Farmlinks Experience

At the end of March I was offered the opportunity to attend an educational opportunity called The Farmlinks Experience (www.farmlinks.org). It is hosted at a property owned and operated by the Pursell family and is located in Sylacauga, Alabama. This property is a functioning golf course open to limited public play but more importantly is used as a research and education facility for Golf Course Superintendents from across the country and around the world.


Our trip began on Wednesday March 23 and we arrived on property at about noon. We were taken to our humble cabin seen in the photo below situated behind the 17th green.

Wednesday we had class for about 3 hours before having some leisure time to enjoy fishing or golfing.

Thursday was a full morning of education including both classroom time as well as a course tour with Agronomist Mark Langner who told us all about how the property was build as well as the how's and why's they use certain products. After education on Thursday we were given time to play golf and experience a course that is fantastically designed into the existing landscape by the firm of Hurdzan and Fry.

This is really an amazing experience and I was fortunate to be invited. It's a great opportunity to spend some time with other superintendents, asking them their thoughts and ideas and how's/why's of their programs. We had time to relax and recharge but also spent upwards of 10 hours in the classroom over 3 days as well as an on the course tour. Lots of good education, meet and reunite with colleagues from around Chicago and come back with new ideas.