Mallard Head Golf Course will become Lake Norman Golf Club and have big changes.
If you’ve lived in Mooresville for any amount of time, you’ve certainly heard of Mallard Head Golf Course. This 173-acre course winds through Canvasback and Stutts roads, and for years, there’s been speculation about when it might change hands—and whether it would remain a golf course or be converted to housing.
Well, the wait is over. After 46 years, the course was recently purchased for $4.28 million, and it will, in fact, remain a golf course—albeit under a new name. The new owners have rebranded it as Lake Norman Golf Club and have big changes in store for this “Mooresville Staple” course. While “new” is always exciting, it’s important to remember how it all began.
The idea for Mallard Head came from John Campbell, father of longtime general manager Eddie Campbell. In 1964, while Lake Norman was still filling to its final level, John opened John’s Trading Post on Brawley School Road. The store had gas pumps and sold basic supplies to fishermen and weekend campers. Before long, it became the go-to hangout for the few residents on the then-remote Brawley School Road peninsula.
At the Trading Post, one frequent topic of conversation was John’s dream of opening a golf course—despite not having the funds to make it happen. His vision included a private country club surrounded by homes for its members. The more he talked about it, the more interest it generated, and eventually, 10 investors came together to make his dream a reality.
They purchased 400 acres on the southern side of Brawley School Road and began planning what would become Mallard Head Country Club. As the story goes, John wasn’t satisfied with the original design by a local golf course architect. Determined to get it right, he brought in renowned designer George Cobb, whose notable projects include Quail Hollow (home of the PGA Tour’s annual Tour Championship) and the Par-3 course at Augusta National Golf Club.
Mallard Head’s 18-hole championship course officially opened on September 4, 1979. Originally private, the plan was to sell the entire project to a developer, but those plans fell through.
It wasn’t until Jack Nicklaus’ win at the 1986 Masters that golf really began to boom in the U.S. Around this time, large private clubs like River Run in Davidson and The Peninsula in Cornelius were built, which helped Mallard Head transition into a thriving public course.
Over time, however, the cost of maintaining a championship course continued to climb. In an effort to keep rates affordable, some of Cobb’s original features—such as most of the 52 sand traps—were removed, though their outlines can still be seen today.
That was then—this is now.
The new owners, Fundamental Global, have already started major upgrades, including improved fairways, new tee boxes, enhanced greens maintenance, and a brand-new fleet of golf carts. The clubhouse is being fully redesigned into a modern space for social events, dining, and gatherings. Membership is also being refreshed, with more tournaments, community events, and family-friendly activities on the calendar.
The club’s new general manager is Gavin Arsenault, former GM of Trump National Golf Club and Rock Barn Country Club & Spa. Fundamental Global also owns Lake Norman Racquet & Social Club and will soon be opening Lake Norman Pickleball Club.
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Mallard Head Golf Course will become Lake Norman Golf Club and have big changes.
If you’ve lived in Mooresville for any amount of time, you’ve certainly heard of Mallard Head Golf Course. This 173-acre course winds through Canvasback and Stutts roads, and for years, there’s been speculation about when it might change hands—and whether it would remain a golf course or be converted to housing.
Well, the wait is over. After 46 years, the course was recently purchased for $4.28 million, and it will, in fact, remain a golf course—albeit under a new name. The new owners have rebranded it as Lake Norman Golf Club and have big changes in store for this “Mooresville Staple” course. While “new” is always exciting, it’s important to remember how it all began.
The idea for Mallard Head came from John Campbell, father of longtime general manager Eddie Campbell. In 1964, while Lake Norman was still filling to its final level, John opened John’s Trading Post on Brawley School Road. The store had gas pumps and sold basic supplies to fishermen and weekend campers. Before long, it became the go-to hangout for the few residents on the then-remote Brawley School Road peninsula.
At the Trading Post, one frequent topic of conversation was John’s dream of opening a golf course—despite not having the funds to make it happen. His vision included a private country club surrounded by homes for its members. The more he talked about it, the more interest it generated, and eventually, 10 investors came together to make his dream a reality.
They purchased 400 acres on the southern side of Brawley School Road and began planning what would become Mallard Head Country Club. As the story goes, John wasn’t satisfied with the original design by a local golf course architect. Determined to get it right, he brought in renowned designer George Cobb, whose notable projects include Quail Hollow (home of the PGA Tour’s annual Tour Championship) and the Par-3 course at Augusta National Golf Club.
Mallard Head’s 18-hole championship course officially opened on September 4, 1979. Originally private, the plan was to sell the entire project to a developer, but those plans fell through.
It wasn’t until Jack Nicklaus’ win at the 1986 Masters that golf really began to boom in the U.S. Around this time, large private clubs like River Run in Davidson and The Peninsula in Cornelius were built, which helped Mallard Head transition into a thriving public course.
Over time, however, the cost of maintaining a championship course continued to climb. In an effort to keep rates affordable, some of Cobb’s original features—such as most of the 52 sand traps—were removed, though their outlines can still be seen today.
That was then—this is now.
The new owners, Fundamental Global, have already started major upgrades, including improved fairways, new tee boxes, enhanced greens maintenance, and a brand-new fleet of golf carts. The clubhouse is being fully redesigned into a modern space for social events, dining, and gatherings. Membership is also being refreshed, with more tournaments, community events, and family-friendly activities on the calendar.
The club’s new general manager is Gavin Arsenault, former GM of Trump National Golf Club and Rock Barn Country Club & Spa. Fundamental Global also owns Lake Norman Racquet & Social Club and will soon be opening Lake Norman Pickleball Club.
