Champions Landing has been open for a few days, but owner Jeremy Rusco gave residents a chance to see the facility during a special grand opening event Friday.
Rusco tells KVOE News this is an exciting time for him and for the community going forward.
Residents could check out the new Champs Coffee and Dynamic Brewing, as well as the renovated Champs Bar and Grill and The Landing areas. Residents could also play a round of free disc golf or traditional ball golf, and they could fish in the Champions Landing pond.
The grand opening event signifies a lot of operational changes after Rusco bought the former Emporia Country Club, later named the Emporia Community Club, back in late January. More changes are coming, including a shorter, executive-style golf course; the prospect of an indoor facility for cornhole, basketball and pickleball; a concert venue; and lodging. Opening up the facility to area residents has been a big deal to Rusco from the start.
Rusco had submitted a bid for what was then known as the Emporia Country Club in late 2022, but club leadership gave unanimous approval for the Community Club’s vision instead, which relied on making the club more accessible to the public at large by focusing on traditional ball golf and by opening the facilities up to non-club members. Rusco has said memberships will be part of certain aspects of Champions Landing but will not be the main focus.
