SYLVA, N.C. — Arnold Palmer was considered golf’s king for his dashing play, public persona and never-ending association with his subjects.
Later in his architectural design career, Palmer also established himself as the Mountain King for his stunning work at Balsam Mountain Preserve, 40 minutes west of Asheville, N.C.
Palmer took natural incredible mountain scenery with hole routings built for his go-for-broke style, which today is open for limited public play-and-stays along with mountaintop homesites and cottages.
“I remember walking around with Arnold when he came out here for the first time and he would say, ‘this would be a good spot for a hole and this would be a very dramatic setting,’” said David Southworth, the original developer when it opened in 2000 who is now back overseeing the course…