Rumbling Bald

Apple Valley Golf Course at Rumbling Bald Reopens with New Champion Bermuda Greens

Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff

Geisler can only shake his head when asked about the reopening of the resort’s Apple Valley Golf Course just three months after it closed for the installa-

tion of new greens. “There was a time just six months ago when we considered shuttering this project until next year, but our board 44 and golf team held fast to our commitment of improving the golf product here every year,” Geisler said. “As it turns out, the timing was perfect.” Perfect, in that golf has undergone a resurgence amid the Covid-19 pandemic to rival the salad days of Tiger Woods’ prime in the early 2000s. Golfers played 10 million rounds in July, a 20 percent increase year-over-year. And the National Golf reports that August is tracking at the same pace. “Thousands of courses throughout the U.S. were closed in March and April but as an industry we could still end up ahead in rounds played by the end of the year, it’s just amazing,” added Geisler. “Golf is outside, it’s easy to socially distance, and keeping flagsticks

in the cups and removing rakes from bunkers minimizes touch points.” An informal poll of golfers making their way around Apple Valley and rolling putts on its new Champion Bermuda greens elicited glowing accolades. They particularly enjoyed the look (a deep green hue), feel (like new carpet) and consistency (putts stay on line and speeds are similar on all 18 greens). “With everything that’s happened this year, we feel incredibly fortunate that Apple Valley reopened ahead of schedule,” Jeff Geisler said. “We now have the entire fall golf season ahead of us with 36 holes available, and we look forward to safely welcoming golfers from around the region.” The course’s transition from bentgrass to Champion Bermuda began in June, as play was shifted to Bald Mountain. Ample rain and sunshine throughout the summer, coupled with the agronomic expertise of Director of Golf Course Maintenance Matt Lovell, allowed the popular Southern turfgrass to flourish out of the gates and quickly take root. “Champion Bermuda is naturally heat tolerant, easier to maintain in this climate than bentgrass and has speeds up to two feet faster than other ultradwarf

turf cultivars as measured by a stimpmeter,” said Lovell. “Golfers love putting on it and will appreciate the speed and consistency it provides.” Rumbling Bald has completed several golf-focused enhancements across both courses over the past two years, including tree removal and replanting, upgraded landscape, and new E-Z-GO golf carts with USB ports, complimentary coolers and bottled water.

For Southeastern region golfers in search of a fall getaway, the resort offers golf packages combining rounds at both courses with 150 sparkling clean vacation rental homes, condos and studios. Ideal for social distancing, they feature golf course and mountain views. Golfers can grab to-go meals from Legends on the Lake, the resort’s casual dining restaurant on Lake Lure. At Apple Valley, Pinnacle Southern Kitchen serves hotdogs, wraps, snacks and has a full bar. To learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www. rumblingbald.com, or email jdoran@ rumblingbald.com. To book packages directly, or to speak with a golf vacation planner, call (828) 694.3072.