Balsam Mountain Preserve – Leading Golf and Recreation Venue

Located only a 40-minute drive from Ashville, North Carolina, Balsam Mountain Preserve is a private community that includes Doubletop Village. Comprised of homesteads, custom homes, cabins, and campsites, the community is situated on 4,400 stunning acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern part of the state. Focused on both protecting and enjoying nature, the Balsam Mountain Preserve features multiple amenities, including exceptional dining establishments and a diverse range of outdoor recreational activities.

Designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company, the preserve’s Palmar Park Golf Gourse is one of the most picturesque in the country. This course is a full-length, signature, 18-hole golf venue with a par of 70. It is one of the most exclusive courses in North Carolina, and only 16 non-community member players are permitted to play on it each day. Players are challenged to use all 14 of the clubs in their golf bags while playing the Balsam Mountain Course, which reaches to elevations of 3,700 feet and spans 6,824 yards.

In addition to the Palmar Park Golf Course, golf enthusiasts at the preserve also have access to Palmer Practice Park, which features a six-hole short course with grass tee boxes, manicured fairways, and synthetic greens. An innovative practice facility with a state-of-the-art design, the park offers golf instruction for players of all levels and ages through the Balsam Mountain Academy. Golfers have access to private instruction, scheduled group lessons, and social activities with other members. The park also offers community members opportunities to golf at night and participate in professional golf clinics. The Balsam Mountain Golf Clinic features a variety of learning programs, including family, putting, short game, and full swing modules.

The Balsam Mountain Preserve Ruby Valley Fitness and Wellness Pavilion is one of the most bustling areas on the preserve. Families gather at the pavilion to play tennis, swim in the Olympic-sized pool, and exercise at the gym and spa. Members and guests of the facility have access to a diverse range of fitness and wellness classes. It is designed not only for activity, but also for relaxation and rejuvenation, and the member’s lounge features massage and spa rooms, as well as a tranquil garden.

The equestrian program offered at the preserve is suitable for both novice and experienced horse enthusiasts alike. This well-rounded program provides an opportunity for participants to improve their equestrian skills and explore more than 34 miles of trails on horseback while enjoying spectacular scenery on the property. The facility also caters to horse owners. Horse boarding is available at the preserve, which houses equine amenities such as a stable and outdoor training arena.

The facility is dedicated to protecting the natural fauna and flora existing in the Balsam Mountain Preserve community and surrounding area, and nature conservancy is promoted through multiple initiatives operating under the Balsam Mountain Trust. Programs operated by the trust include the Native Plant and Adopt-a-Trail Programs. The trust also supports a reduction of plastic waste by providing water refill stations along its trails. Located on the preserve, the Nature Center contains a vast archive of research, nature displays, and artifacts. This center offers hands-on learning experiences overseen by naturalists and facilitates nature education programs for 10 elementary schools in the local area.

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Best Fishing Spots in the United States

The United States ranks as the third largest country in its geographical expanse. Due to the country’s size, many water bodies are teeming with fish. Despite the thousands of fishing locations in America, there are still spots that stand out due to their unique features and popularity. One such fishing spot is the Florida Keys.

The Florida Keys is an angler’s paradise. Species such as bonefish, snook, or tarpon are commonplace off the string of islands at Florida’s southern tip. However, the real catch in the Florida Keys is the estuary created by parts of the Atlantic Ocean caught in the warm Gulf Stream. In this area, anglers can easily find hard-to-locate species such as sailfish, blue and white marlin, and swordfish.

Another fishing location you can visit for an amazing experience is Kona, Hawaii. Kona is easily the best fishing spot in Hawaii, and it is a must-see if you want to explore the largest sports-fishing area off the islands. In Kona, you can go on deep-sea fishing expeditions, searching for both popular and rare species. A few miles beyond the harbor, the sea depths can be as low as 6000 feet. Common fish such as tuna mahi and ono are the usual catch in this area. Apart from the fishing thrills Kona offers, you can admire a rare island landscape and its beautiful sunsets.

