Have you heard the good news? There are ten golf courses here in the mountains that are open for play in the winter months. I’ve played golf during the winter in Chicago in ten-degree temperatures. I can suggest to you, based on experience, you’ll need several clothing layers, long johns, and two warm golf gloves.

Rumbling Bald Resort near Lake Lure has two fine courses available, Bald Mountain and Apple Valley, both of which benefit from the protection of a deep valley surrounded by mountains. But just to be on the safe side, Rumbling Bald provides a winter/frost phone line (828.625.1985) in case the weather does not cooperate.

The other winter courses open are Grove Park Inn Resort, also located in a valley, Asheville Muni, High Hampton Inn near Cashiers, Waynesville Country Club, Black Mountain Golf Club, Laurel Ridge Country Club near Waynesville, Connestee Falls Country Club near Brevard, and Cummings Cove Golf Club, near Hendersonville.

When spring arrives, there are four golf destinations just down or up the road that have earned national rankings with Golfweek magazine. They are Eseeola Lodge at Linville Golf Club, Wade Hampton Golf Club near Cashiers, Tobacco Road Golf Club near sSnford (which is actually open until February 20), and Primland Resort, very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, at Meadows of Dan in Virginia.

The Eseeola Lodge has been a popular resort destination since the 1920s. By staying there, you have access to Linville Golf Club, described as “18 holes of pure golf splendor” created by the legendary Donald Ross in 1924. It is cradled in a valley beneath Grandfather Mountain, and boasts a host of amenities for the whole family.

At Wade Hampton Golf Club, golfers are distracted by dramatic views of Chimney Top, Rock, and Whiteside Mountains. Created in 1987 by Tom Fazio, it continues to be one of the highest-ranked mountain courses in the world. Despite stretching to 7,218 yards, it is considered player friendly. We will see if that holds true when the club hosts the USGA Senior Amateur Championship in 2013.

The North Carolina Sandhills region is home to the Tobacco Road Golf Club. It was designed by Mike Strantz, who made the most of an abandoned stone quarry by carving a 6,554 yard course into a steeplechase design with the second highest slope rating in the Carolinas.

Primland is a 12,000-acre outdoor-sporting masterpiece that offers guests the ultimate in matchless golf, adventure activities and luxury accommodations. It is perched among the magnificent Blue Ridge mMuntains.

At an elevation of 3,000 feet, the 7,034-yard course makes the most of spectacular views. It was designed by Donald Steel with many greens flirting with the edge of scenic cliffs.

Chuck Werle is a longtime golf lover who is always in pursuit of a better game. He is a principal for Carolina Image Builders, a local public relations company, and can be reached by calling 828.299.0813.