Story and Photos by Greg Wise
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FarmLinks at Pursell Farms Deeply rooted in Sylacauga, Alabama, the Pursell Family has been in business and growing for more than 100 years. The story begins in 1904 with the founding of the Sylacauga Fertilizer Company. By the end of the 20th century, the company, Pursell Technologies, had developed innovative technology that revolutionized the agronomy industry. In 1975, the family acquired 3,200 acres of scenic rolling terrain and created Pursell Farms. David Pursell, a third-generation family leader, had a visionary idea: to invite the companies product’s end users (golf superintendents) to see and experience their company’s product firsthand. To achieve this, FarmLinks was built in 2002 as “the world’s only research and demonstration golf course.” Today, Pursell Farms has evolved into a premier regional family farm resort
available for Corporate Retreats, leisure getaways, Orvis sporting clays and weddings. Our corporate and family mission is to give, grow and honor. But who takes care of this pristine 18-hole, 7,444-yard championship FarmLinks course? I had the pleasure of meeting with Robert Mitchell, Golf Course Superintendent at FarmLinks on the 1st green at 6:45 AM on a brisk Monday morning. One of the main concerns of that morning was aerification of the greens at a
GCM – What got you into this business? Robert - My first summer job was working on a golf course, I had two uncles that were superintendents and I fell in love with the
near frost temperature.
turf… and never looked back.
GCM – Does it concern you that the area is
GCM – How long have you been a Superin-
expecting frost tomorrow morning?
tendent?
Robert – Yes… This isn’t my first choice to
Robert – I’ve been in the industry since the
start this today, but I have already delayed
age 15. I was the Assistant Superintendent
this punch one-week, so I have to go with
at FarmLinks from 2010-2015 and became
this one. We have the greens prepared to go
the Superintendent in 2016.
forward.
Robert Mitchell working
30
Golf Central • Volume 20, Issue 8