A big part of me wishes I could snap my fingers and be back in the Yadkin Valley.
     Since the vacation is over and I'm back at work, I'll settle for sharing with you the highlights of the final  two days spent enjoying the first-rate golf, tasty wine and breath-taking scenery of this great destination in northern North Carolina.
    After a restful night in the Cabins at White Sulphur Springs, we made the short drive to downtown Mount Airy for breakfast at Barney's Cafe.
    Mount Airy is the birthplace the late actor Andy Griffith, who used it at the model for Mayberry, the fictional town that was home to Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith), deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and all the characters who became viewer favorites in the classic 1960s comedy series bearing Griffith's name.

 

     Barney's Café is a friendly, down-home place owned by Eric Fleming. Eric happened by on the Saturday morning we visited. Not only did he tell us about the restaurant's history and its popularity with local residents and tourists,  he gave us an authoritative scouting report on Cross Creek Country Club, the course we'd be playing later that morning.

Eric Fleming

 

     Eric is a longtime member at Cross Creek, which, as its name suggests, has water in play on many of its challenging, picturesque 18 holes. Before teeing off, we spent some time with Cross Creek's personable young pro, Brad Edwards.

 

     Cross Creek sits on a beautiful piece of land about three miles from Barney's Cafe. It's a superior golf course, as is Cedarbrook Country Club, mentioned in the previous "Affordabili-TEES. installment, and Olde Beau Golf and Country Club,'' soon to be discussed in this installment.
     Which carries me to this rave about the value offered in the Yadkin Valley Golf and Wine Experience stay-and-play packages. Check them out at www.yadkinvalleygolf.com.
     For two rounds of golf, two wine tastings and two nights lodging, the current prices range of $207 to $296 is off-the-charts outstanding.
     Back to the particulars of Days Two and Three of our stay in the Yadkin Valley.
     The round at Cross Creek was followed by another visit to downtown Mount Airy that included a stop at Old North State Winery.
      In the evening, we divided our time between stops at Round Peak Vineyards on the outskirts of Mount Airy and JOLO Winery and Vineyards in Pilot Mountain.
      Round Peak is owned by Mayfield Village native Ken Gulaian and his wife Kari Heerdt. They bought the winery, complete with a beautiful view of Skull Camp Mountain, in 2008. They're doing brisk business for their wines and craft beers.

Ken Gulaian, Kari Heerdt

      JOLO opened April 15 and is the newest addition to the burgeoning winery scene in the Yadkin Valley, in particular, and North Carolina, in general. Owners J.W. Ray and his wife, Kristin, see to every detail including the operation of End Posts restaurant.

JOLO

      Our stay in the Yadkin Valley ended on a sunny Sunday morning with a stop at Olde Beau Golf and Country Club in Roaring Gap. The one-hour drive from Mount Airy to Olde Beau was a bit of a test, but the experience of playing the course owned by well-known college basketball TV announcer Billy Packer justified the effort.
      The elevation changes on the back nine at Olde Beau are amazing.

No. 17, Olde Beau

 

      Here are a few parting thoughts for all you pondering a visit to the Yadkin Valley to enjoy the cool convergence of golf, wine, scenery and down-home hospitality.
      - Take advantage of the stay-and-pay packages offer by Yadkin Valley Golf. The prices cannot be beat.
      - Be prepared to do some driving to get to the golf courses and wineries. Our traveling times from the Cabins at White Sulphur Springs ranged from five minutes (to downtown Mount Airy) to one hour (Olde Beau). I suspect you'll experience a similar range of driving times using the other four choices of lodging offered in the packages.
      - Be meticulous about getting directions to the various venues.

     Round Peak Vineyards
     www.roundpeak.com
     765 Round Peak Church Rd., Mount Airy, NC 27030
     336-352-5595

     JOLO Winery and Vineyards
    www.jolovineyards.com
    219 Jolo Winery Lane, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041
    855-565-6946

    Old North State Winery
    www.oldnorthstatewinery.com
   308 North Main Street
   Mt. Airy, NC 27030
   336-789-9463

   Cross Creek Country Club
    www.crosscreekcc.com
    1129 Greenhill Rd., Mount. Airy, NC 27030
    336-789-1826

    Olde Beau Golf and Country Club
     www.oldebeau.com
     729 Olde Beau Blvd., Roaring Gap, NC 28668
     336-363-3333

     Barney's Café
     205 North Main St., Mt. Airy, NC 27030
     336-786-8305

      Stay-and-play packages
      Yadkin Valley Golf
      www.YadkinValleyGolf.com  
      121 Hamby Rd., Suite 318
       Dobson, NC 27017
       (855) 398-4653
       
       Tourism info
       Surry County Tourism Development Authority
       www.verysurry.com
  
       Cabins at White Sulphur Springs
       http://wsscabins.com/
       (866) 901-1910

   
    

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