The Thermal Belt Advantage: Why Golf Is a Year-Round Pursuit at Champion Hills

(HENDERSONSVILLE, N.C.) — Conventional wisdom about mountain golf has always been simple: come up when it got hot, go home when the leaves fell. Sometimes conventional wisdom, depending on location, is wrong. 

On a January morning in Hendersonville, N.C., the frost gives way to sunshine, temperatures climb toward 50 degrees, and the view from the ninth tee at Champion Hills stretches across the Blue Ridge Mountains, revealing vistas hidden during the warmer months.

At the private club, perched approximately 2,500 feet above a town that bills itself as the City of Four Seasons, members enjoy the acclaimed Tom Fazio design throughout the year.

The thermal belt advantage

Geography is the key to golf being a 12-month activity at Champion Hills. 

Hendersonville benefits from its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains' thermal belt, where cold air often settles into the valleys, leaving some higher elevations comparatively warmer. The result is a climate that helps make golf a year-round pursuit at Champion Hills.

Yes, it’s cool, but the area mostly avoids the crippling cold that keeps golfers away from the course in the Northeast and Midwest.

One of Fazio's Signature Layouts

Legendary architect Tom Fazio has long regarded Champion Hills as his “Mountain Masterpiece.” He and his team carved the layout across 350 feet of elevation change with six holes playing slightly uphill while the others tumble through white pines, tulip poplars, rhododendron and mountain laurel.

Champion Hills’ most photographed hole is the par-3 ninth, where the tee sits approximately 125 feet above the green and a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains fills the horizon. The par-4 18th closes with a stream along the right side and an uphill approach to a two-tiered green.

Golfweek ranks Champion Hills No. 47 among America's Top 200 Residential Courses and No. 153 among its Top 200 Modern Courses, making it the highest-ranked year-round residential course in North Carolina. 

A year on the mountain

Perhaps the best evidence of Champion Hills' year-round appeal is found in its membership.

A decade ago, approximately 40 percent of members lived at Champion Hills full time. Today, that number has climbed to nearly two-thirds, reflecting a shift in how members view life in the mountains.

So, there is no off-season at Champion Hills.

Spring fills the mountainside with blooming trees and flowers. Summer delivers the cool mornings that help make mountain golf so popular. Fall turns the ninth tee into one of the most photographed golf holes in the South. Winter opens long views through bare hardwoods, and the social calendar stays full, from chili cook-offs to evenings around the firepit on the clubhouse patio.

Beyond the 18th green

Hendersonville's walkable Main Street is just minutes away, while Asheville offers dining, shopping and cultural attractions a short drive from the club. Nearby Flat Rock is home to the Carl Sandburg Home, and the waterfalls and hiking trails of DuPont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest provide plenty of reasons to venture outdoors, even in winter.

For generations, mountain golf was viewed as a seasonal pursuit, but at Champion Hills that calendar no longer applies.

The mountains change with the seasons, but the reasons to call them home remain remarkably consistent.

Champion Hills is a private club in Hendersonville, N.C. For membership information, visit ChampionHills.com or call (828) 696-1962.

Mountain Lake Reopens Historic Golf Course After Extensive Multi-Million Dollar Restoration

Led by Architect Tyler Rae, Restoration Project Revives Seth Raynor’s Original 1917 Design Features Alongside Major Agronomic and Drainage Infrastructure Upgrades

(LAKE WALES, Fla.) – Mountain Lake, the prestigious gated community nestled in Central Florida’s lake district, has officially reopened its historic golf course following an extensive, multi-million-dollar restoration project led by renowned course architect Tyler Rae.

The ambitious project, which commenced on April 20, centered on three primary objectives: the complete infrastructure reconstruction and redesign of all putting surfaces, the modernization and repositioning of the bunker complexes, and strategic design enhancements to every hole inspired by archival photographs and newly uncovered historical records.

Vermont-based NMP Golf Course Construction Corp. served as the general contractor, wrapping up heavy construction in mid-September. The final weeks of the project focused on the precision grow-in process of the new turf, particularly around the greens. It also included extensive relandscaping utilizing native trees, grasses and indigenous flora to elevate the course’s visual aesthetic.

The wholesale restoration of all 18 greens modernized their underlying infrastructure to ensure superior drainage and elite playability. Re-grassed with TifEagle Bermuda, each new putting surface now faithfully mirrors the dimensions, contours and distinctive characteristics captured in early 20th-century photography.

Similar to the work on the greens, the course’s bunkers underwent comprehensive modern upgrades designed to mitigate rising maintenance costs and prevent washouts during heavy rainfall or severe weather events. To complete the architectural time capsule, key bunkers across multiple holes were strategically repositioned to match their original layout.

