By TOM MCAULIFFE

The late Smith Barrier, longtime sports writer for the Greensboro New & Record, once hailed Avery County as the "greatest concentration of championship golf in the Carolinas, including Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach."

He was referring to "The Big Four," the stellar lineup of private courses that includes the Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Linville Ridge, Elk River, and the Linville Golf Club. And while those in the know would be hard pressed to refute Barrier's claim, the harsh fact of the matter is that the majority of recreational players will never pace the fairways of those hallowed grounds.

But non-aligned locals from Blowing Rock to Banner Elk get along quite nicely on a rich diet of resort and public golf course fare in the contiguous mountain counties of Avery and Watauga. Referred to locally as the High Country, residents count as their own the additional golf offerings of Ashe County to the North, and Mitchell and Yancey counties to the south.

Taken together this five-county region is hard to beat. From Jefferson Landing in the Ashe County seat to the Mount Mitchell Club at the headwaters of the Toe River, golf is good outside the gates that guard Barrier's Big Four.

Conversations about public golf in the High Country generally begin with the Boone Golf Club. Opened in 1958, the Ellis Maples' design proved a precursor to the mountain golf and travel boom. Boone is a plainspoken layout measuring 6,400 yards from the tips. Wide driving lanes, large undulating greens, a swinging quartet of par threes, and two of the best finishing holes you'll ever play, have endeared the public golfer to this wildly popular layout.

An automated irrigation system replaces the garden hose that somehow managed to nurture the turf at Boone where Mike Hayes has taken over the superintendent’s role. With head pro Tom Adams in the pro shop, the future never looked brighter at this mountain standard.

Season rates: $47 Monday-Thursday w/cart: $52 Friday-Sunday w/cart. Walking permitted any time. Twilight rate after 5pm $27 w/cart. (828) 264-8760

MountainAire in West Jefferson opened nine holes in 1948. Designed by committee and debuting with sand greens, the Ashe County layout has gradually grown to 18 holes, including three brand new holes and a dramatic re-routing christened in 1999. A new clubhouse, driving range, reasonable rates and a folksy atmosphere greet visitors here.

Owned and operated by Mark and Lu Hagel, MountainAire is an easy place to call home.

Season rates: $33 Weekdays w/cart: $25 after 1 pm. $39 Weekends w/cart: $33 after 2 pm. Walking permitted. (336) 877-4716.

Up the road a piece in the Ashe County town of Jefferson sets Jefferson Landing, a sprawling Larry Nelson design built in 1991 over rolling terrain of what was formerly a picturesque dairy farm. Measuring more than 7,100 yards from the back markers, Jefferson Landing offers five sets of tees and flawless condition. A 32,000-sq. ft. clubhouse includes conference facilities and burgeoning real estate options make this a complete corporate or family outing option. Valley topography easy on eyes and sidehill lies.

Season rates: $48 Monday-Thursday w/cart: $68 Friday-Sunday w/cart. Ladies and Senior specials Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday--$40 w/cart. (800) 292-6274.

Mountain Glen outside of the town of Newland in Avery County is a George Cobb design opened in 1965. Measuring 6,400 yards soaking wet this little gem just gets better and better. If you haven't played here, write yourself a note. Second year superintendent Bryan Grady has these superb greens running at light speed and long time patrons note the condition in 2001 the best ever, and it’s always been good. Fluid routing and a collection of holes sure to grow on you round after round.

Grassy Creek in Spruce Pine doesn't enjoy the notoriety of Mountain Glen or the Boone Golf Club, but in Mitchell County the course is a second home to a core of passionate golfers. Ross Taylor of Black Mountain designed the first nine holes, dedicated in 1954 by evangelist Billy Graham. Second nine opened in 1962 designed by committee but holds true to original flavor. At 6,277 yards, Grassy Creek's a bantamweight with lots of pluck. Small greens of the crowned variety demand accuracy and up and down savvy. Poa Annuae putting surfaces fast and fun. A pleasant surprise for first time visitors.

Season rates: $40 weekends w/cart: $35 weekdays w/cart.

