Hey guys,

I shot an 88 on FarmLinks at Pursell Farms a couple weeks back. I was pleased.

My playing partner shot a 67. He was also thrilled (obviously).

Martin Pursell, the aforementioned playing partner, invited me to the farm to experience a little taste of Pursell Hospitality.

What seems like a tucked away, off the beaten path golf course… is just that. But it’s also what many consider the birthplace of YouTube golf, it’s also a destination resort and spa, and it also provides a hospitality masterclass for any note takers out there.

Some of the best golf in the South can be found about an hour Southeast of Birmingham in Sylacauga, Alabama. More specifically, at Pursell Farms.

Here’s how my time went + some things happening SOON at the Farms:

Back in April, I arrive to FarmLinks, park, and carry my bag up to the clubhouse, where a nice old man named Jerry greets me, almost confused as to why I was carrying my own clubs.

I tell him I’m playing with Martin at 10:20, and he grabs my clubs from me to place on the cart, shows me my way to the driving range. I wait for Martin and head there with him.

It’s here where Martin learned that I typically shoot around 90, and I learned that Martin is a scratch golfer, at least on his home course, he admitted. I thought to myself even though he’s scratch, surely he’ll play a few over par today.

He did not.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

CHILLED APPLES and cold water await you just before hole one and again just before hole ten. You know what they say… never say no to a chilled granny smith.

I’ll admit, I haven’t played many courses where they take the details too seriously. I’m a municipal guy at heart, and the big wigs have yet to hear about me???, so I’ve only played a few courses I’d consider “nice.”

So to me, all of these touches + the quality of the course led me to the conclusion that this was a very very nice course.

Nicely raked bunkers, pristine fairways, and the greens were rolling! Sure I finished with 38 putts, but who is counting?? Me… and I’m not thrilled.

Mambo numba 5. Thank the good Lord we had a cart, as we climbed hundreds of feet up to the towering par 3 tee box. I think the distance to the middle of the green from the tips (which we played, but only on this hole) is about 215 or 220, but it played right around 185.

I hit probably my best par 3 tee shot of the day, landing on the front right side of the green and giving myself about a 25 footer for birdie. Left it actually a tad short, tap in par.

I will take that 10 days out of 10. Maybe 99 days out of 100.

This was the standout hole, though all 18 were splendid. I made a mess of the par 3 17th, tossing two in the water. Other than that, I had only a couple doubles, mainly bogeys throughout the round.

Maybe could’ve performed better, but I was on a relatively empty stomach — which I didn’t have for long.

At lunch of course, we discussed the spiritual forces that are at odds with each other in the world, some seen, some unseen, some disguised in the form of wealthy, powerful powerful controlled by evil, many such things and agendas hidden by our very own government…

Sorry… I mean, Martin and I both ordered the PBLT, which was a pork cutlet sandwich with bacon and lettuce and a fried green tomato (YUM).

Martin actually passed on the pork. I doubted him, but then I was only able to eat 75% of my sandwich. Still worth it for the pork tbh.

Martin and I talked throughout the entire round, interrupted by shots here and there. And while it’s difficult to capture the entire vision for what he has in mind for the Farm and the golf course specifically, it’s evident he and his family want to use the farm for good.

They have something so unexpectedly brilliant.

Anyone who gets asked to come see the farm may be thinking they’ll arrive at a simple farm, some good land, and a decent golf course.

It will likely exceed expectations every time. It’s just so good.

Which is WHY they view their role as ultimate stewards of the land. The younger Pursells have inherited a beautiful gift, and they could choose to keep it to themselves, or invite a select few in, or be the cool kids with the cool farm that everyone wants to go to (they probably still are kinda that though).

Instead, they view the farm as a tool for good. Because of what they have, they’ll have the opportunity to invite in people with incredible influence, incredible stories, incredible businesses. I think the farms will serve as a place where people will gather to make decisions that will impact businesses, communities, cities, the world?? I think the Farm will play a role in ushering in big ideas and big projects of the future — particularly with things happening in the Southeast.

AND YET, it will also serve the young couple or family who just needs a couple nights away from the noise of work and schedules and whatever else.

Any YouTube golf fan would know that the Bryan Bros and Grant Horvat have established a tour for the internet’s best golfers.

They’ve now announced the Tour’s roster, and teams will be drafted I believe on the eve of the first event.

It’s no surprise to some that they begin the Tour at Pursell Farms, a place that has been instrumental in giving golf creators a space to create freely since even before the world of YouTube golf existed.

I get to go muahahaha. More to come on that experience, don’t you worry.

Pursell Farms has long been a staple course and hospitality venue in Alabama, but it’s becoming an integral piece of the past, present, and future of internet golf.

Internet golf sounds like such a childish way to speak about this golf creator economy that’s exploding with new creativity, new revenue potential, and new cultural impact that the sport hasn’t seen in a long time. But we can still call it internet golf for fun.

They’ve got their heads on straight over at Pursell.

Big things to come.

Cheers,

Luke Mangan
On Golf