On this episode of Sticks Together, we dive into our first big couples golf getaway with three other couples — a total of eight people heading to the mountains of western North Carolina for a weekend of golf, laughs, and a bit of "dancing" — the one, two, cha cha cha. We start by explaining why we picked this spot: beautiful scenery, cooler temps, and a region still recovering from storm damage that could use the tourism boost. We remind everyone to check local conditions if they plan a similar trip.
We break down how we organized the group: four couples with different golf skill levels, so choosing the right courses was key to making everyone comfortable. We stayed together at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club, taking advantage of their golf packages and included breakfasts — much nicer than a standard buffet. Stacey handled the travel planning, booking rooms, tee times, and managing the group’s payments to keep it simple. The only hiccup came when dinner reservations proved tricky in a small town for a group of eight, but we found great food and the best rosemary fries we’ve ever had at the Red Fox.
On Friday, a few of us snuck in an extra round at Springdale Resort, a charming course tucked into the mountains. We loved its combo tees, friendly staff, and quirky local touch — it’s the home of “The Spasm,” a hole tough enough to give you either a back or brain spasm. We dodged a quick rain shower, spotted wild turkeys, and settled into the weekend vibe.
Saturday’s main round at Waynesville was all about our unique competition format: the Cha Cha Cha. Slade, as commissioner of the competition committee, explained how it works — every three holes, the number of scores counted goes up: one, then two, then three, then repeat. To make it fun, we added a twist — a “free kick” where each player could kick their ball once to improve a lie. We learned what counts as a drop kick versus a punt, and we all bent the rules for laughs. Everyone’s scores counted at some point, which kept newer golfers engaged without too much pressure.
Saturday night, we wrapped up with a putting contest on Waynesville’s huge practice green — drinks in hand and a hilarious playoff finish. Sunday’s round switched up the teams: spouses paired up with the format calling for one male and one female score per hole, plus a mulligan that your partner had to hit for you. It kept the competition light and the jokes rolling. We made sure to adjust our official scores for the fun rules, staying true to proper handicap etiquette.
Along the way, we explored downtown Waynesville, caught the local Pride Parade, browsed shops, and even played some party games back at the inn — even if Slade still can’t quite wrap his head around the point of that one word game.
Our biggest takeaway? Traveling with other couples for golf is a blast when you communicate openly, have one person handle logistics, and plan formats that make everyone feel included. We came home feeling closer than when we left, with great stories and even better memories. If you’re thinking about trying it, we say take the shot. It’s probably more fun than you think — a true one, two, cha cha cha.