HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Champion Hills Club has announced the hiring of Nick Auten as its new Head Golf Professional, bringing more than 25 years of experience at some of the country’s most respected golf clubs to the private Tom Fazio–designed community.
Auten joins Champion Hills after most recently serving as Director of Golf at Lake Hickory Country Club, where he led golf operations and member programming for the past two years. Prior to that, he spent nine years as Head Golf Professional at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, home of the season-ending PGA Tour Championship.
A North Carolina native widely regarded as a relationship-driven leader, Auten is known for building strong connections with members, mentoring staff, fostering collaboration, and delivering high-quality golf experiences. His leadership style and operational background align closely with Champion Hills’ commitment to service, excellence, and a premier member experience.
“To come back to the mountains of North Carolina and join a club like Champion Hills – one I’ve admired for years – is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m excited to help elevate the membership experience,” Auten said.
Champion Hills partnered with Troon, the world’s leading golf management company, during the search process. Troon assisted with candidate evaluation and industry insight, helping ensure a strong alignment between the club’s culture and leadership experience.
Auten steps into his role as Champion Hills – home to one of America’s top 50 residential courses – continues to build on its reputation as one of the premier private golf clubs in the nation.
For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.ChampionHills.com or call (828) 696-1962.
About Champion Hills
Champion Hills is a private boutique club in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, situated just south of the acclaimed “Main Street Town” of Hendersonville and 45 minutes from Asheville. Its Fazio-designed “Mountain Masterpiece” is ranked among the top private courses in the state by Golfweek and is No. 47 on the magazine’s list of the “Top 200 Residential Golf Courses in the U.S.” Champion Hills is managed by Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon, the world’s largest golf management company.
Resident-members enjoy a balanced and relaxed lifestyle steeped in golf, tennis, fitness, hiking and swimming, all surrounded by the recreation, entertainment and culture of Western North Carolina. Unlike many private, seasonal mountain communities, Champion Hills offers year-round golf and activities, as well as casual and fine dining options.
