SOUTHERN LAND COMPANY TO DEVELOP NEW MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY AND WORLD-CLASS GOLF COURSE IN CHATHAM PARK

Southern Land Company will develop a 1,271-acre master-planned community with a world-class golf course designed by Fazio Golf Design

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Southern Land Company, a vertically integrated, national real estate developer of award-winning single-family, multifamily, and mixed-use communities, announced its plans to develop in the Raleigh metro area a new 1, 271-acre master-planned community and world-class private golf club with an 18-hole full course, 9-hole short course, and state-of-the-art learning and practice facilities, all designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.

The new community and club will be constructed in Chatham Park, a master-planned development in the town of Pittsboro, approximately 30 miles from North Carolina's capital city, Raleigh. Preston Development Company, co-founded by Julian "Bubba" Rawl and Tim Smith, is developing Chatham Park.

"Creating a great community is more than just designing and building beautiful houses—it's about creating a sense of place and an experience that people are proud to call home," said Tim Downey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Southern Land Company. "Chatham Park gives us an incredible opportunity to bring that vision to life alongside Preston Development Company and Tom Fazio, and we're excited to develop a truly special master planned, mixed-use community that will become a lasting part of the region."

"North Carolina is an exciting market for Southern Land Company, and Chatham Park presents a unique opportunity to create a community within one of North Carolina's most dynamic growth submarkets within the Southeast," said Brian Sewell, President and Chief Operating Officer, Southern Land Company. "We're excited to bring a Southern Land development to the incredible community that Preston Development is building. Their deep expertise in community building and dedication to excellence makes this project exceptional, and we look forward to creating a destination that will stand out in the Research Triangle for years to come."

"We've always envisioned Chatham Park as a community made up of vibrant and diverse neighborhoods with varying amenities, experiences, and settings," said Julian "Bubba" Rawl, Co-Founder of Preston Development Company. "Bringing a company like Southern Land Company and Tom Fazio to the project brings an extraordinary level of expertise, creativity, and vision to that aspiration. We're excited to welcome this new community to Chatham Park and look forward to seeing it take shape as a truly distinctive destination that will enrich the region for generations to come."

"Chatham Park continues to bring high-quality projects and significant investment to Pittsboro. This new Southern Land Company community and Tom Fazio-designed golf course are another example of the caliber of development taking shape here. It is exciting to see this level of investment in Pittsboro while we continue to build on the strong sense of community, historic downtown, and quality of life that make our town distinctive in the region," said Kyle Shipp, Mayor, Town of Pittsboro.

Tom Fazio, founder and Principal Designer of Fazio Golf Design, will design the new community's golf course. With a career spanning more than six decades, Fazio has designed more than 200 courses worldwide, many of which have been consistently recognized among the finest in the game. The firm's design philosophy emphasizes thoughtful integration with natural surroundings, playability, and timeless quality, with each course carefully crafted to create an engaging experience for golfers of all skill levels.

"With our deep connection to the Southeast through hundreds of projects and Southern Land Company's vision, commitment, and successful track record, we believe this site gives us a rare opportunity to create a truly distinctive golf course and community," said Tom Fazio, Founder and Principal Designer, Fazio Golf Design. "Our goal is to create a course that is visually spectacular, fun to play, and deeply connected to the natural character of the land. We can't wait to get started on what is sure to be an unforgettable experience that will define this community for generations."

"Fazio Golf Design's collaborative team brings decades of collective experience and a shared commitment to creating distinctive golf environments that are both beautiful and enduring," said Gavin Fazio, President, Fazio Golf Design. "Opportunities to create something of this scale and vision, in a place we know and care about deeply, don't come along often. We couldn't be more excited to be part of it."

Chatham Park

Chatham Park is an award-winning, 8,500-acre master-planned community by Preston Development Company. Designed around a long-term vision for seamless connection between living, working, recreation, and community, Chatham Park is located approximately 30 miles from Raleigh. The development is 20 years in the making and features residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, parks, trails, and community amenities, with more than 2,000 acres planned for parks and open space and more than 60 miles of walking, biking, and multi-use trails.  The community includes best-in-class destinations such as MOSAIC, a walkable mixed-use town center; Northwood Landing; the Chatham Park YMCA, the fastest-growing YMCA in the country; Asteria, a StoryLiving By Disney Community; Del Webb at Chatham Park; and the UNC Healthcare Medical Campus. Chatham Park continues to grow, with additional residential, commercial, healthcare, and recreational projects advancing throughout the community.

Southern Land Company's Award-Winning Master-Planned Portfolio

Southern Land Company has developed master-planned communities since its founding in 1986, including its largest to date, Westhaven, in Franklin, Tennessee. The 1,500-acre master-planned development features an award-winning championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills. The community will include 3,500 homes upon estimated completion in 2031. In addition to Westhaven, its growing single-family portfolio includes multiple active communities in several states across the country, including:

• Tucker Hill, a single-family community in McKinney, Texas, established in 2008;
• Lunaroya, an intimate 86-homesite ultra-luxury, single-family community in Dripping Springs, Texas, that will feature custom estate homes within a gated community;
• Westerly, an emerging single-family community in Erie, Colorado, that will have approximately 3,100 homes upon completion;
• Fairington, a master-planned community introducing more than 700 homes to Nolensville, Tennessee;
• Mare Island, a large-scale adaptive reuse project that will introduce a dynamic mix of uses, including housing, entertainment, industrial, and hospitality, on this historic former naval shipyard in Vallejo, California.

This new Southern Land community is in the planning and visioning stages. We will release additional project information as it becomes available. For additional information about Southern Land Company and to join our interest list, please visit SouthernLandChathamPark.com.

Statements regarding plans, services, features, facilities, and square footage are subject to change without notice. Renderings, images, and descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect final construction or design.

About Southern Land Company

Southern Land Company is a full-service, national real estate developer that has been reimagining the industry since 1986. Rooted in the belief that visionary design and community cultivation are at the heart of every successful development, the company brings extraordinary living spaces and experiences within reach through master-planned, single-family, multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality developments, all created by a diverse team of industry-leading, in-house experts. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Southern Land Company has market-leading projects in eight additional states, including New York, California, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Nevada. Southern Land Company's current project pipeline is valued at over $5 billion. To learn more, visit www.southernland.com.   

About Preston Development Company

A leader in Residential and Commercial Development, from the Triangle to the NC Coast, Preston Development Company has been a residential and commercial development leader for over three decades. Developing exceptional communities across the Southeast with quality and integrity. Preston is recognized with great esteem all across the Triangle area to the sweeping shores of the North Carolina coast. Our team of experts is passionate about building beautiful and sustainable communities that people are proud to call home. Our proven track record of success and commitment to excellence is unmatched. | https://www.prestondev.com/ 

About Fazio Golf Design

Founded by iconic architect Tom Fazio in 1972, Fazio Golf Design has spent more than 60 years shaping the landscape of modern golf with over 200 award-winning layouts spanning 38 states and eight countries. Celebrated for an approach that treats golf course design as an evolving canvas, the firm crafts strategic puzzles that maximize property value, aesthetic beauty, and competitive strategy. Fazio Golf Design encompasses both elite traditional golf landscapes and innovative digital environments under Fazio Design Technologies—expanding the game's footprint through cutting-edge off-course and simulator ventures nationwide. Visit faziodesign.com for more information.  

SOURCE Southern Land Company