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140+ Buncombe County businesses to participate in PGA TOUR promotional map

140+ Buncombe County businesses to participate in PGA TOUR promotional map

Downtown Asheville is one of the neighborhoods to visit during the Play Through the Mountains promotion. Photo: Saga Communications/Pruett Norris


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the PGA TOUR Biltmore Championship Asheville golf tournament approaches, Explore Asheville has launched an interactive map of Buncombe County businesses called Play Through the Mountains.

The Play Through the Mountains database is an online hub intended to connect more than 140 local businesses with Asheville residents and visitors through discounts, dining packages and other deals.

Participating businesses, including stores and restaurants in downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village, Black Mountain, East Asheville, Fairview, North Asheville, Swannanoa, West Asheville and Woodfin, will offer the golf-themed promotions throughout the tournament, which runs Sept. 12-22, 2026.

“Biltmore Championship Asheville is expected to draw more than 100 players, thousands of spectators, upwards of $10 million in direct spending for area businesses and hours of live national television coverage shining a light on the beauty of our region,” said Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville. “The Play Through the Mountains cooperative promotion encourages these incredible impacts from the championship to reach more areas of Buncombe County and boost our local area businesses ahead of peak fall season.”

The page includes a craft beverage trail called “19th Hole,” “Par-fect” retail discounts for guests in tournament gear and “Stay, Play & Recharge Packages” for Asheville area activities like food tours, river rafting and mountain yoga.

The Play Through the Mountains platform will offer a gamified approach to Asheville exploration. Players can pick up physical scorecards at “Clubhouse” locations around town or download one online. Using the platform as a guide, players should visit a participating Play Through the Mountains business in at least three different Asheville neighborhoods or Buncombe County towns. Once three have been collected, players may submit their card to pick up a prize.

“This initiative really speaks to the incredible culture of collaboration here in Buncombe County,” said Kara Irani, executive director of the Historic Biltmore Village Association and co-lead of the Buncombe County Strategic Coalition. “Play Through the Mountains makes it easy for visitors to explore our diverse communities while directly supporting our local economy.”

For more information about Play Through the Mountains, visit www.exploreasheville.com/play-through-mountains-pga-tour-biltmore-championship-asheville.

For more information about the Biltmore Championship Asheville, visit www.biltmorechampionship.com.

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