STATESVILLE, N.C. – American Greens, a national leader in golf-related synthetic turf installations, and The 500 Club have announced completion of an exciting new concept golf entertainment destination at The 500 Club on Lake Norman, North Carolina. The completed project is a themed 9-hole chipping course called THE GRAVEYARD, designed to deliver social, hospitality-forward golf experiences for players of every age and ability.
“This is exactly the kind of project we really enjoy – building accessible, experience-first environments that introduce more people to the great game of golf,” said Mike Long, Founder of American Greens. American Greens designed and installed premium synthetic putting surfaces, custom undulations, and play features that deliver realistic ball roll and tournament-quality performance while fitting into the site’s natural wooded hillsides. Synthetic turf tee boxes lead to 10-to-30-yard holes, perfect for chips and pitches with 300 to 600 sq. ft. synthetic turf greens. Each hole is designed to be easily playable for beginners while incorporating the undulation and slope for more advanced players to hit strategic shots.
Design & Experience Philosophy – Golf Entertainment and Hospitality
The development is organized around a single idea: make golf feel effortless, social, and entertaining. The fusion of golf, entertainment, and hospitality drives planning decisions from routing and sight lines to lighting, F&B placement, and universal accessibility. Facilities with a wooded hillside area on their property can now profit from that area that was previously deemed unusable.
THE GRAVEYARD is conceived as a compact, playful 9-hole chipping course that channels a vintage race-car graveyard aesthetic. Modeled as a creative nod to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car graveyard motif, The Graveyard incorporates curated hardscape and sculptural elements inspired by racing. The feature is intended to be high-character and whimsical while also providing a challenging layout, the kind of themed short-game attraction that turns practice into an immersive social moment and photo opportunity.
Planning & Build Considerations
During planning and construction, American Greens and The 500 Club prioritized:
- Turf selection and sub-base engineering for realistic ball roll, durability, and low maintenance.
- Custom shaping and hazard design that balance challenge with efficient pace of play.
- Stormwater management and drainage that preserve the site’s natural contours.
- ADA compliance and universal design for broad accessibility.
- Integrated evening lighting for safety and theatrical ambiance.
- Hospitality staging, F&B placement, and service access that support revenue and guest experience.
Media & Industry Opportunities
American Greens and The 500 Club welcome coverage from industry publications and trade press interested in the technical and creative aspects of the build, please contact the media representatives below for more information.
About American Greens
Founded in 1999, American Greens has over 27 years of experience in golf-related synthetic turf installations and a track record of delivering realistic, high-performance playing surfaces all over the US. The company is extremely grateful to have been involved in an extensive number of golf entertainment projects of all shapes and sizes. Based on the volume of golf entertainment project inquiries and feedback on ROI on completed projects from previous customers, the company feels the future looks bright for the industry in the golf entertainment category.
Media Contact:
American Greens – info@americangreens.com – 877-408-3636
