Wintersun is the McRib Sandwich of disc golf. It's available for a limited time. If you miss that window, you're paying a lot to get your hands on it. Then, when you finally do, you ask yourself if it's as good as you imagined.
- The chase and opportunity to play. So, this course is open for a tournament one Saturday a year. If you don't play then, your options are to pay $300 a night to stay here, or to get in friendly with an employee. When a tournament was posted for March '21, I jumped at the chance to play.
- Scenery. Absolutely stunning course with fantastic backdrops throughout. As gorgeous as the course was in early March, it has to be stunning later in Spring when everything is in full bloom or in Fall as the leaves are changing colors. From an outstanding hole alongside the stream (#11) to holes playing on rolling hills (#1, 5, & 18), from gauntlet shots (#2 and (sort of) 14) to top of the world/downhill holes that'll make players throw multiple shots for fun (#4 & 16), this course has a ton to offer.
- Extremely varied layout. There are tight, tough, and/or grueling layouts (#2, 3, 11, & 15). There are shorter, birdie/ace run layouts (#8 & 9) along with open field layouts (#12 & 17). After a couple easier holes, you're in for a challenging stretch. After a grueling stretch, you'll find a stretch of holes to redeem yourself with a birdie or two.
- Spacious layout. This course is spread out across almost all parts of this ample resort. The course features several long walks between holes. Just walking this course alone would be a good workout for many people.
- There are two holes that rise above the rest - #5 & 11. #5 is the second longest hole on the course at 656 feet. It's an uphill tee shot to a densely wooded fairway. Avoid hitting one of the trees and you should have a good look at reaching the basket in two throws. This is the best of the multi-shot (par 4 or 5s) layouts on the course.
- Then there's #11. I haven't played many, if any holes like this one before. It's only 270 feet, but you're throwing to a narrow island green. Sure the driveway and beyond on the left side is an artificial OB, but the fast currents of the creek on the right side are anything but. The current is strong enough that I had to chase my disc further downstream to retrieve it. Thankfully, they have some long poles to get wet discs. If you land OB, there's a drop zone that still doesn't guarantee you'll land in bounds from there. I threw three discs off the tee. One was in the water, two were on the road, OB by maybe a combined 6 - 8 feet. This can be an easy birdie hole or a double bogey based on a couple of feet.

Inconsistent tees. Some were on the pavement (#1 & 6), some had carpet tee pads (#13 amongst others), some were just in a field (#12). The more visible the hole is to guest, it seems these were the natural/grass tees.
- Signage could be better in spots. Some tees were easy to locate. Some required the UDisc or paper map. Some of the longer transitions could use more next tee signs to help with navigation.
- No amenities on the course itself save for a couple benches scattered throughout. If you're playing here and you're not a guest, there are no public restrooms or water fountains. You're less than 5 minutes from stores, so play accordingly.
- #2 is going to be a love/hate hole. It's an uphill, 625 foot par 5. The catch is that the fairway is the width of a regular walking path. How tough is this tee shot? The tourney had a longest tee shot or closest to the pin on every hole. By the time we played this hole, probably 2/3s of people had played this hole. I threw maybe 250 - 270 off the tee and I missed being the long drive by 15 feet. That tells me just about everyone smacked a tree off the tee. In our group of six, I was the only one to land on the fairway.
- Here's my controversial opinion. This course could and should be better. It doesn't fully take advantage of this terrain. There are too many open and/or short holes. The longest hole on the course (#12) is a wide-open field layout at 848 feet. The entire section of #8 - 10 should be removed from the Original layout, they should only appear on the short course. Add a couple more hilly/mountain feel layouts and this course becomes so much better.
- The lack of availability is a negative. I understand the property owners desire to keep the ground accessible to guests only. But, it seems to be such a waste to have a course this good sitting unused. Shoot, open the course on weekends only. Charge $20 per round, and increase your traffic and visibility.

Driving into the course, you immediately see the rolling hills and the possibilities. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning spotting one basket after another, imagining how these holes would play.
- This is the type of course that needs to be experienced rather than simply played. I'm glad our round took three and a half hours. It gave me more time to soak in the scenery and the whole vibe. Eh, it may also have had to do with Wicked Weed serving drinks beginning at 9:30.
- #18 is an excellent, rolling hill closing hole. It's a great view from the tee pad. And, it's nice that the layout isn't as tough as it may look on the tee.
- #6 & 16 are enjoyable for different, yet similar reasons. We love downhill holes. We love a long downhill hole that has room to air one out. That's #6. As for #16, it's a more technical shot as you're weaving a tee shot around the trees to get close to the basket. A very makeable birdie 2 while also leading to a scramble for par if you do smack a branch.
- There are lawn ornament / statues throughout the property. Many are of children. Some look fun. Some, if you're not expecting to see one can creep up on you and seem a little odd. Overall, it's this course's flare.
- Can one really feel disappointed with a course you rate 4.0? I feel a course designer only has 18 chances to make a course what you want it to be. I feel several of those chances were wasted - cough, cough - on holes #8 & 9 especially. It was close to being great. Instead, it was just really good.
- There's not a lot of difference in overall quality between Wintersun and South Mountain in Bostic. There are lots of similarities between both courses.
- I'd say this is a must play. As long as you sign up for the tourney, it's a fun day of disc golf. Otherwise, you're waiting 364 days or just have way too much disposable income.