To guide the restoration, Rae and his team meticulously analyzed a wealth of historical materials dating back to 1917, the year the course first opened. These primary sources included Raynor’s original sketch of the opening nine holes, ground-level photography and aerial renderings from the 1920s and 1930s. This deep archival research served as the blueprint for several landmark design restorations across the golf course, including:

Third Hole – The faithful re-creation of the original punchbowl green.

Sixth Hole – The return of the putting surface to its original location, shifting it more than 20 yards back to the right.

11th Hole – Rebuilding the fore bunker and regrading the approach to amplify the classic Redan characteristics of this iconic par-3.

13th Hole (“Road Hole”) – Reconstructing the bunkers to mirror the legendary Scholar’s bunker complex at The Old Course at St. Andrews, encouraging a more thoughtful tee-shot strategy.

15th Hole – A complete redesign reflecting the classic Garden City template, which demands precise tee-shot placement favoring the right side of the fairway.

18th Hole – The total restoration of the green’s original size and shape based on Raynor’s 1915 routing, highlighting a large false front and a distinctive kidney shape wrapped tightly around a deep right bunker.

“Restoring this golf course was far more than a standard renovation; it was a profound commitment to the architectural legacy of Seth Raynor,” says Eric von Hofen, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Mountain Lake. “This milestone marks the culmination of years of meticulous research and dedication from Tyler Rae, our Board of Directors, our executive leadership team, our members, and especially superintendent Brad Quackenbush and his grounds crew.”

“We couldn’t be more excited about the end result of this golf course restoration project,” adds John Dana, President of the Mountain Lake Corporation. “Our mission with this project was to accurately restore and modernize the golf course to highlight the strategic brilliance of Seth Raynor’s original design.”

Founded in 1915 with a master plan designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., Mountain Lake encompasses more than 1,000 acres of rolling topography and pristine lakes. Situated on one of the highest land formations in Florida, the secure private community offers sweeping panoramic views of the Central Florida landscape and the neighboring Bok Tower Gardens. This historic enclave features a collection of residences crafted by legendary architects for some of the nation’s most prominent families, preserved today by homeowners who act as dedicated stewards of their timeless exteriors and updated interiors.

The social heart of the community remains the Colony House. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1916-era hub features sophisticated dining rooms, casual poolside cookouts, a fitness center, a library, 37 guest suites and full-service concierge support. Steps from the clubhouse, members enjoy pristine croquet lawns and a dedicated racquet sports facility bordering the first fairway. Mountain Lake also features a private shooting range nestled within a historic clay mine at the community’s edge.

For more information regarding the restoration or community real estate opportunities, please visit www.mountainlakeflorida.com.

L.A.B. Golf Introduces MEZZ.2i, Refining an Icon That Helped Drive Zero Torque Revolution

The First MEZZ Refresh in More Than Four Years Delivers a More Refined Shape, Improved Feel, and Dual Ball Pickup Options

(CRESWELL, Ore.) – L.A.B. Golf, renowned for pioneering Lie Angle Balance (L.A.B.) technology in putting, today introduced MEZZ.2i, the first refresh of its MEZZ putter in more than four years. Building on the legacy of MEZZ.1, MEZZ.2i improves on the original with a more refined shape, enhanced feel, and two ways to pick up the ball.

MEZZ.2i brings together Tour-proven design principles and thoughtful refinements across its shape, feel, and performance. The result is a fanged mid-mallet that maintains the stability and face control golfers expect from L.A.B. Golf while improving the forgiveness and overall playability.

“The original MEZZ played a pivotal role in establishing L.A.B. Golf’s presence on Tour. With MEZZ.2i, we wanted to honor that legacy while applying everything we’ve learned over the past five years,” said Cameron Day, SVP of Product at L.A.B. Golf. “Rather than reinventing what already worked, we focused on making every detail better. From mass distribution and stability to how the putter sits, launches, and ultimately performs, every refinement was informed by years of testing and Tour feedback. MEZZ.2i is the culmination of that experience—a familiar design, fundamentally improved.”

Milled from 6061 aluminum and featuring a deep fly-milled 303 stainless-steel insert, MEZZ.2i delivers a soft yet responsive feel at impact. Optimized mass properties and refined sole geometry further enhance the design, while expanded alignment options help golfers aim with confidence. The putter also introduces dual ball pickup options, adding convenience to a design built around performance.

MEZZ.2i is built around L.A.B. Golf’s Lie Angle Balance technology, engineered to keep the putter face square to the intended path by eliminating torque. This design helps golfers reduce unwanted face rotation and putt with greater consistency.

Used in more than 1,100 professional events, MEZZ.1 has remained in play years after its introduction, underscoring the lasting appeal of its design. With MEZZ.2i, L.A.B. Golf applies the same commitment to performance-driven engineering that has guided its newer designs, incorporating Tour data and player feedback to evolve an established favorite.

