The Dan Maples-designed Apple Valley Golf Course at Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf resort on stunning Lake Lure, officially reopened on Aug. 24 with new Champion Bermuda greens on all 18 holes.
With the National Weather Service predicting a warm fall season across much of the Eastern U.S., golfers have plenty of time to enjoy prime golf weather on the resort’s two 18-hole layouts, Bald Mountain and Apple Valley.
“With everything that’s happened this year, we feel incredibly fortunate that Apple Valley is reopening ahead of schedule,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler. “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,” says Lovell. “Golfers are going to 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.
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. And once Apple Valley reopens, so will Pinnacle Southern Kitchen, serving up comfort food favorites.
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.
A Mountain Golf Retreat
Tucked along scenic Lake Lure and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rumbling Bald is secluded yet eminently accessible from myriad metro areas. Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh, N.C., Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn. and Greenville and Spartanburg, S.C. are all between one and five hours away. The resort 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 of 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 along the 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. Families enjoy the Trout Stream Pool and Lazy River, winding its way through the outdoor pool area where guests relax under fan-cooled covered seating. It’s the perfect “base camp” for exploring the natural wonders of western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains.