Cullasaja Club sits on a densely wooded plateau overlooking the Cullasaja River gorge. The course, designed by Arnold Palmer, follows the natural topography of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, with narrow, rolling fairways that thread through mature hardwoods and rhododendron thickets. Elevation changes reach as much as 200 feet between tee boxes and greens, creating dramatic downhill shots on several holes and uphill approaches on others. Native granite outcroppings frame several greens, and the course incorporates streams and small waterfalls that feed into the river below. The layout alternates between tight, tree-lined corridors and more open, high-lying holes that expose players to prevailing mountain winds. The bent-grass greens are fast and undulating, often requiring precise distance control. The course is maintained year-round, with winter play sometimes limited by frost or occasional snowfall.