On August 23, 2022, the Asheville City Council voted unanimously to approve Commonwealth Golf Partners II – Asheville LLC (CGP) as the new operator of Asheville’s historic 1927 Donald Ross designed Municipal Golf Course. CGP will assume operations of the course beginning October 1, 2022 replacing the current operator, Pope Golf LLC, whose contract expires September 30, 2022.
CGP is a partnership between Peter Dejak and Michael Bennett. Peter has over 20 years of experience building, renovating and managing golf courses in the Middle Atlantic. Peter is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and is based in Pinehurst, NC. Michael is a Master PGA Professional and the President of the National Golf Course Owners Association Middle Atlantic. Prior to forming CGP, Michael was the Vice President of a large golf management company with 25 properties on the East Coast. His experience working in tourist driven golf markets like Myrtle Beach and Williamsburg, VA will be beneficial in Asheville as approximately 55% of players at the Muni hail from out-of-market.
The course will soon see significant capital investment, executed on behalf of the City of Asheville by CGP. The City has committed over one million dollars, and is currently seeking grant funding from multiple sources. Stormwater, greens, bunkers and fairway improvements are all slated to begin in the coming months.
Meet the New Operator
The public will have an opportunity to meet the new operator at a community meeting scheduled for September 1. Topics of discussion will include rates, transitioning employees between companies, capital improvement intentions and general topics of interest to golfers. Representatives from CGP will be present and available to take questions. City staff will also be on hand to answer questions.
September 1, 2022
6:00 – 8:00 p.m
Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Community Center
285 Livingston Street
Background
The Asheville Municipal Golf Course is owned by the City of Asheville and affectionately known by its patrons as the “Muni.” It is one of the oldest golf courses in Western North Carolina, having opened in 1927. A Donald Ross layout, it measures 6,379 yards from the championship tees and plays to a par 72. The course is heavily played, with an average of 41,600 starts per calendar year, 20% of which are started by annual passholders. The front nine is flat and wide open, while the back nine is tree-lined, with tight fairways, very hilly, and requires accuracy on every shot. The front nine and back nine are completely different, giving the golfers a wide variety of shot opportunities during their 18 holes of play. The course was the first integrated golf course in the southeast.
In 2020, a local filmmaker documented a brief history of the course including the history of its prized annual Skyview Tournament. The documentary aired on PBS and on the Golf Channel and can be viewed here.
For more information about the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, visit https://www.ashevillegc.com/
Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities
The Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities manages a unique collection of sporting & entertainment facilities and operations. Over 1.5 Million people participate in programs or attend events at the facilities, including the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, ExploreAsheville.com Arena, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, WNC Nature Center, McCormick Field, Aston Park Tennis Center, John B Lewis Soccer Complex and events permitted by the City’s Office of Outdoor Special Events.
Commonwealth Golf Partners
Commonwealth Golf Partners is a full service operator based in Williamsburg, VA and currently has properties in West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia.