28 Years and counting...
Friends. Family. Golf
Welcome
Friends. Family. Golf.
For twenty-eight years, captains and friends have gathered during the second week of May for the Challenge Cup. What began as a golf tournament has become a tradition built on fathers and sons, competition, and lasting friendships.
The Challenge Cup is an invitation-only event. If a captain has shared this link with you, you’ve been invited to become part of that tradition.
Over the years, courses have changed, teams have changed, and new generations have joined the Cup. But the heart of the week has stayed the same: great golf with friends and family.Â
We’re glad you’re here. Welcome to the Challenge Cup.
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Monday, September 21
10:00am – 10:30am
Arrive at Farmlinks Driving Range
11:00am
First group Tee-off
4:00pm
Check in to the Cottages
6:00pm
Dinner and Presentation by Vapor Ministries
8:00pm
Challenge Cup Captains Meeting
9:00pm
Dismiss
Tuesday September 22
7:00am – 8:00am
Breakfast
9:00am
Range/Warm-up available
10:00am
First group Tee-off
2:30pm
Dismiss to go home
The Golf Course
Rumbling Bald
Located in the mountains of Lake Lure, North Carolina, Rumbling Bald is home to two great golf courses and some of the best scenery you’ll find anywhere.
Apple Valley, designed by Dan Maples, is the longer and more open of the two. With wide fairways, big greens, and incredible mountain views, there’s plenty of room to play—but plenty of trouble if you get too aggressive.
Bald Mountain is shorter, tighter, and requires a little more strategy. Tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, and smaller greens make accuracy more important than distance.Â
Two courses with completely different personalities, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s going to be a great setting for the Challenge Cup.
Questions
Everything Else
Because this is our first Captain’s Gathering, we’re treating it as both a reunion and a conversation about the future. We can’t wait to spend time together, hear your ideas, and experiment with new ways to ensure the Challenge Cup remains a meaningful tradition for years to come.
Who is eligible to play?
The Challenge Cup is an event for amateur golfers. To participate, you must maintain amateur status at the time of the tournament. Anyone with active or pending professional golf status is not eligible to compete.
How do I get invited?
Every golfer in the Challenge Cup is invited by one of our team captains. If a captain sent you this website, congratulations—you’ve been invited to join his team.
I’ve never played in the Challenge Cup. What should I expect?
Expect good golf, plenty of competition, and a lot of fun. One of the best parts of the Challenge Cup is that guys who first came as guests often return year after year as friends.
I'd like to play but I haven't been invited
We have lots of people who have asked to be part of the Challenge Cup, but we intentionally keep the event limited to a close group of friends and family.
We keep the event limited to preserve what has made the Challenge Cup special for nearly three decades—the relationships, traditions, and friendships that have grown around it.
For that reason, participation is by invitation only, and all invitations are extended through our team captains.
Do I need to have an official handicap?
No. The Challenge Cup is a match-play event, and all matches are played and scored at gross. We do not use GHIN handicaps or apply handicap strokes during the tournament.
What is the format?
The Challenge Cup is a team match-play competition. Golfers compete in matches throughout the tournament, earning points toward their team’s overall score. The team with the most points at the end of the week wins the Challenge Cup.
Where do we play?
The 2027 Challenge Cup will be played at Rumbling Bald in Lake Lure, North Carolina.Â
Players will compete on two championship courses—Bald Mountain and Apple Valley—each offering a different test of golf.Â
We’re excited to make Rumbling Bald the home of the 2027 Challenge Cup.
How Much Does it Cost?
The entry fee for the 2027 Challenge Cup is $800 per player. Your entry fee covers nearly everything you’ll need once you arrive at Rumbling Bald, including:
- Two nights of lodging
- 18-hole practice round on Tuesday
- 36 holes of tournament golf on Wednesday and Thursday
- Dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday nights
- Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday
- Range balls and full access to the practice facilities
Players are responsible for their own travel to and from Rumbling Bald, as well as any additional meals, drinks, or personal expenses during the trip.
All player must be registered and paid by April 31, 2027.
If you have any other questions please contact your captain.
Register
Rumbling Bald
Located in the mountains of Lake Lure, North Carolina, Rumbling Bald is home to two great golf courses and some of the best scenery you’ll find anywhere.
Apple Valley, designed by Dan Maples, is the longer and more open of the two. With wide fairways, big greens, and incredible mountain views, there’s plenty of room to play—but plenty of trouble if you get too aggressive.
Bald Mountain is shorter, tighter, and requires a little more strategy. Tree-lined fairways, elevation changes, and smaller greens make accuracy more important than distance.Â
Two courses with completely different personalities, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s going to be a great setting for the Challenge Cup.
