We left on Monday morning and were early for our 11:30 tee time at River Islands in Kodiak Tennessee, just east of Knoxville. It's an Arthur Hills design that has five holes located on islands in the French Broad River. Hole number 3 is a par three that requires a 175 yard carry over the river to a small green. When I hit my 7 wood onto the backside of that green it foreshadowed a good round of 41-41-82 for me. I was on this mountain golf trip with Joe and Mike and that got me off to a winning start.
We drove on that night to Mount Mitchell where we would stay for 4 nights. It cost us less than $50 each per night for a house with all the comforts of home. Joe found the accommodations by merely calling the pro shop at Mount Mitchell. All the mountain courses in North Carolina are in cahoots with real estate developments and hotels. The house we rented had four bedrooms and eight beds. We just needed more golfers. Tuesday we played the Mount Mitchell Golf Course, which is not on the highest mountain in North Carolina, but in the valley beneath it. I had a 79 and again crushed my competition.
Wednesday we were at Reems Creek, which is closer to Asheville. This course had many elevation changes to go with the woods and water hazards. Many holes required lay-ups to landing areas. I had a poor back nine for an 88, which made Mike the winner for the day. Thursday we went East on the Blueridge Parkway to play the Blue Ridge CC. We all played poorly and I was actually low with an 89.
On Friday we came through the mountains on US25 to play the new course at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Its called Wasioto Winds which means valley of the deer. It is in a valley along a creek and without many trees. The course just opened in June of 2001 so the clubhouse is not complete and the grass in the rough is very spotty. They have 5 tees per hole so you can play the course anywhere from 4000 to 7000 yards. We played the #3 tee at 5,850 so everyone did a little better than previous days. Joe had an 80 to be the low man on our last day. Wasioto Winds was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan. He also did Lassing Pointe so he now has two great Kentucky courses to his credit.