Best Golf Courses Near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina (2026 Guide)
Balsam Mountain Preserve
Best Courses in Western North Carolina -
A trip to Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort usually means casino nights, mountain views, and a weekend getaway in Western North Carolina. But for golfers, the Cherokee area is also home to some of the most scenic mountain golf in the Southeast.
From dramatic elevation changes to panoramic Smoky Mountain views, the golf around Cherokee feels completely different from anywhere else in the Carolinas. If you’re planning a golf trip near Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, these are the courses worth adding to your list.
1. Balsam Mountain Preserve
Located just outside Sylva, Balsam Mountain Preserve is one of the most breathtaking golf experiences in North Carolina. Designed by Arnold Palmer, the course winds through the mountains with dramatic elevation changes, massive long-range views, and holes that feel completely untouched by development.
What makes Balsam different is the atmosphere. Every hole feels isolated in nature, surrounded by forests, ridgelines, and cool mountain air. The scenery is unreal, especially during sunrise and golden hour when the light cuts across the mountains.
For golfers who appreciate architecture, photography, and pure mountain golf, Balsam Mountain Preserve is the type of course you never forget.
At Carolina Golf Company, this is exactly the kind of course we love capturing through original photography and transforming into exclusive golf posters and artwork.
2. Sequoyah National Golf Club
Only minutes from Cherokee, Sequoyah National is one of the premier public golf courses in Western North Carolina. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course offers elevated tee shots, rolling mountain terrain, and incredible Smoky Mountain views on nearly every hole.
Sequoyah has become a must-play destination for golfers visiting Cherokee because of its combination of scenery, conditioning, and accessibility. Whether you’re planning a weekend golf trip or just squeezing in a round before heading back to the casino, Sequoyah delivers one of the best public golf experiences in the state.
The course is also one of the most photogenic layouts in North Carolina, making it a favorite for golf travel photography.
3. Maggie Valley Club
Tucked into the Smoky Mountains, Maggie Valley Club offers classic mountain golf with cooler temperatures and incredible scenery throughout the year.
The course flows naturally through the valleys and foothills, creating a relaxing golf experience that perfectly fits the Western North Carolina atmosphere. Tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, and mountain backdrops make every round memorable — especially during the fall when the leaves begin changing across the mountains.
For golfers looking to extend their trip beyond Cherokee, Maggie Valley Club is another excellent stop within driving distance.
Why Golf Near Cherokee Is So Underrated
The area around Cherokee and Sylva has quietly become one of the best golf-trip destinations in the Carolinas because it combines:
Mountain golf
Cooler summer weather
Casino nightlife
Scenic drives
Smoky Mountain views
Incredible golf photography opportunities
Unlike crowded golf destinations, Western North Carolina still feels authentic, peaceful, and untouched.
Bringing These Courses to Life Through Photography
At Carolina Golf Company, we travel across the Carolinas capturing original photography from iconic and hidden golf courses. We then transform those images into exclusive golf posters and artwork designed for golfers who want to bring the courses they love into their homes, offices, and golf spaces.
Courses like Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sequoyah National, and Maggie Valley Club deserve more than generic stock prints. Every image we create is taken on-site and designed to capture the atmosphere, scenery, and feeling of the round itself.
If you’ve played golf near Cherokee, you already know these mountain courses are unforgettable.
