NORTH CAROLINA: GOLFER’S PARADISE

Golf courses in the Tarheel State provide a wide variety of scenery, terrain and challenging play. Begin in the mountains, then head to the Sandhills region in the central part of the state to tee off at a legendary golf resort.

Stay and play at Bear Lake Reserve ($75 per round, accommodations $219 and up, 412 Lake Forest Drive, Tuckasegee, 828-293-3455, bearlakereserve.com). A resort community centered around a mountain lake, Bear Lake Reserve features a 9-hole, par 29 mountaintop course known for its stunning mountain vistas and diverse range of play. Guests get free all-day access to the driving range. Another notable course in the area is the Robert Trent Jones II-designed links at Sequoyah National Golf Club ($65 and up per round, 79 Cahons Road, Whittier, 828-4973000, www.sequoyahnational.com).

Next, travel 270 miles east to Pinehurst (80 Carolina Vista, 855-235-8507, www.pinehurst.com). Established in 1895, it claims to be America’s first golf resort and offers a variety of accommodations ranging from a historic inn to contemporary condos. Located in the Sandhills region in the central part of the state, it’s undoubtedly among the most legendary golfing destinations in North America, home to nine courses named simply by number. Highlights include the famed Pinehurst No. 2, a U.S. Open anchor site, and Pinehurst No. 3, the shortest of the nine, featuring small greens that demand precise play.

Pinehurst’s Bed and Breakfast Golf Package ($398 and up per person) includes accommodations, a round of play and a hearty Southern breakfast. The resort has a full range of dining and drinking options available, including a coffee shop and a craft brewery.

CONTRIBUTED BY BEAR LAKE RESERVE The view from a tee box at the mountaintop Bear Lake Reserve golf course in North Carolina.