The course has a lot of creativity in its design that will challenge any level of golfer. With a great mix of wooded and open shots you will be tested with all aspects of your game. We had this course to ourselves for the weekend with the exception of the property manager, one of the course designers, along with a few of his friends. They were very helpful in giving us local recommendations and showing us around the course.
There are two courses on the property, the short course uses some of the same hole as the long course and is a great warm up before tackling the long course.
This is by far the most scenic course I've ever played and will rent either the inn or the cottage anytime I am traveling in or around Asheville.

At some point you will have to go home, it was very hard to leave this property.

The scenery is just perfect all around. The folks at Wintersun do a great job at maintaining this vast property. The Inn and Cottage are both beautiful properties, the Inn is great for large family or friend gatherings and located at the top of the property over looking the blue ridge mountains.

1. PRIVATE!
2. Beautiful views.
3.Tunnel forest shots and open field shots.
4. Long course will require all throws. Backhand, forehand, chicken wing, tomahawk, thumbers if you can. You will wish you had them all.
5. Golf should have Par 4's and 5's. The long course does!
6. Both a championship (long) course and a short course.
7. Two courses that will never get old. You will not want to stop or leave.

1. Tee pads are mixed. Some of the natural pads can become a little slick if it's been raining a lot. Also a Pro that tee boxes will not wear holes in your shoes, because once you are there you won't want to stop throwing.
2. Cons? What? Hard to give this beautiful, fun place any Cons!

You must go through VBRO.com and rent one if the properties to be able to access the course. Plenty room for a crowd and still a great value for unlimited golf.

While I have not played many courses other than WNC, Greenville and Spartanburg and a long one in Austin, TX this is my favorite so far.

Pros:
1. This course is absolutely beautiful. Maybe the most beautiful I ever played.
2. Wide variety of holes. You get to throw uphill, downhill, backhand, sidearm, long, short, technical and open shots. It really has it all.
3. If you play chances are you'll have the course all to yourself. It's extremely private.
4. You can rent the cottage and make a weekend out of it.
5. Scenery is amazing. The view of the Asheville mountains is gorgeous.
6. The course is challenging but not overwhelming.
7. The property has its own dedicated groundskeeper.

1. Teepads are all natural. They work well but can get muddy if it has rained recently.
2. Can only play if invited directly or if you rent the cottage.

I really love this course. I consider it a privelige each time I play it. It is a private course so their is not many opportunities to experience it. If you ever get the chance make sure you do not pass it up.

1) Private...nobody will bother you on this property!
2) Scenic shots galore. Throwing up and down the mountains and valleys of the Blue Ridge.
3) The fairways are grass...but still in the woods! This is far from the norm for NC disc golf.
4) You need you whole bag. Hyzers, anhyzers, flicks, touch straight shots, and huge bombs.
5) The property manager is quite helpful and he will gladly run to the local store if you need any provisions.
6) The Inn and Cottage are amazing. This could be a huge disc golf retreat for a few people or a party of 10+.
7) You are so close to all the awesome stuff to do in Asheville! Breweries, downtown, the Biltmore, Black Mountain, hiking, waterfalls, mtn biking, Blue Ridge Parkway, and so much more.
8) Favorite holes: 5 (beautiful long par 4 weaving through old trees with a grass lined fairway)
6 (downhill scenic bomb, that you have to hit the perfect line)
11 (River hole that tests the best of them)
17 ( Terraced shot across an gorgeous meadow)

1) Tee pads are mixed. Some of the natural pads can become a little slick if it's been raining a lot.
2) Access is limited to people that rent the property...but that could be a good thing too.
3) Honestly this long layout course ranks in my top 5 of all time...so there is not much else I can say as a "con".

You must go through VBRO.com and rent one if the properties to be able to access the course.

Secluded location total privacy. Scenic layout with multiple elevation changes. Could be described as therapy.

They make you leave...eventually.

Great escape from the norm. Get there if you can. DO NOT TRESPASS!!!