FarmLinks at Pursell Farms Completes Bunker Renovation

FarmLinks at Pursell Farms recently completed a comprehensive bunker renovation. FarmLinks is consistently ranked among the best in Alabama (including No. 1 All-Access Golf Course for 10 years by Golfweek and the No. 1 in Alabama by Golf Advisor).

Pursell Farms is a 3,200-acre resort located near Sylacauga, AL, less than one hour southeast of Birmingham. In addition to golf, guests are treated to numerous outdoor recreational activities, fine restaurants, and a wide array of lodging options.

We recently had an opportunity to visit Pursell Farms and play FarmLinks with the new bunkers in place.  Any visit the “The Farm” is highly anticipated, but we were especially excited this time. Excited to hit bunker shots? Well, Pursell Farms is a special place, and FarmLinks is one of our favorite places to play. We had heard great things about the new bunkers and it was time to put them to the test.

My traveling partner for this visit was Randy Burgan. Make sure to listen to Randy on the Southern Fairways Radio Show every Sunday at 11:00 AM, or listen to podcasts of the show at your convenience.

We arrived on Sunday evening and got settled at The Inn, which consists of 40 charming guest rooms. The Inn also consists of two restaurants, Arrington and Old Tom’s Pub, as well as a fitness facility.

Arrington is the casual, yet elegant fine dining option at Pursell Farms. Our dinner was served on the Arrington Vista, which overlooks the 18^th hole.

We were treated to an amazing four course meal. The setting, the service, and the food were all impeccable.

We also enjoyed a hearty breakfast the next morning before starting our round.

After a quick warmup on the range and a few practice putts we were off to the first tee where we were greeted by starter. Everywhere you go at Pursell Farms, you are welcomed by a smiling face.

It was apparent right away that course conditions would be pristine. I’ve never seen the fairways in better condition, and the greens were rolling very smoothly and at a nice pace.

But what about the bunkers? Normally you want to avoid the sand as much as possible, but we were here to test it out.

First, understand that this was no small project.  Approximately $1.2 million was spent and every bunker on the course was touched in some way. Some were moved, all were reshaped, and others were eliminated. Tour Angle pristine white sand was used, and new drain technology was installed. All bunker surrounds were resodded with Zorro Zoysia.

Aesthetically, the bunkers are absolutely beautiful. The glistening white sand lies in stark contrast to the emerald of the fairways and greens.

From a playability standpoint, the sand was amazing. The angular grains are designed specifically to resist ball impact and to hold firm on the bunker faces. For the player, this means the shots from the sand are very playable.

Some of the new bunkers have steep faces, but the construction and the sand keep the ball from burying under the lip. Balls tend to roll back into the lower areas, allowing the player to more easily escape and save a good score.

All the new bunkers were strategically placed and add visual interest to the holes.

“We’re passionate about the golf experience for our guests and appreciate the many accolades FarmLinks has received since opening 20 years ago,” said Douglas Hustad, FarmLinks Managing Director. “Even with longstanding No. 1 ratings, we were intrigued with the idea of elevating the course and commissioned extraordinary golf architect Tripp Davis to infuse fresh visual interest, strategic components, and technical improvements. He achieved everything we asked, resulting in an enriched, more playable course that’s also easier for our team to maintain.”

We were delighted to have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at Old Tom’s Pub with David Pursell, Founder and CEO of Pursell Farms, following our round. He explained that the primary goals were to reduce the total amount of sand, ensure that each bunker was carefully placed, and to test but not punish the golfer. There is no doubt that the goals were met, if not exceeded.

The FarmLinks bunker renovation makes an already fantastic golf course even better. Golfers of all abilities can enjoy a round of golf at FarmLinks. But golf is just a portion of what is available at Pursell Farms. It is one of our favorite places, and one that we recommend you visit as soon as you can!

More information is available at pursellfarms.com.

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