golf Course ... another hidden western NC gem!

“Your second on four stays in the air long enough to throw a roast in the crock pot and watch it cook” - unidentified member.

Mountain golf. Didn’t know it, really, until I moved to western NC hamlet named after a settler who got himself skinned [No kidding] by his now namesake creek - odd Appalachian custom, I suppose.

Particular 18 in consideration sits, literally, on veritable edge between worlds of high-speed internet service & white lighting makin’ happening, indubitably, no more than a front nine’s yardage from the course’s furthermost OB marker. Reems Creek, also, is the only North American course by the most current of the Hawtrees, a family who have successively sculpted Royal Birkdale, home of 2008’s (British) Open, in the same generational fashion as the rite of carving the Thanksgiving turkey is passed down from grandfather to grandson.

The links style one would presume from such architectural lineage is a muffled Celtic echo, however, due to the severe topography. If the Confederates routinely had held the same kind of high ground as the green complexes here, a good chunk of our land would still be called the cornbread nation. True, bouncing one’s pellet up to the green is feasible and forced carries are relatively few. Such is little consolation though when looking at flags perched more precariously than the slope one navigates at an SUV off-road training school.

Always in superb condition, Reems Creek affords pristine mountain views long enough to see storms coming from adjoining congressional districts. With no particular advantage to one shot shape, height – as in Abdul-Jabbar - is the only prerequisite to scoring. This is the case especially with regards to half dozen Alps-like tiered + elevated greens. Fail to carry to the proper level and you might be looking at a putt with the same stopping power as the 1939 Polish Army on horseback.

Built just towards end of Soviet Union’s existence, the clubhouse & ambiance of ‘the Reemer’, as locals dubbed it adolescently long ago, is still a bit more Cadillac Sedan DeVille/Stella Stevens than BMW M5/Kim Kardashian. Certainly most of membership harkens back to Lee Trevino as their fav tour 'foreigner' rather than Anthony Kim.

That said, they are a friendly lot and have tolerated outside play since the course’s inception. We interlopers enjoy, as well, their bar/utilitarian canteen (serving a truly lovely chicken salad with apples sandwich), a practice putting green with the best views this side of the Mississippi and a driving range tilted up plus to the right severely enough that the low ball, drawing Gary Player probably would have quit the game if he had to practice here during his prime.

If you’re planning a Blue Ridge Parkway jaunt and lucky enough to have brought your 'sticks' along, come enjoy Reems Creek. Mid-week specials available even during summer's dog days. Heavily advised to take cart for not only greater enjoyment of scenic vistas, but only 'billy goat' quotient of population usually cardiovasicularly stout enough to hack humpin' full 18 without leaving 'Patrick Ewing-at-foul-line' perspiration puddles on last several back 9 greens.

Just remember if you see ole Gov. Zebulon Vance [Handsome rascal right] log cabin on passenger's side, you need to double-back a couple of par fives before going further into land of “cricks, tobac-ee & ramps eatin’”. Not that latter journey wouldn't be 'educational', but tough to find Titleists under tree cover dense enough to hide FBI's (then) 3rd most wanted for +6 years.