THE SHORT TRACK putting course, THE GRAVEYARD pitch & putt, and a driving range with Toptracer technology
STATESVILLE, N.C. — American Greens, a national leader in golf-related synthetic turf installations, and The 500 Club today announced a collaborative planning and build phase for an integrated “golfertainment” destination at The 500 Club on Lake Norman.
The project will include a signature 18-hole putting course named THE SHORT TRACK, a themed 9-hole pitch & putt called THE GRAVEYARD, and a driving range with Toptracer technology — all designed to deliver social, hospitality-forward golf experiences for players of every age and ability.
“This project is exactly the kind of work we love — building accessible, experience-first environments that introduce more people to the joy of golf,” said Mike Long, Founder of American Greens.
Design & Experience Philosophy — Golfertainment and Hospitality
The development is organized around a single idea: make golf feel effortless, social, and entertaining. “Golfertainment” — the fusion of golf, entertainment, and hospitality — drives planning decisions from routing and sight lines to lighting, F&B placement, and universal accessibility.
THE SHORT TRACK will be an 18-hole, ~38,000-square-foot premium putting experience with dual tee boxes and nine ADA-compliant holes, allowing multiple playing experiences and inclusive access for guests and groups. Dramatic evening lighting, integrated hospitality touchpoints, and a relaxed pace of play will make THE SHORT TRACK equally compelling for families, corporate outings, and evening crowd play.
THE GRAVEYARD is conceived as a compact, playful 9-hole pitch & putt that channels a vintage race-car graveyard aesthetic. Modeled as a creative nod to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car graveyard motif, The Graveyard will incorporate curated hardscape and sculptural elements inspired by racing (used as visual inspiration rather than an endorsement). The feature is intended to be high-character and whimsical while also providing a challenging game — the kind of themed short-game attraction that turns practice into an immersive social moment and photo opportunity.
Driving Range & Short-Game Complex
Adjacent to THE SHORT TRACK and THE GRAVEYARD, the driving range and short-game practice area will be designed to serve both skill improvement and entertainment: target greens, flexible teeing surfaces, collection areas, and evening lighting. The plan emphasizes guest flow between playing areas and the clubhouse to enable seamless food & beverage service and private event programming.
During planning and pre-construction, American Greens and The 500 Club are prioritizing:
- Turf selection and sub-base engineering for realistic ball roll, durability, and low maintenance
- Custom shaping and hazard design that balance challenge with efficient pace of play
- Stormwater management and drainage that preserve the site’s natural contours
- ADA compliance and universal design for broad accessibility
- Integrated evening lighting for safety and theatrical ambiance
- Hospitality staging, F&B placement, and service access that support revenue and guest experience
“From day one our goal has been to create a destination that blends best-in-class turf science with hospitality and unique design that leans into our racing roots,” said Jana Chanthabane, General Manager The 500 Club. “We’re building experiences — not just holes — and the planning phase is where guest journeys, operational flow, and profitability all come together.”
About the Partnership
American Greens brings decades of installation experience and specialized knowledge in synthetic turf for golf environments; the company has completed thousands of installations and more than one million square feet of turf nationwide. The 500 Club contributes a hospitality and golf operations mindset focused on accessible, revenue-driving experiences for the Lake Norman community. Together, the organizations aim to set a new standard in golf-forward entertainment and community engagement.