MEZZ.2i offers L.A.B. Golf’s industry-leading customization including lie angle, length, weight, shaft, grip, color, and alignment options designed to help golfers find a setup that fits their stroke and visual preference. As with all L.A.B. putters, every MEZZ.2i is hand-balanced and assembled, passing through up to 10 different stages of craftsmanship before reaching the end of the production process.

MEZZ.2i is available today at L.A.B. Golf’s official website, with Stock models priced at $499 and Custom models starting at $599. The putter will be available through retail partners starting November 17.

Golfers can complete a remote fitting and explore available customization options at www.labgolf.com or in-person at an authorized fitting partner.

Apes Hill Barbados Celebrates Three World Golf Awards

(ST. JAMES, BARBADOS) – Apes Hill Barbados won three categories during the 2026 World Golf Awards at Madinaty Golf Club in Egypt on Nov. 7 – Caribbean’s Best 9-Hole Golf Course and Best Golf Clubhouse, and Barbados’ Best Golf Course.

The World Golf Awards recognized the wealth of experiences available at Apes Hill – from the Ron Kirby-designed 18-hole course where the Legends Tour plays each spring, to the family friendly Little Apes short course, and the property’s chic, casually elegant clubhouse.

“To receive these awards is a source of great pride for our team,” said Sunil Chatrani, Executive Chairman, Apes Hill Barbados. “They dedicate great care for the courses and into looking after our members and guests. These honors affirm their excellent work.”

Set within the resort’s 475-acre estate, Little Apes is a 9-hole, par-3 walking course designed for golfers of all ages and abilities. Its layout allows families and friends to enjoy a round in around an hour, while giving more experienced players the opportunity to test their short game by chasing the challenging pin placements. The course takes inspiration from well-known golf holes around the world, with views across the surrounding landscape towards the Caribbean Sea.

The 18-hole championship course makes full use of Apes Hill’s elevated setting, reaching around 1,000ft above sea level with views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Indigenous gullies and tropical vegetation shape the layout, which is complemented by the island-green 19th hole and a Golf Performance Centre offering technology-supported coaching and practice. Both Little Apes and the Championship Course are certified by Audubon International for their enviro and sustainability best practices.

The clubhouse, which overlooks the bonus, island-green 19th hole, features the Pro Shop, Noisy Cricket and 20th Hole restaurants, and is a gathering place for members and guests.

The World Golf Awards come on the heels of Apes Hill’s inclusion in GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World, which also recognized Apes Hill for “Best Lodging” among the Top 100 resorts. These honors celebrate Apes Hill's continuing investment in creating one of the Caribbean's leading luxury lifestyle destinations, where championship golf, wellness, nature, sustainability and exceptional hospitality come together within a single community.

For more information, please visit apeshill.com and/or:

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/apeshillbarbados/ 

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/apeshillbarbados/ 

Book Alert: From the First Tee to the Last Green: A Teen's Guide to Golf

Most golfers spend their time thinking about their next shot. But have you ever stopped to think about how the golf course you're playing was designed?

That's one of the interesting things about From the First Tee to the Last Green: A Teen's Guide to Golf, a new book from respected golf course architect Andrew Green and writer Lee Carr.

Set for release November 20, the book takes readers beyond the golf swing and introduces them to the history, strategy and architecture behind the game.

Green, whose golf course restoration work includes well-known properties such as Inverness Club, Oak Hill and East Lake, brings a unique perspective to the project. He shares stories from his career in golf course construction and design, offering readers a look at what it takes to create a great golf course.

The book also explores some of the game's most famous courses, why they are special and how golf course design has changed over the years.

One of the more interesting features is the opportunity for readers to try their hand at designing golf holes. The drawing exercises encourage young golfers to use their imagination and think about the game from a completely different perspective.

That's what makes this book appealing beyond its target audience of teenagers. Even longtime golfers can appreciate learning more about the courses they play and the history behind the game.

Golf is about much more than hitting shots and keeping score. The land, the design, the strategy and the history all play a part in making the game special.

From the First Tee to the Last Green offers a fun way to explore those connections and perhaps inspire the next generation of golf course architects.

For young golfers, golf fans and anyone who has ever wondered what makes a great golf course, this is a book worth checking out.

Kristin Powers Named Championship Director for 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Bethpage Black

(FARMINGDALE, New York) ー The PGA of America has named Kristin Powers as Championship Director for the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to be played at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

Kristin Powers

Powers will manage onsite operations, drive revenue and build community partnerships while collaborating with KPMG and the LPGA Tour to enhance the Championship’s premier status in women’s golf.

“Kristin brings a wealth of experience across our Championship portfolio to this role,” said David Charles, PGA of America Senior Director of Championships. “Her strong knowledge in executing world-class events, proven leadership abilities and familiarity with Bethpage Black and the New York market will help her deliver a fantastic Championship on Long Island in 2028.”

