2
Hole 2 · Par 3
A tee shot to a narrow green set well below the tee boxes. Club selection on the drop is everything.
Jack Nicklaus Signature ·
Arden, NC
Golf at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
A private par-71 Nicklaus course in a Blue Ridge valley outside Asheville, and home of the PGA Tour's Biltmore Championship Asheville.
- Opened
- 2005
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 4,307–7,167
- Slope
- 119–148
- Rating
- 62.8–75.2
The Course
A Nicklaus Course in a Natural Amphitheater
Jack Nicklaus routed Walnut Cove through a valley bordered by the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest. The course opened in 2005, when Nicklaus and Kevin Costner played the ceremonial first round, and it went straight into tournament rotation.
Golf Digest ranks it among North Carolina's best (No. 38 in 2025–26). In September 2026 it became the home of the Biltmore Championship Asheville, the city's first PGA Tour event since 1942.
“Walnut Cove provides an extraordinary natural setting for golf. Areas on this course make you feel as if you are playing through a natural forest.”
Design & Layout
Two Nines, Two Characters
The Front Nine
Open fields that were once farmland, played across soft ridges, with bunkering that sets up risk-and-reward choices off the tee and into greens.
The Back Nine
Into native woodland and mountain laurel, crossing back and forth over cascading mountain streams.
The Setting
Gentle slopes at roughly 2,100 to 2,250 feet, ringed by ridges that form a natural amphitheater, just below the Blue Ridge Parkway and bordered by Pisgah National Forest.
Playability
Bentgrass tees, fairways and greens with Kentucky bluegrass rough, and eight sets of tees. Where a shot carries water, Nicklaus left an alternate route.
Signature Holes
Holes to Know
8
Hole 8 · Par 5
A real scoring chance. In the 2026 Biltmore Championship final round, the winner eagled it on his way to a closing 61.
11
Hole 11 · Par 3
A long one-shotter that tests every club in the bag, and a favorite of visiting players.
Tournament Golf
A Course Built for the Big Stage
2005
Debut
Opens as a host course of the BMW Charity Pro-Am alongside The Cliffs Valley and Keowee Vineyards.
2026
Biltmore Championship
Inaugural PGA Tour FedExCup Fall event. Jacob Bridgeman closes with a bogey-free 61 to win at 26 under.
2027
The Tour Returns
Biltmore Championship Asheville returns September 30 to October 3, 2027.
The Golf Campus
Practice Facilities & Clubhouse
Practice Facility
The centerpiece of the golf campus: an expansive multi-tiered natural-turf practice tee and manicured putting and chipping areas.
The Golf House
Architecture echoing grand European lodges, with locker rooms, private lounges and al fresco dining.
The Tavern & Turnhouse
The English-style Tavern and the Turnhouse Terrace, the post-round gathering spot with Blue Ridge views.
Wellness Center
An 18,000 sq ft center with fitness, group exercise, indoor and outdoor pools and spa treatment rooms.
One Club, Seven Courses
Golf Membership at The Cliffs
Membership at The Cliffs is tied to owning a home or homesite in one of its seven communities. Buy at Walnut Cove and it becomes your home club.
- Golf Membership includes all seven Cliffs courses
- 14-day advance tee times and member events at your home club
- Play at the other six is subject to availability and club rules
- Wellness, racquet, dining and Lake Keowee amenities across all communities
| Course | Designer | Par · Yards |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut CoveAsheville | Jack Nicklaus | Par 71 · 7,167 yds |
| Keowee FallsLake Keowee | Jack Nicklaus | Par 72 · 7,171 yds |
| Keowee VineyardsLake Keowee | Tom Fazio | Par 71 · 6,999 yds |
| Keowee SpringsLake Keowee | Tom Fazio | Par 72 · 7,100 yds |
| Mountain ParkMountains | Gary Player | Par 72 · 7,213 yds |
| ValleyMountains | Ben Wright | Par 72 · 7,029 yds |
| GlassyMountains | Tom Jackson | Par 72 |
Golf Life
Events & Lifestyle
Member Tournaments
Interclub matches and member-guest events across the Cliffs communities.
The Partnership Classic
A nine-hole, four-person scramble pairing members with club staff, followed by dinner on the Turnhouse Terrace.
Clinics & Lessons
Instruction from the club's golf professionals for every level.
Social Golf
Casual rounds and friendly games that make it easy to meet neighbors.
Live Near the First Tee
Walnut Cove Homes for Sale
Featured · The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
47 Ridge Pine Trail
Long-range Blue Ridge views from the rear decks, outdoor living spaces and main living areas.
Good to Know
Walnut Cove Golf FAQ
Who designed the golf course at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove?+
Jack Nicklaus. It is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course that opened in 2005 and plays to par 71, from 4,307 to 7,167 yards depending on the tees.
Has Walnut Cove hosted professional golf?+
Yes. It joined the BMW Charity Pro-Am rotation when it opened in 2005, and in September 2026 it hosted the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, a PGA Tour FedExCup Fall event. The tournament returns September 30 to October 3, 2027.
Is the course open to the public?+
No. It is a private club course for members of The Cliffs and their guests.
Can Walnut Cove members play the other Cliffs courses?+
Yes. A Cliffs Golf Membership includes access to all seven Cliffs courses. Members get 14-day advance tee times at their home club; play at the other six is subject to availability and club rules.
Do I have to buy a home to join?+
Yes. Club membership is tied to owning a home or homesite in one of the seven Cliffs communities, and is applied for separately after purchase. Confirm current categories, fees and dues with the club before you buy.
What practice facilities are there?+
A multi-tiered natural-turf practice tee plus putting and chipping areas, next to The Golf House with its locker rooms, lounges and outdoor dining.
The Cliffs at Walnut Cove
Whether you are selling or buying inside The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, tell me a little about what you need and I will follow up personally.
