ASHEVILLE, NC - The PGA Tour golfers have an 18-hole trail to follow, but a local or tourist navigating the Biltmore Championship Asheville Week, Sept. 14-20, might need a bit of guidance for themselves.
The newest event on the PGA Tour schedule is the Biltmore Championship Asheville and will be held at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, a Jack Nicklaus-designed private golf course. Tournament week will be packed with events, activities, contests, specials, discounts and more for locals and visitors, whether attending the tourney or not.
Part of the fun of this inaugural event will be stumbling upon new experiences and creating your own memorable moments in and around Asheville, whether it's hiking through the Blue Ridge Mountains, cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway
or strolling through the Gardens at Biltmore Estate.
You'll also find lively neighborhoods and businesses getting into the action, offering themed specials, activities, discounts, deals and chances to win prizes.
More than 140 Buncombe County businesses will be activating creative experiences and perks for guests, according to Explore Asheville and community partner Go Local Asheville.
Be more than a spectator; get in the game and play your way through Western North Carolina. Here are highlights from the Biltmore Championship Asheville event week that will make you feel like a winner.
Play Through the Mountains scorecards for a prize
Explore Asheville's Play Through the Mountains collaborative online hub is a launchpad for finding Biltmore Championship Asheville-themed things to do, eat, drink and see. The tourism group is also challenging people to go beyond the fairway and out into the community, with the added bonus of potentially winning a prize.
The scorecard-style game tasks participants with visiting at least one local business sporting a "Play Through the Mountains" window sticker in at least three featured neighborhoods, then having a staff member mark their physical or digital scorecard. Upload a photo of the completed card via the QR code to enter and win a prize.
"Biltmore Championship Asheville is expected to draw more than 100 players, thousands of spectators, upwards of $10 million in direct spending for area businesses, and hours of live national television coverage shining a light on the beauty of our region,” Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, said in a news release. “The Play Through the Mountains cooperative promotion encourages these incredible impacts from the championship to reach more areas of Buncombe County and boost our local area businesses ahead of peak fall season.”
The neighborhoods are Weaverville, North Asheville/Woodfin, Black Mountain/Swannanoa, Fairview, Downtown Asheville, East Asheville, West Asheville, the River Arts District and Historic Biltmore Village.
Scorecards are available at several area businesses listed on the Play Through the Mountains website, can be printed at home, or can be downloaded from the Play Through the Mountains mobile app. For more, visit exploreasheville.com.
$5k on the line in 100-foot Putt Challenge
Biltmore Village is making history again by hosting a temporary 100-foot putting green where the public can take a swing for a chance to win a $5,000 prize package ― no golf experience is required.
Presenting sponsor Southwest Greens of Asheville will construct the professional-level custom putting green in a parking lot on Boston Way, featuring slopes, contours, obstacles and water features for the 100-Foot Putt Challenge.
The competition is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sept. 15 during Biltmore Village's Block Party, which will be 2-6 p.m.
The Block Party is free and will feature a deejay set by Kipper Schauer, food, drinks and shopping at the district's businesses.
All ages are invited to take a swing on the green for $5 for three shots before the official competition.
Competitors vying for the $5,000 prize must pay $40 per attempt; tickets are limited.
The grand prize includes:
- Tickets to the final day of PGA Biltmore Championship Asheville
- A round of golf for four at Kiawah Island
- Annual passes to Biltmore Estate
- A getaway package at the Grand Bohemian Lodge
- Gift cards to Biltmore Village’s restaurants
- And additional prizes and experiences from participating partners.
Proceeds from the 100-benefit The Cathedral of All Souls' historic restoration efforts following damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Biltmore Village was flooded when the Swannanoa River rose to a record 27.33 feet during Helene in the fall of 2024.
For more details and to purchase putting tickets, visit historicbiltmorevillage.com.
Also, stop by Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden for Ace & Eagle's PGA Week Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge, Sept. 14-20, at 284 Lyman St., to get on the leaderboard and compete to win a $150 cash prize and a $50 Hi-Wire gift card. All skill levels are welcome. It costs $10 for five shots, and rental clubs are provided. For more, visit aceandeagleavl.com.
Golf week neighborhood experiences, discounts
Save a few bucks while others putt.
Play Through the Mountains highlights participating businesses' offerings and recommends things for visitors to check outin the neighborhoods. It also offers hospitality discounts and packages to enhance your week or encourage a return visit.
Several things to look out include:
- 20% off community or private sessions at Drip Sauna from Sept. 14-20 by showing a Biltmore Championship ticket or credential.
- 15% off a stay at Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins' A-frame cabins off the French Broad River through Sept. 22 by booking with the discount code 'golf15.'
- 20% off factory tours and 20% off select chocolates at French Broad Chocolates from Sept. 14-20.
- 15% off any LaZoom tour using the promo code 'PGAFAN' from Sept. 13-25.
- Enjoy a Par 3 prix fixe dinner at Gemelli, an Italian restaurant in Biltmore Village, for $55, from Sept. 14-17
- Enjoy a Hole-in-One prix fixe dinner at Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village from Sept. 14-17
Find these deals and experiences and more at exploreasheville.com.
Need more golf?
This is Biltmore Championship Asheville's debut year, with another three years contracted between the PGA Tour and co-title sponsors Explore Asheville and Biltmore through 2029.
Biltmore Championship Asheville Week runs Sept. 12-22, anchoring two other tournaments.
The J.T. Poston Invitational is scheduled for Sept. 12-15 in Waynesville.
The 66th Annual Skyview Golf Tournament will be held from Sept. 21-22 at the Country Club of Asheville. It's the nation's oldest Black golf tournament.
For more, visit jtpostoninvitational.com and skyviewgolfasheville.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of USA TODAY Co., covering the PGA Tour's Biltmore Championship Asheville and the food and beverage industry. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: If you're headed to the PGA Tour's new Biltmore Championship Asheville, here's what you need to know
