Lake Junaluska at Lake Junaluska Golf Course

Lake Junaluska Golf Course sits in the mountains of western North Carolina near Waynesville, occupying land adjacent to the lake and conference center that share its name. Tom Bendelow designed the course in the 1920s during his prolific period of creating affordable, accessible layouts across the United States. Bendelow, a Scottish immigrant who worked for Spalding and designed hundreds of courses, typically produced straightforward designs that fit naturally into their terrain without extensive earthmoving, and Lake Junaluska follows this practical approach.

The course plays through rolling mountain terrain with elevation changes that reflect the Appalachian setting. The routing takes advantage of the natural topography, with holes that move through wooded corridors and open areas offering views of the surrounding peaks. The layout remains relatively short by modern standards, consistent with Bendelow's philosophy of creating playable golf for everyday golfers rather than championship tests. The property's connection to the Lake Junaluska Assembly, a Methodist retreat and conference center established in the early twentieth century, gives the course a community-oriented character distinct from resort or private club settings.

The course serves both visitors to the conference center and local golfers, maintaining its role as an accessible mountain layout. Its age and Bendelow pedigree place it among the historic courses in the North Carolina mountains, though it operates without the prominence of nearby resort destinations. The design retains the essential character of early American golf architecture adapted to mountain terrain.