Champion Hills Club in North Carolina is heading into the heart of summer riding a wave of momentum after fully reopening its Tom Fazio-designed golf course following a significant renovation.
Champion Hills’ golf course, widely regarded as one of Fazio’s finest designs, returned to full play in May with the completion of the 18th hole, following a phased reopening in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated the property in September last year.
The storm caused washouts, landslides and erosion, particularly along the course’s natural creeks. Holes 11, 15, 16 and 18 suffered the brunt of the damage.
“From the very beginning, 2025 was going to be a big year for us,” said the club’s Board President Milan Turk Jr. “We had major plans in place before Hurricane Helene, which created unexpected challenges for the entire region, but we never stopped moving forward. Now, it’s full speed ahead.”
“Repairs to streambanks and hillside paths have made the course safer and, in many places, even more visually stunning,” said Turk. “Holes 15 and 16, in particular, are absolutely breathtaking now, more dramatic, more photogenic, and every bit as playable.”
The improvements were guided by Fazio’s design team, some of whom helped build the course more than 30 years ago. “That continuity was invaluable,” Turk noted. “They understood both the terrain and the original vision, which helped us emerge from the work with something really special.”
The club also unveiled a significantly expanded patio space at the clubhouse, the heartbeat of the club’s thriving social scene. Featuring more comfortable seating, improved sightlines, updated railings, and enhanced shade structures, the expanded patio space offers members the perfect place to gather, dine, and enjoy the club’s famous mountain sunsets.
“We’ve added about 30 percent more square footage, and it’s made a huge difference,” Turk said. “Every social event now has a patio component. The views are unbeatable, and the fire pit has become a natural place for people to linger, toast and share stories.”
