DJTheoret - 8/22/22
Lake Toxaway Country Club has a very interesting past. It all started in the early 1900s when a group of investors from Pittsburgh formed the Toxaway Company. After foregoing their initial plan to mine the land, they took on an even bigger project: damming the Toxaway River and creating a vacation paradise at Lake Toxaway. A few years after the dam was built and the lake was created, they built the Toxaway Inn and a 9-hole golf course, which played host to the likes of Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, R.J. Reynolds, and the Vanderbilts.

In 1916 two hurricanes brought an overwhelming amount of rain which led to the bursting of the Lake Toxaway Dam, thus burying the hotel and golf club. With no more lake, the vacation industry in the area dried up as well and the Toxaway Inn never reopened. In the late 1940s, the structure was torn down and the Inn’s contents were auctioned off.

Fast forward to 1960. Reg Heinitsh, Sr., and a group of investors came up with the idea of restoring the area to its turn-of-the-century appeal. They formed the Lake Toxaway Company and bought up 9,000 acres of property around the old lakebed at an average price of $50 per acre. They cleared the area where the lake had been, rebuilt the dam, and restored the lake to its original level, 3,010 feet above sea level. They began selling parcels of land around the lake as private home sites and gave property owners access to the private lake. Then in 1963, the Lake Toxaway Country Club was built and today, the Country Club is surrounded by a thriving community of almost 1,100 homes in a community surrounded by Hawk Mountain, Panthertail Mountain, Cold Mountain, and Mount Toxaway, along with several wilderness areas totaling more than 10,000 acres. The Heinitsh family still owns the country club to this day.

Although the lake and the golf course share the spotlight as the centerpiece of the community, the club’s newest amenity isn’t far behind. The Lake Club takes full advantage of the natural drop in elevation as you move toward the lake and in February 2021, the club was awarded 2nd Place by Golf Inc. Magazine for the 2021 Best New Amenities Competition. It’s the perfect location and offers an unobstructed view of the lake. The new 3,000-square-foot heated pool has a wading shelf, bubblers, and a perimeter overflow edge. There are two strategically placed lap lanes marked across the bottom of the pool which is also well-suited for water aerobics. The pool deck provides ample opportunities to soak up some rays and sit with family and friends under shaded umbrellas with plenty of lounging space. The deck area is huge and is perfect for private parties, gatherings, and meeting friends.

There’s a new bath house located on the pool terrace with restrooms, lockers, and an outdoor shower. Adjacent to the pool is the Youth Activities building which offers a safe gathering place for the younger crowd. Inside you’ll find air hockey and ping-pong tables and an assortment of other games. You’ll also see a new sidewalk and landscaped entrance with a gate as you walk into the pool area.

In the event you get hungry lying in the sun, the Lake Club Grille overlooks the pool and serves many purposes. Not only is it the perfect place for sunbathers to get a bit to eat while at the pool, but it also serves as a halfway house for golfers making the turn and those visiting by boat. The Grille serves a casual fare along with pizza and a full liquor license, all in a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll see patrons in bathing suits, flip-flops, golf attire, and deck shoes.

The 18-hole championship golf course at Lake Toxaway Country Club underwent a $9 million course renovation project at the hands of golf course architect Kris Spence in 2008. Not only did he rebuild greens and tees – he totally changed 14 holes, bringing the golf course at Lake Toxaway Country Club to a new level. I never played the course prior to the renovation but members I spoke with said that it took the course and the club to a whole new level. Apparently, the new layout is a lot more challenging and is no longer considered a quaint mountain golf course. Regardless of how good or bad you play the mountain views are spectacular at every turn.

The course features beautifully manicured Bentgrass greens, tees, and fairways, with bluegrass roughs and some attractive tall fescue native areas. Although it’s considered a mountain golf course, most holes play downhill or from elevated tee boxes, making it enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their skill level. Wide fairways and a lot of easy-to-find bailout areas make the course fun for beginners while low handicappers who appreciate a good risk/reward opportunity or hitting a challenging shot into a well-protected green. The course is fun to play regardless of your ability and, from what I saw, it’s quite walkable.

The first hole is one that I will remember for a while, not for its difficulty but for its beauty. It’s a 362-yard, par 4, dogleg right that starts with a tee shot over a creek and pond on the right side with trees on the left. There are a couple of bunkers on the right just past the creek. A good drive will leave an uphill shot with a short iron or wedge into the green. Front pin placements can be deceiving; whatever you do, take enough club to reach the middle of the green, regardless of pin position. There’s a false front and anything hit on the front part of the green will roll back down, picking up speed as it goes and leaving a difficult up and down to save par. It’s one of the best starting holes in the area.

Lake Toxaway Country Club has one of the best practice and learning facilities in the area, if not the state. The Tom Fazio Golf Learning Center is a 20-acre facility and a great place to introduce young family members to the game and hone your skills. The Club’s team of PGA Professionals offers a comprehensive player development program using Trackman swing analysis. They offer custom club fitting services and ongoing training programs. After a vigorous practice session, members can enjoy their favorite beverages at the Learning Center’s open-air pavilion overlooking the facility.

