Alabama Golf Central

We have all marveled at the talent

that it takes to draw or paint. The likes of Rembrandt, Van Gogh… or even the detail that goes in to capturing the essence of a nature scene like feathers on a bird or the detail of grasses growing next to a pond on a golf course. All those details draw us all into their masterpiece. And as golfers we all marvel and the talent that it takes to capture our attention when playing golf. The placement of bunkers, water features, and the undulation in the greens. Where every detail that makes our experience an adventure, and many times, an adventure of staying out of trouble (but that truly all part of the detail). This all wraps back in the pride of ownership of the golf resort and the need for golfers to experience their masterpiece in a positive way. Rarely do you ever find these two elements together. But at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama, you most certainly find all the element of the Art of Golf. Meet David Pursell, CEO of Pursell Farms, the man behind the vision. In the early days, David’s father, Jimmy Pursell, owned and operated a fertilizer company providing the necessities for turf grass operations for those superintendents across the country. With a 3,200-acre canvas, David convinced his father to invest in and develop the first and only test and research demonstration facility for advancements in turf grass and agronomics, with guest housing on the family farm. That test facility was an 18-hole golf course, aptly named “FarmLinks.” Every type of grass at the time was utilized for the purpose of testing the companies own fertilizer products along with testing equipment for the industry. “More than 10,000 golf course superintendents and team members came to FarmLinks to train and learn. Fulfilling my vision of FarmLinks as the ‘Epcot of Golf,’ informing and celebrating the superintendents and

The Art of Golf

David Pursell

Farmlinks crews who make golf courses playable works of art,” Pursell explained As the fertilizer company was sold and the manufacturing was moved to another location, David returned to the canvas, to let’s say… modify his masterpiece. FarmLinks at Pursell Farms was created and has been nurtured into a finely tuned masterpiece resort, not just for golfers, but for outdoor fun-loving individuals. Walking trails, Bicycling, Orvis Shooting adventures and the ever popular 4-wheel farm adventure tours, Pursell Farms has become a “Must Go” location to create your own Masterpiece Adventure. The one piece that you can’t miss on your adventure to Pursell Farms is the sunset at the “Special Place.” In a recent move to better the golf course and experience for the golfers, which is now complete, Pursell Farms commissioned Tripp Davis to revitalize the bunkers on the golf course. “Spending these days with Tripp, walking the golf course and looking at every bunker on the course, I realized that Tripp truly had the eye of an artist. Moving a bunker to the left or right, even a few feet, framed the golf hole for the golfer’s eye that much better,” David stated. “We are very pleased with how this has created a major impact on our golf course, enlarging some bunkers, taking away as much as 50% of some bunkers, or eliminating them all together on some holes, has made Farm Links, that much more of a masterpiece,” Pursell commented. It is time to plan you adventure to Pursell Farms to create your own “Masterpiece Vacation.” PursellFarms.com

Arnold Palmer Fine Art Pencil Drawing by David Pursell

Tim Spanjer Pop Artist The creative arts are woven into the fabric of the farm and there are many ways to experience it while you are here. You will find fine art pencil drawings of legendary golfers by David Pursell in the Butler Cabin at Augusta National and the Clubhouse at Saint Andrews—and even closer to home in the cabins, cottages and inn on the farm that bear the names of the golfers and architects David drew for the Golf Course Superintendent Vaughan Pursell Spanjer in front of original painting installed at Pursell Farms Hamilton Place ballroom

Association of America in the 1990s. Vaughan Pursell Spanjer’s work encompasses acrylic paintings, watercolors, and charcoal drawings of wildlife, landscapes, and animals. She notes that her work has a “peaceful and soothing nature that resonates with people.” Watch when you are in the ORVIS retail store, the spacious guest rooms, or the historic grand ballroom at Hamilton Place, many of her original works and high-quality prints grace the walls of Pursell Farms. Vaughan resides at Pursell Farms with her family and teaches art while continually working on her own craft. Fine Art Done Boldly is Tim Spanjer’s artistic mantra, and it materializes in three dramatic genres. His large format, Pop Art-styled paintings provoked through wry humor and vivid images, large biscuit-joined pine wood cutouts of pulp commercial subjects and unique “Cerealism” mosaic— images formed with intricately cut slices of cereal boxes—are astonishing in their complexity and beauty. http://www.artofspanjer.com/

You’ll meet new friends at FarmLinks – Meet our new friends - Doyle and Charlotte Bradsher of Bartlett, TN.