A PGA Tour event will make its first stop in Asheville next year in more than 80 years. The Biltmore Championship in Asheville will be played at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and debut during the FedEx Cup on Sept. 17-20.
As part of a four-year agreement, Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville will serve as co-title sponsors. The Golf Channel will broadcast the tournament, along with three properties from PGA Tour Studios — PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, Sirius XM and the World Feed.
It’s been more than 80 years since the Asheville Land of the Sky Open was played in the Blue Ridge Mountains, said Tyler Dennis, PGA Tour chief competitions officer. “We are honored to partner with Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville on this exciting new event and look forward to building a partnership that spotlights the strength and beauty of the area and its community,” he said.
The unveiling of the event comes just over one year since Tropical Storm Helene left historic devastation to the region.
It will be the third PGA tour event slated for North Carolina next year, including the Truist Championship in Charlotte in May and the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro in August.
“Bringing a world-class golf tournament to the mountains of North Carolina creates an opportunity to make a positive, enduring impact on our community and economy,” said Mark Hemphill, chief marketing officer of Biltmore.” We look forward to an inspiring competition and inviting guests to discover the unique natural beauty and gracious hospitality of our area.”
The PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship in Asheville is expected to draw more than 100 players, thousands of spectators and millions of dollars in direct spending for area businesses, said Vic Isley, CEO for Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “Importantly, we value the charity impacts that PGA Tour events generate for host communities each year,” she added.
The Cliffs at Walnut Cove is a private facility in Arden, near the Asheville Regional Airport and downtown Asheville. Charlotte-based South Street Partners bought the Cliffs Communities resort properties in 2019.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the 7,167-yard venue sits in a valley bordering the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway.
First contested in the early 1920s, the Asheville Open was an official PGA Tour tournament from 1939 to 1942, with World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Hogan winning the final three beginning in 1940. The Biltmore Championship in Asheville will mark the seventh all-time Tour event in the city.