Now in her 10th year with the PGA of America, Powers transitions to the championship director position from a corporate hospitality sales role. She also previously held similar positions for multiple PGA of America Championships including the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club and the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club.

Powers also contributed to the success of numerous Senior PGA Championships, including as Corporate Hospitality Sales Manager in 2021 at Southern Hills and Marketing & Promotions Specialist in 2019 at Oak Hill Country Club. She launched her PGA of America career in 2016 as a corporate hospitality intern for the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club. 

“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead our onsite team for the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” said Powers. “This Championship boasts a strong legacy in New York state and its highly-anticipated debut at Bethpage Black will mark another memorable milestone. I look forward to working alongside our partners KPMG and the LPGA as well as the local community as we prepare to welcome the best women players in the world to Long Island.” 

A native of Rochester, New York, Powers graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she competed on the women’s golf team.

The 2027 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be contested June 24-27 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

For more information on the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, visit kpmgwomenspgachampionship.com.

Mountain Capital Partners Closes on Tubac and Sedona Golf Resorts

Through Dec. 31, the biggest Power Pass ever gives passholders a free round at each of four Arizona golf courses, while kids 12 and younger ski, mountain bike and golf free

(PHOENIX) – Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) announced today it closed on two Arizona golf resorts, giving Power Pass and 12 Day Power Pass holders a free round of golf at each of four Arizona courses through Dec. 31. In addition, kids 12 and younger can ski, mountain bike and golf for free on one pass, a combination no other U.S. season pass offers.

MCP, alongside affiliated fund Texas Capital Partners, acquired Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and Sedona Golf Resort, adding two of Arizona’s most iconic golf destinations to the Power Pass alongside MCP’s Birdie Ranch and Bison Golf Club in Show Low, Arizona.

The acquisition was led by MCP partner Kuzi Mutsiwegota, who oversees the company’s golf operations. Since acquiring its Show Low courses in 2023, MCP has tripled its golf business.

One season pass now unlocks skiing at 11 resorts across the United States and Chile, year-round, lift-served mountain biking at Spider Mountain Bike Park, and golf that now stretches from Show Low to Sedona and Tubac.

“It’s the most expansive Power Pass in our program’s history,” Mutsiwegota said. “We know of no other season pass in the world that gives kids 12 and younger free skiing, free mountain biking and free golf, with no adult purchase required. Kids who learn to ski and bike with us can now learn to play golf with us, too. That’s how you grow the game. Now the whole family has one more reason to get outside, year-round, together.”

What passholders get through Dec. 31

Courses: Sedona Golf Resort, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Birdie Ranch and Bison Golf Club.

Free round: One free round at each course for the passholder only; a $25 cart fee applies.

Who’s eligible: Power Pass, 12 Day Power Pass and Power Kids holders.

Half-price golf: Additional rounds at 50% off the tee-time rate during designated passholder hours through Dec. 31, subject to availability (Power Kids: 50% off the junior rate).

Half-price lodging: 50% off Sunday through Thursday nights at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa for Power Pass and 12 Day Power Pass holders through Dec. 31, 2026, subject to availability.

Details: Passholder hours and full terms at powerpass.ski. Power Pass prices increase after Nov. 6.

“We’re working on a more robust golf program for 2027, but we didn’t want our pass holders to wait,” Mutsiwegota said. “This is a chance for everyone to play these courses this season. We believe this makes the Power Pass the only outdoor recreation product in the world that pairs unlimited skiing with free golf at four different golf courses.”

Whether they’re golfing or skiing, Power Pass holders also have year-round access to Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock at preferred rates, plus a $30 food and beverage credit.

The golf expansion comes as Arizona Snowbowl prepares to open Nov. 20, aiming to be the first ski area in Arizona to open for the second consecutive season. In Chile, MCP’s Valle Nevado is wrapping up the longest season in its 38-year history, with daily operations through Nov. 8 and select dates through Dec. 1, while neighboring La Parva just concluded its longest winter season in history on Nov. 1.

MCP purchased Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and Sedona Golf Resort from the Allred family, who have shaped Arizona’s hospitality landscape for decades. Before founding The Arizona Hideaway Collection, the Allreds helped transform Telluride, Colorado, into a world-class ski destination from the late 1970s through the late 1990s. Current management and operating teams at both resorts have been retained.

“Bringing ski and golf together like this is a transformative step for Mountain Capital Partners,” Mutsiwegota said. “Our job is to take care of what the Allred family built and share it with more people than ever. I’m grateful to my partners and to Mike Allred for believing in what we’re building, and we will honor the trust they’ve placed in us.”

Rancho Mañana Golf Club in Cave Creek, the third property in The Arizona Hideaway Collection, remains part of the overall transaction. Its closing timeline has been extended to allow for municipal approval requirements.

For more information, visit tubacgolfresort.com and sedonagolfresort.com.