In a lawsuit brimming with tension and high-dollar stakes, McConnell Golf LLC—owner of three premier Southeastern golf courses—has teed off against The Cincinnati Insurance Co., accusing the insurer of breaching a $3.1 million claim stemming from catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Filed in federal court after being transferred from North Carolina’s Superior Court, the suit accuses Cincinnati Insurance of bad faith, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and breach of contract—alleging the insurer lowballed McConnell with a mere $108,494 payment despite comprehensive policy coverage and sworn documentation of losses.
From Premiums to Paltry Payouts
At the center of the dispute is a $887,000 “Tee-to-Green” policy, purchased by McConnell Golf in May 2024, which promised up to $1 million in coverage for the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech and $2 million each for the Country Club of Asheville and the Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton, South Carolina.
The policy’s reach extended well beyond greens and fairways, encompassing everything from pools, pipes, dams, lighting, walkways, fences, and even monuments. An additional policy provided $250,000 in coverage for trees, shrubs, and plants per occurrence.
When Hurricane Helene struck, McConnell says the storm ravaged all three courses, with wind gusts leveling infrastructure and toppling nature alike. A March 7 insurance claim sought $3.1 million in compensation—yet Cincinnati Insurance offered only the “undisputed amount” of $108,494.
