Champion Hills Golf Club has reopened all 18 holes, following a renovation by original architect Tom Fazio that was necessitated by damage from Hurricane Helene.
Designed by Fazio in 1991, the course held special meaning. It was his home course for the many years he lived in Hendersonville, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The course traverses hilly, forested terrain and showcases tee boxes, cart paths and waterfalls accented by attractive rocks that were a natural feature of the site.
“From the very beginning, 2025 was going to be a big year for us,” said Milan Turk Jr., the club’s board president “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.”
Champion Hills returned to full play in May with the completion of the 18th hole, following a phased reopening in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The result of the repairs is a layout that retains its signature charm while displaying enhanced beauty and playability.
“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.”
Fazio’s design team, some of whom helped build the course more than 30 years ago, guided the improvements. “That continuity was invaluable,” Turk said. “They understood both the terrain and the original vision, which helped us emerge from the work with something really special.”
AURORA CC TURNS TO RAYMOND HEARN
Raymond Hearn has been selected by Illinois’ Aurora Country Club for a renovation and restoration of its Golden Age golf course. Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora was originally designed in 1914 by Tom Bendelow as a nine-hole layout. Bendelow added a second nine in 1915, with some publications suggesting that William Langford collaborated with Bendelow.
"What an honor and privilege it is to work with this historic club," said Hearn, founder of Reymond Hearn Golf Course Designs. "Our goal is to create a comprehensive Master Plan that involves sympathetic restoration."
Sympathetic restoration refers to a process where a course is renovated to restore its original design and character, focusing on the course’s history and respecting the architect’s original design intent, while also synchronizing with the modern-day game and maintenance practices to improve strategy, shot value, playability and sustainability.
“It’s a careful balance between honoring the past and adapting to the present,” Hearn said.
In 1935, the club consulted with A.W. Tillinghast for some select course improvements, during Tillinghast’s cross-country renovation tour on behalf of the PGA of America.
"We could not be happier to be awarded this prestigious assignment as I know the club had significant interest from a wide array of golf course architects," Hearn said. "We are walking in the footsteps of golf course architectural legends."
Hearn believes the course is a classic work of art that is ready to reclaim its place among the region’s best.
"I want the sympathetic restoration work to increase shot value, strategy, playability and beauty for all levels of golfing ability at the club, not just the single digit handicap golfer," he said. "I will obviously pay tribute and homage to the legendary architects involved with this design in my sympathetic restoration."
Tom Cross, master plan committee chairman, said Aurora Country Club has always been committed to providing its members with an exceptional golf experience and that this master planning initiative reflects the ongoing dedication to that tradition of excellence.
"We’re taking a thoughtful, long-term approach to ensure our course continues to be among the finest in the region for generations to come," he said. "Our partnership with Ray Hearn, whose award-winning restoration work speaks for itself, demonstrates our commitment to investing in world-class expertise as we plan for Aurora’s future. This process will be entirely member driven, ensuring that any enhancements align with our club’s values and our membership’s vision."
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
Exciting times for Bluejack Ranch! Thank you to our partners @tgrdesignbytw @TigerWoods @odonnell_jon for getting us to this point!! @kyle_moak and team are ready!!! @BluejackNation #greensideup pic.twitter.com/MNLLhOu3sK
— Eric Bauer (@BluejackNatTurf) August 14, 2025
NICK FALDO'S SAUDI ARABIAN COURSE REMAINS ON TRACK
Nick Faldo's Faldo Design remains on track to open a new golf course in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia in 2026. Located 30 miles from Riyadh, Qiddiya is a comprehensive city development that will house a variety of entertainment and leisure activities. In addition to the Faldo Design course, it will also be home to a course from Nicklaus Design.
The new course will benefit from distinctive aesthetics, notably via the 600-foot cliffs of the Tuwaiq Mountains that provide a memorable backdrop for the majority of the holes. Playability is also expected to be a pervasive trait, with holes designed to accommodate all levels of golfers. Platinum TE paspalum will carpet the layout, providing excellent playing conditions throughout the year. A separate 3-hole track, illuminated for night play will accompany the championship course.
"Qiddiya City’s partnership with Sir Nick Faldo in designing a new golf course and becoming global partner of the Faldo Series [junior golf initiative] underscores our commitment to growing the game of golf and nurturing the next generation of Saudi golfers," said Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company.
Faldo is equally enthusiastic about the project. "This is a unique opportunity to become involved in one of the most exciting cities being developed today where a new way of city life is fused together with sport, entertainment and culture," Faldo said. "Our partnership with Qiddiya City brings together the golf community with a whole nation bubbling with energy to be active and try new sports."
