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A natural high in Brasstown ValleyBy Gary Daughters  Brasstown Valley's par-72 course was designed by Denis Griffiths. RELATEDYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSYOUNG HARRIS, Georgia (CNN) -- "I got lucky," says Jerry Spillett, as he takes in the view. Spillett, who hails from upstate New York, is talking about landing here at Brasstown Valley, high in the north Georgia mountains. Spillett, 63, is one of the many friendly hosts at this decade-old resort two hours north of Atlanta. With conviction tinged by a hint of amazement, Jerry lets you in on a secret. "Everybody here seems happy," he says. "I wouldn't be anywhere else." Cherokees roamed this gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains long ago, calling it their "enchanted valley." Bounded all around by hills, this getaway nestled in the shadowy peaks does enchant -- from the winding entrance off U.S. Highway 76, to the warm greeting guests receive at Brasstown Valley's rambling lodge, to the inviting first hole on a superb golf course. Brasstown Valley is a golf destination, but there's more to do than chase white balls. Across this patch of 500 acres, you can hike miles of trails, swim indoors or out, and get royal treatment from the resort's spa and massage therapy center. The eight-sided lodge features well-appointed guest rooms with a rustic feel, a majestic stacked-stone fireplace set in a cavernous sitting area and dining on local favorites like pecan-crusted trout, venison and even wild boar medallions. Spread across the grounds are eight spacious cottages, roomy enough for a full contingent of friends. Golf gone wildAbout the golf: Bring your "A-game." For a resort course, the par- 72 Denis Griffiths design is surprisingly stern. But given this layout's breathtaking beauty, your score just may not matter. From the first tee that's perched atop the hill it shares with the lodge, you'll make your way across a linksy plateau, then through the valley past ponds, meadows, wetlands and woods. So long civilization. The residents here are rabbits, deer and wild turkey. Even a small family of black bears is said to prowl the fairways at dusk. Among Brasstown Valley's most exhilarating holes is the cleverly bunkered third, a short par- 4 that ranks among the favorites of architect Griffiths. Earning praise from Doug Fisher, the resort's head pro (and another Northern transplant), is the knee-buckling sixth, with its risk-reward drive and demanding approach. The intriguing 13th skirts the site of an ancient Native American village, one of several archaeological treasures Griffiths uncovered unexpectedly, and went to great lengths to protect. You'll see some of the artifacts back at the lodge. Mountain paradiseAfter 55 years in Syracuse, New York, Jerry Spillett is here to stay. "You look at the mountains," he says."They make you feel so good. You never have a bad day." Gone irreversibly native, he'll offer up tips on the nearby barbecue joints, on the shortcut back to Atlanta, and the cultural goings-on just a few miles east at the Georgia Mountain Fair, "the country music capital of Georgia," where George Jones and Clint Black performed recently. Some local attractions: Take the short drive to Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia, for stunning views into three neighboring states. Try horseback riding at nearby stables, or a cruise on Lake Chatuge. Hike the steep hills of the Nantahala National Forest, shoot the white rapids of mountain streams, or track down waterfalls deep in the woods. Want more? There's plenty. Just ask around. 
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