By Mike May
As the calendar inches its way toward summer, many golfers may want to consider migrating to the mountains of North Georgia. Don’t assume that the best mountain golf in the U.S. is restricted to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Georgia is actually the BEST state for mountain golf.
Brasstown Valley Resort, Innsbruck Golf Club, and the Sky Valley Country Club are well-crafted gems. Each course is fun to play and are all part of the Georgia Golf Trail, which features more than 20 golf public-access golf courses in the state. 
“Simply put, we have terrific mountain golf opportunities in Georgia,” said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, Georgia Golf Trail. “If you come for a long weekend, you’ll want to stay for a month.”
Brasstown Valley Resort is the quintessential mountain golf getaway. Even though Brasstown Valley is in the mountains, the golf course was built in a valley. At Brasstown Valley, the mountain air is clearer, cleaner, and crisper, plus the atmosphere refreshing, relaxing, and re-energizing.
The Brasstown Valley golf course winds its way through wildlife preserves, ponds, and streams. It is well maintained, cleverly designed, and entertaining to play and provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
The Innsbruck Resort and Golf Club is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, located on the outskirts of Helen. Some golf pundits have referred to Innsbruck as “Alpine mountain golf at its finest.”
The drastic elevation changes make choosing the correct club a challenge. The most memorable shot at Innsbruck is the downhill tee shot on the 15th hole, where the descent from tee to green is at least 150 feet.
Any trip to North Georgia for golf would be incomplete if it didn’t include an overnight visit into the quaint North Georgia community of Helen. It is the third-most visited city in Georgia, plus it has a strong and distinctive Bavarian-style quality to its architecture and atmosphere. Walking along Main Street in Helen, gives you a sense that an Octoberfest celebration happens every day.
At 3,500 feet above sea level, Sky Valley Country Club is the highest elevation golf course in Georgia, as well as one of the state’s most popular golf destinations. Nestled in the Northeastern Georgia mountains and surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest, it is well worth the scenic journey.
The greater Sky Valley area is truly as appealing for non-golfers especially if you like hiking, fishing, boating, camping, whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, bird watching, and zip lining. A winery and vineyards are also in this area.
When you visit Northern Georgia, bring your golf clubs and come with an appetite for the finer things in life.