Lake Toxaway Country Club is a private country club with a full membership and a waiting list. However, there are a couple of ways to get on the course. The first is to rent a home in the community. Guests staying in certain rental homes enjoy access to all the amenities of the Country Club. The second option involves less of a commitment. The nearby Greystone Inn offers a Par-fect Golf Getaway Package that includes a two-night hotel stay, a round of golf for two, and a host of other hotel amenities. The Greystone Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has enjoyed tremendous success. It has been featured in more than 200 magazine and newspaper articles in the US and abroad. It’s a hotel stay you won’t soon forget.

  thegolfinguy@gmail.com - 7/12/19
Lake Toxaway Country Club – A Great Facility with Plans for the Future.

Lou Biago has been at Lake Toxaway Country Club for 37 years and currently serves as the Director of Golf. John Schoenbeck has served as the club’s General Manager for 4 years. Although there is a vast difference in the amount of time they been involved with the Club, both can tell you of the massive undertakings that have gone on at the club over the past 10 or so years. And, both will tell you that some of the biggest changes are yet to come.

For those not familiar with the property, Lake Toxaway Country Club is a private, gated mountain community located just minutes from Cashiers, Highlands and Brevard N.C. that sits on the shores of the state’s largest private lake, about 3,000 -3,200 feet above sea level. The Club is defined by its historical charm and refined Southern elegance and is the social hub of the community.

Lake Toxaway Country Club’s history dates back to the early 1900’s, when the well-to-dos of the era would descend upon the area to take in all that Mother Nature had to offer, while enjoying the company of close friends and family. 

As the area began to grow in popularity and became accessible by rail, a group of investors from Pittsburgh formed the Toxaway Company to acquire and mine land but saw greater profits in building a series of lavish resorts in the region. 

A few years later, the Toxaway Company took on an even bigger project: damming the Toxaway River and creating Lake Toxaway. They also created the most modern vacation hotel in the country. When the five-story Toxaway Inn opened in 1903, it had some of the most modern conveniences of its day: central heat and private indoor plumbing, long-distance telephones, elevators, a billiard parlor, bowling alley, and a gazebo for outdoor concerts. 

A few years later as golf was growing in popularity, the Toxaway Company built a 9-hole golf course near what today is Lake Cardinal. Over the next 14 years, the Inn and golf course played host to the likes of Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, R.J. Reynolds, the Vanderbilts and many other prominent individuals of the day. 

In 1916, the weather would change the history of the Lake Toxaway region as two hurricanes hit the area in July. In early August, a third roared in from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing over 20 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. Then, early on the morning of August 13, the Lake Toxaway dam burst spilling 5.3 billion gallons of water that rushed down the mountain as far away as South Carolina. Scars on the landscape can still be seen today. Now that the lake was gone, the tourism industry disappeared and the Toxaway Inn never reopened for the next season. In the late 1940s, the Inn’s contents were auctioned off and the structure torn down.

Fast forward to 1960. Reg Heinitsh, Sr. and a group of investors from Columbia, S.C. came up with the idea of restoring the area to its turn-of-the-century appeal. They formed the Lake Toxaway Company and bought 9,000 acres of property around the old lakebed at an average price of $50 per acre. They immediately began clearing the area where the lake had once existed, rebuilt the dam and restored the lake to its original level, 3,010 feet above sea level. They began selling parcels of land around the lake as private home sites and gave property owners exclusive private access to the lake. Then in 1963, Mr. Heinitsh built a golf course and formed the Lake Toxaway Country Club. Today, the Country Club is surrounded by a thriving community of almost 1,100 homes in a community surrounded by Hawk Mountain, Panthertail Mountain, Cold Mountain and Mount Toxaway, along with several wilderness areas totaling more than 10,000 acres.

The golf course is the centerpiece of the community. In 2008 it underwent a $9 million course renovation project led by noted architect Kris Spence. Not only did he do the usual - rebuild greens and tees – he totally changed 14 of 18 holes, bringing the golf course at Lake Toxaway Country Club to a new level.

This golf experience is enhanced by incredible views of sweeping mountain vistas and breathtaking topography. This 18-hole championship golf course has beautifully manicured Bentgrass greens, tees
and fairways, with bluegrass roughs and some attractive tall fescue native areas. Although regarded as a mountain golf course, most holes play downhill, making it enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their skill level. Low handicappers who appreciate a good risk reward opportunity or having to hit a challenging shot into a well-protected green won’t be disappointed. Nor will the beginner, who may require a little more room off the tee or a bailout area beside the green. No matter your skill level, you’ll find the golf course a challenge each and every time you play, and the stunning views create a memorable golf experience. Lake Toxaway is no longer considered a quaint mountain golf course, it is now a truly unique layout that will rival any golf course in Western North Carolina. 