High Country Courses in Peak condition

When Mount Mitchell opened in 1975 it changed the way a lot of mountain superintendents did business. Flashing lush bent grass fairways striped by precision tri-plex mowing with grass catchers, the days of undercut blue grass fairways in the Blue Ridge grew numbered. Pristine trout waters of the Toe River meander throughout this majestic property where internationally acclaimed architect Fred Hawtree carved a mountain classic. 6,500 yards plenty enough coupled with natural hazards, multi-tiered greens, and greenside bunkers. Nightly, weekly or month long rentals available on course. Four and a half star rating (out of 5) by Golf Digest's "Places you can play" Survey.

The Roan Valley Golf Club may be in Tennessee, but its ties and appeal to the High Country crowd are firmly rooted. Twenty minutes from 'olde town' Boone, Roan Valley was Ellis Maples' final work, an entertaining collaboration with his son, Dan. Boone’s favorite son, left-hander and former PGA Tour winner Sam Adams, has personally greeted visitors to Roan Valley since its opening in 1981. First four holes played over level terrain, but anticipation builds like a rollercoaster on a chain. The bottom drops out at No. 5 and the cart doesn't return to earth until the 16th tee. Back tee yardage of 6,884 and plays to every bit of it.

(427) 727-7931

Hawksnest Golf & Ski Resort in the town of Seven Devils between Boone and Banner Elk has a lot of things going for it. Unfortunately, in years past, all those things weren't always going in the same direction. That appears to be changing and regulars here have witnessed big improvements in the turf. Lovely setting at 4,200-feet with quirky, yet excellent putting surfaces that take some schooling. Putts can defy gravity. Experience a plus when undertaking this track, but given a chance it just might grow on you.

Season Rates: $36 Weekdays w/cart, $29 after 1 pm, $24 after 4 pm. $40 Weekends w/cart, $32 after 1 pm, $26 after 4 pm.

The Village of Sugar Mountain near Banner Elk is well known for its ski resort, but the municipally owned golf course is held in high regard as well. In spite of its diminutive proportions, (the course features 9 par-threes, 8 par fours, and a single par five), any number of seasoned 'A' players can be found testing their game at the course designed by Frank Duane with an assist from Arnold Palmer. Poa Annua greens absolutely magnificent averaging 12 on the stemp meter in season.

Season Rates: $35 w/cart, $18 nine hole rate w/cart. $10 to walk ‘til dark after 4:30 pm. (828) 898-6464.

The Linville Golf Club has garnered national acclaim since the Donald Ross classic opened in 1926. Today the membership operates the enchanting Eseeola Lodge, a throwback to yesteryear, which provides the only public avenue to the first tee. A frequent designee on America's "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" list, Old Linville stretches to 6,700 and presents a pleasing routing you'll hope never ends. Poa Annua putting surfaces built for speed.

Call for rates. Early and late season packages also available. (828) 733-4311.

The Blowing Rock Country Club is another Ross creation held near and dear by its members. But guests of the Green Park Inn which overlooks the 4th green can make a tee time. Six thousand of the loveliest yards you'll ever play make for a pleasurable experience. Major revision by Tom Jackson added four new holes to the design in 1988 altering the landscape and putting four of Ross' original holes to pasture. Purists will never get over that, but today's Blowing Rock course still sensational.

(828) 295-3141.

The Hound Ears Club located between Boone and Blowing Rock was the south's first four-season resort. Opened in 1966, the George Cobb layout sits naturally in the Watauga River Valley. This is a resort course that showcases some of most beautiful terrain in the High Country. Babbling brooks, dramatic rock formations, and ancient rhododendron stands take your breath away. Hound Ears is a joy to play and you can do that when you check into the Hound Ears Lodge, a perennial Mobil 4-Star resort.

Early and late season packages also available. (828) 963-4321.

Interest in the course at the Beech Mountain Club is soaring. Once the highest course east of the Rockies before being supplanted by Linville Ridge, this dandy ridge top design by Willard Byrd offers panoramic views stretching to Kentucky. Recent improvements include rebuilt greens and tees as the 1969 creation undergoes positive improvements. Loads of qualified lodging include golf privileges and other amenities offered by the Beech Mountain Club.

Call the Beech Mountain Chamber of Commerce at (800) 468-5506 for more information.

And while you'll have to find a member to play Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Elk River, and Linville Ridge, the life outside those private walls is a good one for visitors to the High Country. Whether its spring, summer, or fall, the allure of refreshing temperatures and cool weather grasses will do wonders for your outlook. To the folks that calls these mountains home, there's no place quite like it anywhere else in the world.