North Carolina course preparing to unveil new Champion Bermudagrass greens

Rumbling Bald, a 36-hole golf resort in Lake Lure, North Carolina, will reopen its Dan Maples-designed Apple Valley Golf Course later this summer following a conversion to Champion Bermudagrass greens. 

 

Apple Valley began its transition from bentgrass to Champion in June. After exhaustive research and testing, Champion was selected for its performance profile, heat tolerance and ease of maintenance. 

 

Champion Bermuda is a product of Bay City, Texas-based Champion Turf Farms. Founded by Morris Brown in 1966, other North Carolina courses with the grass include Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte (G-12), site of the 2017 PGA Championship, and Pinehurst No. 2, host of the 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024 U.S. Opens.

 

“Golfers are going to love putting on these greens, and my staff is going to enjoy taking care of them,” Rumbling Bald director of golf course maintenance Matt Lovell said. “Bentgrass requires more maintenance throughout the summer, from additional water to fans. With Champion Bermuda, we’ll be able to focus entirely on the golfer experience.” 

 

The golfer experience at one of western North Carolina’s only 36-hole golf destinations continues to be enhanced. Other improvements at Apple Valley and Bald Mountain include tree removal, new landscape and E-Z-GO carts with USB ports. 

 

“Our golf courses are an invaluable amenity here at Rumbling Bald, and we’ve committed to providing guests with an outstanding playing surface from tee to green,” general manager Jeff Geisler said. “The greens on Apple Valley are growing in nicely and we’re excited to share them with the golfing world this summer and fall.”