Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers:

Question: Looking at the front nine at the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, I am reminded of the old joke, “How is making love with an elephant like dealing with the government? It isn’t much fun, you run the risk of being stomped to death, and it is 18 months before you see any results.” How does this apply to the Muni? It has been 18 months since the flood destroyed the front nine. And we have seen little results. So I have some questions for a fellow avid golfer: What is happening? I have heard there is money available. But we are dealing with the government and there is little transparency. What is the plan for rebuilding the course, and how is it progressing? It seems to me it is time for the city to provide the plan, and publish a timeline for the front nine to reopen. The course will celebrate its centennial in 2027, and it would be nice for the opening of the front nine to be part of the celebration.

My answer: I’ve got to say I’ll never look at an elephant the same way as long as I live. Thanks for that, bub.

Real answer: When I last wrote about the Muni, in July 2025, it was to note that the front nine was temporarily being turned into a disc golf course until the course could be restored. 

Chris Corl, director of community and regional entertainment facilities for the city of Asheville, said back then that the city and the company that operates the course, Commonwealth Golf Partners, planned to reopen the front nine for regular golf, but it would take longer than initially anticipated.

This week, Corl told me the golf course restoration plan is still moving forward.

“We began work last summer with our design team led by Biohabitats,” Corl said via email. “Ron Forse, a national leader in Donald Ross (golf course) restoration projects, is the lead golf architect. We should receive our 30 percent design documents from the team in early April.”

That’s a key step, as proposed mitigation plans will be included in the plan set, Corl said. Mitigation plans are important because nearly the entire front nine, which borders Swannanoa River Road, was inundated during Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.

When John Boyle last wrote about the Muni, in July 2025, it was to note that the front nine was temporarily being turned into a disc golf course until the course could be restored. // Watchdog file photo by Starr Sariego

Multiple greens were destroyed, and the flood left a thick layer of silt on the course, which originally opened in the 1920s and has a fascinating history of integration in the 1950s and ‘60s. Famed golf course architect Donald Ross designed Asheville Muni, as well as several other local courses.

I’ll note the Muni’s back nine, which is uphill of the front nine and heavily wooded, is fine and remains open. I occasionally enjoy going there and shooting double and triple bogeys but then recording pars on my scorecard.

Anyway, Corl said once they get those 30 percent designs in hand, “we will submit the plans to FEMA for review, which includes review by their mitigation and environmental and historic preservation teams.”

“We anticipate adjustments to the plan set will be required as we work through the mitigation approval process,” Corl said. “If all goes as planned, we should reach the 60 percent design mark in August, which will be the appropriate time to release draft design concepts.”

This fall, the design team will assist with the permitting process.

“This is necessary because the majority of the course is in either the floodway or the floodplain,” Corl said. “The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office will need to review (plans) since the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

This all points to more tangible work taking place next year.

“We hope to complete the design in January 2027 and have the construction documents ready to post a bid for construction services in early 2027,” Corl said. “Upon design completion, we will be able to commit to a true construction schedule because we’ll know the full scope of the project, the depth of the work, and the anticipated growth period.”
Last year, FEMA announced a $29 million allotment of funds to western North Carolina to reimburse municipalities and state agencies for hurricane recovery projects, including $7.7 million for rebuilding the Muni, as reported by BPR news.

Question: Can you chase down why the Sheetz on Airport Road hasn’t opened? Something smells a little Sheetzie to me. I mean, holy Sheetz! Having the store built but not open just seems bat Sheetz crazy. Anyway, hoping you can dog Sheetz’s management for an explanation. And don’t take any ole chicken Sheetz for an answer.

My answer: And here I thought I was the shameless punster. I’ll see if I can Sheetz out an answer for you.

Real answer: Sheetz spokesperson Harry Hammel helped with answers on this one, and honorably did not address the level of punsterism in my reader’s question. But he wasn’t particularly expansive in his answer.

“Sheetz’s store at 59 Airport Road in Arden, North Carolina (across from Walmart) is scheduled to open to the public in mid-to-late March,” Hammel said. “Sheetz’s second location along Airport Road is expected to open later this summer.”

The new Sheetz convenience store and gas station across the street from Walmart on Airport Road should open later this month. // Watchdog photo by John Boyle

I wrote about these stores last June because a reader was a little surprised that Sheetz would put two stores so close to each other on Airport Road — not quite two miles apart. But clearly Sheetz sees a need, and I’m sure its marketing folks do a lot of due diligence before the company takes the plunge.

Sheetz opened another local store last year, on U.S. 25 just off the Mountain Home exit of I-26, so it clearly likes our area.

The new Sheetz store on Airport Road across from Asheville Regional Airport just started construction but should open by late summer. // Watchdog photo by John Boyle

I asked Hammel for more information about what’s taking so long to get the store open, but he did not elaborate.

“We’ll be sharing more details about the Arden grand opening with you soon,” Hammel said. “In the meantime, please feel free to reach out later this spring for an update on the second location.”

Asheville Watchdog welcomes thoughtful reader comments on this story, which has been republished on our Facebook page. Please submit your comments there.

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Got a question? Send it to John Boyle at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org or 828-337-0941. His Answer Man columns appear each Tuesday and Friday. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.

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