For decades, Challenger 3 par three golf course provided entertainment to families in Cleveland County with its miniature golf course, go-carts and more.
Now, there are plans in the works to breathe new life into the vacant property at 1650 N. Post Road in Shelby.
Hangtime Golf, located in Gastonia, recently announced plans to open a second location this year at the site of the former Challenger 3.
HangTime Golf has a driving range in Gastonia on South New Hope Road.
“Coming soon, opening of second location in Shelby,” the announcement said on its website. “With InRange tracing technology, mini golf and a batting cage, it’s sure to have something for everyone!”
In addition to offering cutting-edge Toptracer bays, HangTime Golf also has refreshment options with a full bar and kitchen.
Challenger 3 was opened in the 1980s.
During its heyday, Challenger 3 included an 18-hole par three golf course, three go kart tracks, an 18 hole Putt-Putt course, batting cages and bumper boats with squirt guns. It was sold in 2019 and briefly became Oak Mills Fun Park. COVID-19 threw a wrench in the new owners’ plans and it changed hands again in 2023 when ME Brown Enterprise purchased the 63-acre park, but the property sat untouched until its most recent sale.
According to Cleveland County GIS, the property is valued at $700,000 and is owned by Divot Development Group. It was bought by ME Brown Enterprises in 2023 for $925,000, and the land was divided with a little over half sold in July, 2024, to North Point Custom Builders and the remainder to Divot Development Group in Dec. of 2024. The properties sold for a combined $2.5 million.
One of the owners, Adam Rappaport, said they are planning to complete their plans for the golf course in stages.2
“We’re going to hopefully have the first stage up and running in June, which is what we’re projecting, and then we’re going to add additional things as we go,” he said.
Rappaport said they were going to start off with a Top Golf-like driving range game.
“We’re hoping to have that up and running as well as refurbish the miniature golf course and then hopefully in the next year or so, get the par-three course up and running again,” he said.
This isn’t the first time HangTime Golf has had experience revitalizing a course.
According to their website, the Gastonia driving range underwent a transformation in 2020 when it was revived under new ownership, “evolving from neglect to a haven for golf enthusiasts and leisure seekers alike.”
Rappaport said the Shelby property will be family-entertainment centered around golf.
Eventually, they will offer food and beverage options as well.
“It’s going to mirror what we have in Gastonia,” he said.
They’ll offer burgers, hotdogs, pizza, buffalo wings, appetizers and pretzels. There will also be a full bar.
“Hopefully late summer, early fall we’ll have the kitchen and bar in place,” he said.
Rappaport said the property first caught his eye several years ago, and he’s spent time playing golf on the Deerbrook Golf Course, but he wasn’t ready to buy at that point.
“Here we’re able to circle back and still do it,” he said. “It’s going to give us the opportunity to do some things we don’t really have the space for right now in Gastonia.”
He said they may add a pitch and putt course and possibly pickleball courts in the future.
Liquid Design, the same company that helped design the Whitewater Center, is helping them with their designs.
