Valley in New Jersey is usually at the top, with huge sandy waste areas and almost no room for a bad shot. Carnoustie in Scotland earned the nickname "Car-nasty" for its brutal wind and deep pot bunkers. Then there's the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, where coastal gusts can easily add strokes to your round, and Oakmont in Pennsylvania, known for lightning-fast greens. What makes a course tough is usually the same mix: length, wind, hazards, and tricky greens.

You don't have to fly overseas for a real test, though. Mountain golf brings its own challenges, like uneven lies, elevation changes that mess with club selection, and greens that break toward the valley. Some of the most demanding Highlands NC Golf Courses are tucked in the Blue Ridge. One worth knowing about is Burlingame Country Club in nearby Sapphire, a private Tom Jackson design set between 3,000 and 3,500 feet that plays harder than most courses in the state. If you're up for the challenge, contact Burlingame today to ask about membership or a guest round.

A golfing friend of mine played Burlingame last fall as a member's guest. He said the elevation had him second-guessing every club, and the back nine humbled him fast. But the staff were friendly, the greens were in perfect shape, and the mountain views made even his bogeys feel worth it.