Lake Toxaway Country Club is also the home of the Tom Fazio Golf Learning Center, a full-service 20-acre facility unrivaled in Western North Carolina. It’s a great place to introduce young family members to the game and hone your skills. The Club’s team of PGA Professionals offer a comprehensive player development program with Trackman swing analysis, custom club fitting services and on-going training programs. After a vigorous practice session, members can enjoy their favorite beverage at the Learning Center’s open-air pavilion overlooking the facility.

The Club’s 2,000 square foot fitness center offers a full complement of state-of-the-art equipment such as Cybex Treadmills, Precor Elliptical Trainers, Nautilus Resistance Equipment and much more. They also offer members year-round group classes such as Yoga, Total Body Conditioning, Pilates, Core Training, Hiking and more. If you’re interested, they can even help you design a personalized fitness plan and help you reach your individual wellness goals.

Lake Toxaway Country Club has one of the most active tennis programs in Western North Carolina, with programs that appeal to players of all ages and abilities. You’ll find five Har-Tru fast-drying courts that are open seven days a week from May – October, weather permitting. The tennis program features a full calendar of organized events, social outings, round-robin tournaments, men’s, ladies and mixed group clinics, and high-intensity “Tennis – Cardio” classes guaranteed to get your heart rate up! 

One amenity not offered at a lot of clubs is croquet. Lake Toxaway Country Club has developed a reputation as one of the country’s leading croquet facilities over the past few years and features a robust year-round program for Club Members and their Toxaway Mountain Challenge event plays host to some of the game’s finest international players. This isn’t a friendly backyard activity; out here they take their croquet very serious, with players clad in “whites” from head to toe. Rules are strictly enforced; no do-overs!

Part of the 2009 mega million-dollar renovation was a makeover of the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a lot more functional than its original design; less formal dining and more family based. What used to be two separate structures is now one building. There is still plenty of room to host formal events such as weddings, baby showers and anniversaries, but the emphasis has clearly shifted to a family-friendly environment. The bar area has been moved and greatly expanded. The décor is warm, friendly and inviting, much like a lakeside lodge. You’ll find a friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and culinary experts that create dishes that will tempt every taste bud you have. The Club also offers a full range of menus and services for special events, from a simple party to a gala wedding. Their Group and Events Coordinator can assist with planning your event, whether you have it at the club, your home, or another location of your choice.

When it comes to dining, Lake Toxaway offers first class culinary delights prepared by Executive Chef Greg McDonald, and personalized service from a front of the house service staff that goes the extra mile to treat all Members like family.

Members and their guests have several choices of dining venues to enjoy throughout the season. The Vanderbilt Ballroom is open in the evenings for member dining as well as Sunday Brunches during the season. The Vanderbilt Ballroom is highlighted by soaring cathedral ceilings and is popular venue for special member events, weddings, private parties and more. 

The Firestone Grille is open daily for member dining and is a popular gathering spot for lunch after a morning round and dinner specials. It was recently honored by Golf Inc. with their prestigious "Golden Fork" award as a Most Improved Restaurant in the private club category. On those cool summer evenings when you want to take in all that Mother Nature has to offer, the outdoor patio adjacent to the Firestone Grille is a popular dining option for causal fare, drinks at the outdoor bar or simply enjoying the beautiful view. A second outdoor patio with a view of the lake is also a preferred location for dining and drinks.

Lake Toxaway County Club continues to make improvements; they begin Phase II of the “The Lake Club” renovation this August and it is scheduled to be completed in time for the opening of the 2020 season. The Lake Club will include a modern family-friendly pool, an outside Grille with dining pavilion to service members, their guests, and golfers looking for a quick bite at the turn, beautiful new bathrooms with changing rooms and lockers, a youth activities building, and 3 new Pickleball courts. The new Lake Club will offer spectacular views of both the lake and mountains and will be within walking distance of the newly-renovated clubhouse and all other amenities.

Now that you know what Lake Toxaway has to offer, it’s time to check out how you can become a member. The Club offers four membership categories: Full Membership, Social Membership, Non-Resident Membership and a National Membership. Full Memberships are the most popular and offer unlimited access to the golf course, Fazio Golf Learning Center, dining facilities, croquet courts, tennis courts, the fitness center and pool facilities. Your guests will receive reduced access fees to these facilities and you’ll also receive temporary membership privileges for renters and guests. A Social Membership offers many of the same benefits with limited golf access. Non-resident Memberships are available for those who live outside the community; National Memberships are available for those living more than 50 miles from the Club. Want more information? Call Membership Director, Laura Johnson, at 828-966-4020. A one-time Trial Membership is available to those who are not and never have been members of the club and is subject to approval by the membership committee and board of directors.


In addition to having all of the traditional offerings of most upscale private clubs, Lake Toxaway ups the ante with a stunning new Clubhouse and less-common amenities such as Croquet and Pickleball. They also offer several creative programs such as hiking, biking and fly fishing. This coupled with the Club’s rich history, the mountain lake and the knowledge that more improvements are on the horizon, make Lake Toxaway Country Club unique among other private clubs in the area.

  jameswhinna - 8/4/13
Beautiful, pretty wet as lots of rain this summer, some blind shots

  rwcmac - 4/20/10