If you are a fly-fishing enthusiast, the Bighorn River in Montana is a must-visit destination. Despite the restricted access to this river due to parts of the water passing through private property, the public fishing spots are worth the restriction. With limits on the fish, you can catch, most anglers catch and release their trout. Brown trout thrive in the river, and rainbow trout are present in lesser numbers. Although most anglers camp nearby, spending a little more money to stay at Forrester’s Bighorn Resort is not a bad idea. The resort offers exclusive access to the water and experienced fly-fishing guides.

The Thousand Islands, located in New York, is another fishing haven in the United States. At the eastern edge of Lake Ontario in the Saint Lawrence River, you can find over 1700 small islands, which are the homes of many rare fish. During the summer period in this region, you can reel in bass, salmon, and northern pike. Some experienced anglers in this region go out of their way to catch massive muskies in this fishing area.

At Outer Banks, North Carolina, anglers can use different styles to catch fish. You can cast your line off a pier or head in for some fly fishing. Most anglers choose head boat fishing, which involves fishing aboard big boats that provide all necessary equipment (reels, hooks, bait, and more) and transport passengers to other fishing areas. It can be considered one of the best fishing spots due to its variety of options.

Lastly, the Kobuk River in Alaska is a remote fishing spot worth visiting, but a guide is strongly recommended. You can cast out for arctic grayling, lake trout, northern pike, arctic char, sheefish, and chum salmon in this river, with some species not found anywhere else in the United States.

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Hollytree Country Club - Golf Course

Located in Tyler, Texas, Hollytree Country Club was established in 1983 as a place where members can build relationships and enrich their lives with world-class amenities and personalized service. The exclusive community of Hollytree has access to sports and social club events, summer camps for children and families, holiday celebrations, enriching programs, and club-hosted tournaments, along with networking opportunities with civic and community leaders, local professionals, and other influential people.

In addition to 12 LED-lighted tennis courts, Hollytree Country Club features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge. A first-class facility, Hollytree’s golf course received the 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 Best Golf Course awards from BSCENE magazine and the 2012 and 2013 “Best Golf Course” Reader's Choice Awards from Best of East Texas. Additionally, Locals Love Us featured it as the Best Golf Course from 2015 to 2017.

The mature par-72 course combines tiered greens, water features, and trees to provide members with an exciting experience on every round, at any handicap level. It was built in 1983 and renovated in 2005, when all greens were replanted with Champion Bermuda grass. The renovation also included an upgrade to the irrigation system and the rebuilding of certain tees. The course has four sets of tees, ranging from 5,102 to 6,805 yards, and features a double-sided driving range, a putting green, and a chipping green.

As part of its golfing experience, Hollytree is home to the John Sikes Golf Academy, with a professional golf staff and a program that includes individual private lessons, video lessons, group clinics, and a junior golf program. The junior golf program, for example, has four junior golf teams for diverse ability levels, creating a team atmosphere in which youth can foster new friendships and learn about competition.

Within the junior program, participants are placed on either the Futures, Elevate, Excel, or Elite team. The Futures team is focused on introducing golf to beginner golfers through skill competitions and fun games, while the Elevate team welcomes junior golfers who are ready to play on the course. The Excel team connects junior golfers capable of playing nine holes, teaching them about ball flight laws and preparing them for tournament competition. The Elite team comprises skilled junior golfers interested in playing competitive junior golf.

Only full and non-resident members of the Hollytree Country Club can access the golf course. Full members enjoy unlimited golf opportunities throughout the year, along with complimentary range balls, and may use the complete practice facility, including chipping and putting areas and the driving range.

Members can host their golf tournaments, corporate days out, or charity tournaments at Hollytree’s golf course, which accommodates events of all sizes. Hollytree’s tournament management services include scoring, on-course skills games, format recommendations, course signage, and clinics. The club’s staff provides world-class catering and service, and also helps hosts plan their events and take care of details. Depending on the event package selected, Hollytree staff may also take care of guests during dinners, luncheons, and award ceremonies.