Wade Hampton Golf Club
Tom Fazio designed Wade Hampton, which opened in 1987 on the floor of a high mountain valley at Cashiers, on land that was once part of the Hampton family estate. A private par 72 of about 7,109 yards framed by Chimney Top and Rock Mountain, it was Golf Digest's Best New Private Course of 1987 and ranks among the finest mountain courses in America.
Photo via Google, contributed by Russell Penninger.
The verdict
Wade Hampton is one of golf's great pieces of luck and craft. Tom Fazio was handed the floor of a near perfect mountain valley at Cashiers, hemmed by the cliffs of Chimney Top and Rock Mountain and watered by clear streams, on land that carried the name of the Confederate general and South Carolina governor Wade Hampton III, whose family summered here. Fazio routed a course that sits so naturally on the valley floor it looks as though it grew there, and it announced itself at once as Golf Digest's Best New Private Course of 1987.
Our verdict: this is mountain golf at its most beautiful and most respected, a course that has lived near the top of America's rankings for decades on the strength of its setting, its conditioning and Fazio's routing. It is a private members club and a cherished summer sanctuary, so it features on a southern Blue Ridge trip as the marquee round to arrange through a member. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in North Carolina.
Wade Hampton Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1987
- Designer
- Tom Fazio
- Type
- Private mountain
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,109 yds
- Access
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Wade Hampton Golf Club and leading course databases: Tom Fazio, opened 1987, par 72, about 7,109 yards. Wade Hampton is a private members club with no public green fee, so access comes through a member. Where a course or package figure appears, treat it as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Wade Hampton plays across the valley floor with the mountains rising on every side, an amphitheater of golf that few settings on earth can match. Fazio kept the routing largely level by mountain standards, using the streams that drain the slopes as natural hazards and framing holes with mature hardwoods and rhododendron. The result is a course that feels grand and serene at once, demanding yet fair.
The par 3s are the celebrated set, each playing to a different point of the compass and a different mountain backdrop, asking for precise iron play in the swirling valley air. The par 5s give the bigger hitter a chance, while the long par 4s reward the well placed drive that opens the angle to firm, subtly contoured greens. Water threads the round without dominating it, and the altitude lends a little extra carry that visitors learn to allow for.
It is a course of rare beauty and quiet difficulty, one that lingers in the memory as much for the setting as the shots. On a North Carolina mountain trip it pairs naturally with the High Country grandeur of Grandfather, with the Sandhills classics such as Pinehurst No. 2 further afield.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play is reserved for members and their accompanied guests, with no public tee sheet or open green fee |
| Guest play | Generally as the guest of a member, who books and hosts the round; unaccompanied visitor access is not offered |
| Handicap and dress | Members club etiquette and a smart, traditional dress code; soft spikes and collared shirts expected |
| On the day | Caddies and carts are available; the valley air adds a little carry, so club thoughtfully and read the mountain backdrops on the par 3s |
| Getting there | At Cashiers in the southern Blue Ridge, about an hour southwest of Asheville and around two and a half hours from Atlanta or Charlotte |
| Best months | Late spring through early fall, when the mountain climate is cool and the club is open for its seasonal calendar |
Access details verified June 2026 from Wade Hampton Golf Club and leading databases. Wade Hampton is a private, seasonal members club, so confirm any visit arrangements and the playing calendar directly; we do not quote or imply public access where none exists.
Where to stay nearby
Cashiers and neighboring Highlands offer some of the most refined mountain lodging in the Southeast, from the historic High Hampton resort beside the club to boutique inns and rental homes, all suited to a cool weather summer golf escape. Asheville, an hour north, adds a wider range of hotels and dining for a longer trip.
The southern Blue Ridge rewards an unhurried, scenic itinerary, so anchor a few nights around Cashiers and enjoy the waterfalls and drives between rounds. Pair Wade Hampton, when a member can host you, with the High Country grandeur of Grandfather and, further afield, the Sandhills golf at Pinehurst No. 2.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Cashiers and Highlands.
Build a North Carolina golf trip
Wade Hampton is private and seasonal, but we plan the round when access allows and build the rest of the trip around the best of the Carolina mountains and beyond, with the lodging booked to match. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Wade Hampton Golf Club questions
Who designed Wade Hampton Golf Club and when did it open?
Wade Hampton Golf Club was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1987 at Cashiers, North Carolina. It was named Golf Digest's Best New Private Course of 1987 and remains one of his most acclaimed designs.
What is the par and length of Wade Hampton Golf Club?
Wade Hampton plays as a par 72 of about 7,109 yards from the back tees, routed across the floor of a high mountain valley beneath Chimney Top and Rock Mountain.
Can the public play Wade Hampton Golf Club?
No. Wade Hampton is a private members club. Play is reserved for members and their accompanied guests, so access generally comes through a member rather than a public tee sheet.
Where is Wade Hampton Golf Club located?
Wade Hampton sits at Cashiers in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, on land once part of the Hampton family estate, about an hour southwest of Asheville.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026. Wade Hampton is a private, seasonal members club; access details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.