Seminal Tom Fazio design recognized as one of North Carolina’s top layouts
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (May 5, 2021) – Champion Hills, Western North Carolina’s premier golf community, announces its seminal Tom Fazio-designed course is ranked thirteenth in North Carolina in Golfweek’s prestigious list of the “Best Private Courses” in each state.
The annual selection of the country’s best private layouts is determined by Golfweek’s elite team of more than 850 course evaluators. Each year, the raters survey over 3,600 facilities, grading each in accordance with Golfweek’s 10 strict standards of evaluation.
The magazine ranks the best classic, modern, resort and residential courses, nationally, as well as the best private and public courses in each state. Champion Hills was ranked 64th in the Golfweek’s 2021 collection of the “Best Residential” courses, moving up six spots from the previous year.
North Carolina is one of the most golf-rich states in the country, with more than 600 18-hole equivalent courses and hundreds of noteworthy private clubs, including storied Wade Hampton Club, Quail Hollow (home of the PGA TOUR’s Wells Fargo Championship), Grandfather Golf and Country Club’s Championship Course and the Old Town Club.
“North Carolina is such a competitive market for private courses and clubs, and we’re honored that Golfweek has once again recognized the pedigree of our Tom Fazio-designed mountain masterpiece,” says Dana Schultz, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Champion Hills. “With our mild four-season climate here in Hendersonville and the course’s tee-to-green Bentgrass, our members enjoy golf year-round in the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Champion Hills is Fazio’s former home course and club, and the legendary golf course architect devised a brilliant routing through the heavily forested hills, deep ravines and cool mountain streams of its Blue Ridge Mountain setting. He and his team of shapers pulled ridges into valleys and filled hollows to create “playing platforms” providing golfers with level lies amid 350-feet of elevation change.
Said Fazio about his mountain masterpiece: “Six holes play slightly uphill on the entire course, but only six. Overall, the majority of holes play downhill. We did it through grading and do it through transition areas from the green to the next tee.”
Delicately balancing strategy and playability, Champion Hills features five sets of tees, including three rated for women. Additionally, “combo tees” placed 15 to 30 yards in front of forced carries eliminate stressful shots for higher handicap golfers or those with slower swing speeds.
Members are treated to inspiring elevation changes on several holes, including a 125-foot drop from tee to green on the par-3 ninth hole.
Champion Hills is a private boutique club in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just above Hendersonville and 30 minutes from Asheville. Champion Hills is managed by Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon, the world’s largest golf management company. At Champion Hills, residents enjoy the perfect balance: a relaxed lifestyle that offers golf, tennis and much more.
All surrounded by the recreation, entertainment and culture of western North Carolina. Unlike many private, seasonal, mountain communities, Champion Hills offers year-round golf, activities, and casual and fine dining options. And since 2013, property ownership is no longer a requirement for Champion Hills membership. For more information, visit www.championhills.com
