ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The US Prominigolf Association North Carolina Open will be held later this month at Lakeview Putt and Play in Arden, N.C. Pro players will compete for a $2,500 prize.
The minigolf tournament will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, just days before the PGA TOUR brings professional golf to the Asheville area for the Biltmore Championship Asheville.
According to Lakeview Putt and Play owner Leslie Blaylock, the minigolf tournament, the final stop of a three-event championship series, had to shift its date after the big golf tournament was announced.
“We typically have about 30 pros and about 20 amateurs. This year, maybe a little bit lower, just because we had to switch our date because we found out that the Biltmore Championship was gonna be the original weekend that we had our tournament scheduled,” Blaylock explained. “We figured we cannot have a mini golf tournament the same day that the PGA is gonna be here.”
However, there are no hard feelings toward the PGA TOUR from its sister sport.
“Actually, we’re pretty excited about it,” Blaylock said.
Blaylock said that Lakeview Putt and Play has been collaborating with partners like Explore Asheville, the city tourism organization, and The Hop Ice Cream, to maximize exposure for her business during the event.
“We have been working with Explore Asheville to try to maybe get some of the families. Who, maybe somebody in the family is actually playing in the tournament, or maybe one of the family members is more interested in the tournament, but they’ve brought kids and other family members,” Blaylock said. “We’re hoping they’ll come over and play mini golf because it’s such a great tie-in with regular golf.”
The Hop, meanwhile, will over an ice cream flavor they crafted specifically for Lakeview Putt and Play at its locations citywide. The flavor, “Hole In One,” is chocolate ice cream with a caramel ribbon, mixed with mini marshmallows representing tiny golf balls.
“We’ve been using that flavor since we opened and they make it usually just exclusively for us, but they’re gonna have it available to all the golf lovers in the area,” Blaylock said. “As a small business, we’re hoping that the people coming here for the Billboard Championship will end up being better revenue for all of us, because hopefully they’ll explore the area while they’re here and not just stay on the grounds of the golf course.”
What to expect from a pro minigolf tournament
If PGA TOUR players arrive a few days early, they might even be able to catch the North Carolina Open at Lakeview Putt and Play.
The all-day tournament begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, and spectators are encouraged.
“We always welcome spectators. We have places for people to view and be here for the awards or whatever,” Blaylock said. “It’s fun, because I think the more people know about the sport, the more likelihood that other people might decide that they want to play. It’s always good for more knowledge that, hey, this is a thing. Who knew? You could make money playing mini golf.”
Pro players will play five rounds on the Lakeview Putt and Play course, navigating around obstacles like a ramp jump, a river and the longest minigolf hole in Western North Carolina.
The winner will receive prize money and a custom-made wooden trophy in the shape of North Carolina.
“It’s beautiful, and there’s a place to mount their winning ball on it,” Blaylock said.
If the winning player triumphed in the two preceding championships, too, they will receive another trophy, an extra $500 and proceed to the US Prominigolf Association Masters in North Myrtle Beach.
“We’re kind of like the final stop, you know? It’s like all the cards are on the table here,” Blaylock said.
For more information about the tournament, including amateur registration, visit www.lakeviewputtandplay.com/attractions/southern-swing-tournament.
Lakeview Putt and Play is located at 2245 Hendersonville Road in Arden, N.C.