Spread across 3,200 acres in the rolling foothills of Central Alabama, Pursell Farms delivers a full-service resort experience in a relaxed luxury setting.
From the world’s only research and demonstration golf course, FarmLinks, to the ORVIS Shooting Grounds and the chef-driven dinners overlooking the scenic countryside, it’s a place to engage in a weekend of sport or simply sit back and savor its abundant Southern charms. Pursell Farms’ CEO and Co-Founder, David Pursell, planted the earliest seeds of the resort in 2003 when he realized his vision of a golf course where golf superintendents could see “first-hand” the innovative agronomy technologies his company, Pursell Technologies, had developed. He sold the business just a few years later but kept the family farm, shifting focus to something that comes naturally to the accomplished businessman, artist and father of six: Hospitality.
Along with Parker Lodge—the majestic 14,000 square-foot lodge that housed the more than 10,000 golf and agronomy professionals that visited the farm—two fully restored historic homes on the property Hamilton Place (1852) and The ORVIS FarmHouse (1830) also welcomed overnight guests, transporting them to a bygone era with their grand porches and gracious details. Next came a collection of cabins and cottages of varying sizes, all with direct access to the eighteen-hole, championship Hurdzan-Fry golf course. The completion of the forty-room, country-styled Inn in 2018 opened lodging to more couples and families, offering luxuriously appointed rooms, two on-site restaurants, a bocce court, and an outdoor pool with prime views of the surrounding green and meadow.
Choose your own adventure:
No matter where you rest your head, everything on the farm is a stroll, bike ride (traditional or electric), or golf cart jaunt away. The base of Chalybeate Mountain is home to The ORVIS Shooting Grounds. Designed with the avid wing shooter in mind, the clay course features fifteen unique stations that traverse a combination of open fields and treed canopies. The neighboring ORVIS fly-fishing school will have weekenders fly casting with authority by the program’s end and, with any luck, catching a photo op with hefty bass or two. For a truly one-of-a-kind adventure, the UTV Mountain Experience can’t be beat. Hop in your very own John Deere XUV and follow your guide up old logging roads, splish-splashing through puddles and mud, while learning a little Sylacauga history and taking in the majestic mountaintop views along the way. For a more serene outdoor endeavor, guests can visit Secret Place atop Chalybeate Mountain (Friday and Saturday) for a peaceful yoga session high above the farm. And for those seeking the ultimate leisurely pursuit, the historic Spring House Spa beckons with boutique spa treatments designed for relaxation and renewal from head to toe.
Wine and Dine:
Executive Chef Joe Truex—whose early resume includes stints with Chef Daniel Boulud at Le Cirque, and at The Peninsula Hotel, N.Y., and, more recently, as owner/executive of Repast, and executive chef/managing partner of the famed Watershed in Atlanta—elevates all the menus at Pursell Farms with a focus on farm-fresh modern American Fare. At Old Tom’s Pub, the Inn’s clubby sports-bar, that means a casual all-day menu that starts with fluffy omelets alongside Sylacauga’s own Conecuh sausage in the morning and ends with flatbread pizza and a pint at night. At the redesigned Clubhouse it’s homemade sausage biscuits or a club sandwich grabbed on the go for making a tee time. But Arrington is where the chef ’s distinctive dishes really shine. A fine selection of à la carte entrees encourages diners to build a meal around their main, whether an expertly grilled filet, bone-in chop, or whole trout crisped to perfection, and add family-style sides to round out the meal to their liking. Pastry Chef John Scourlas, who has created desserts for lavish parties at prestigious national events such as the Super Bowl and Grammy Awards, ends the meal on a sweet note with a dessert menu that that runs the gamut from fresh fruit sorbets to decadent chocolate creations. For a true grand finale, step off the restaurant’s patio, order a cocktail from the bar cart, grab a seat in one of the Adirondack chairs, and relish the tranquility beneath the starlit Alabama sky.
Getting there:
Pursell Farms is located in Sylacauga, Alabama, roughly one hour east of Birmingham. It’s a four-hour drive from Nashville. As part of the Longer Days Longer Stays package, guests staying three consecutive nights at The Inn June 1 through September 2, 2021 will receive a $50 resort credit per room per night. (pursellfarms.com)