Transition to new putting surface grass scheduled to start in June
Apple Valley, bordering Lake Lure in the North Carolina Mountains, is one of two elite championship courses at Rumbling Bald Resort.
LAKE LURE, N.C. – Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf resort on North Carolina’s stunning Lake Lure, has selected Champion Bermuda turfgrass for the greens on Apple Valley, its marquee course.
Designed by noted golf course architect and Pinehurst native Dan Maples, Apple Valley will start its transition from its original bentgrass greens to smooth-rolling Champion Bermuda in June. Champion was chosen for its superior performance profile, heat tolerance and maintainability. It has speeds up to two feet faster than other ultradwarf cultivars as measured by stimpmeter.
“We provide our golfers with the best possible experiences and Champion Bermuda checked all the boxes,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler. “Dan Maples’ layout and routing at Apple Valley is so pure from tee to green that smooth, true rolling Champion greens are the perfect fit.”
Apple Valley is in elite company with its conversion from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda. Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, site of the 2017 PGA Championship, and Pinehurst No. 2, host of the 1999, 2005, 2014 and 2024 U.S. Opens, have undergone the transition in recent years.
“We did our homework and Champion Bermuda came out ahead by a longshot,” says Rumbling Bald Director of Golf Course Maintenance Matt Lovell, CGCS. “We’re excited to see golfers’ reactions and receive their feedback once the conversion is complete this summer.”
Located along the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, golf is played year-round at Rumbling Bald. Champion Bermuda demands less irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides than bentgrass, and is suitable to North Carolina’s warm summer nights and temperate winter climate.
In addition to Apple Valley, golfers enjoy Bald Mountain, the resort’s original 18-hole mountain-style course. Designed by George Cobb protégé W.B. Lewis, Bald Mountain is a 6,300-yard shotmaker’s venue conveniently located next to lodging and amenities.
Apple Valley will close in early June and is scheduled to reopen in late August. For a full list of course maintenance dates and to learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www.rumblingbald.com
About Rumbling Bald Resort
Located on the north end of stunning Lake Lure, Rumbling Bald is one of Western North Carolina’s only multi-course golf resorts. An hour’s drive from Asheville and less than two hours from Charlotte, it features two contrasting 18-hole layouts: W.B. Lewis-designed Bald Mountain and Dan Maples-designed Apple Valley.
Rumbling Bald’s marquee course, Apple Valley stretches to nearly 6,800 yards and features expansive views of Bald Mountain and the surrounding Lake Lure area. Maples estimated 75% of shots at Apple Valley are either level or downhill, virtually unheard for a mountain course. Shimmering mountain lakes adorn 12 holes, but water only occasionally comes into play.
Bald Mountain, at 6,300 yards, is renowned for its unique configuration of five par 5s and five par 3s. Movie buffs appreciate the 16th green, the backdrop of a scene from the movie “Dirty Dancing.” A protégé of golf course architect George Cobb, Lewis is known for his traditional approach to course design. This philosophy is reflected in Bald Mountain’s playability from tee to green.
The resort’s 150 vacation rental homes, condos and studios are ideal for golf groups of various sizes and feature golf course and mountain views. Post round, golfers can relax at Legends on the Lake, casual dining on shores of Lake Lure, or grab a hearty sandwich and cold drink at Pinnacle Southern Kitchen at the Apple Valley clubhouse.
Rumbling Bald is rich with amenities and activities, including scenic Lake Lure boat tours, boat rentals, tennis, pickleball, a full-service spa and hiking trails. It’s the perfect basecamp for exploring the natural wonders of western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.