Several times during the opening ceremony, PTI president and CEO David Pursell had to pause to compose himself. Pursell has spent the last several years pursuing his vision of creating a golf course that would also serve as a research and testing facility.
“It’s a lifelong dream of mine,” Pursell said. “FarmLinks is a true collaborative effort unprecedented by industry-leading companies.”
Pursell’s father, PTI chairman Jimmy Pursell, said while he may not have seen the value in building a golf course from the beginning, he trusted his son’s vision.
“David had a vision of building the golf course, and he was the number one salesman in southern Alabama, probably the United States, when he convinced me to go ahead and build this golf course,” he said.
Among the many dignitaries who participated in the opening ceremony was Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who praised the Pursells for their contribution to the state, which he said is becoming a golf destination.
“Alabama is becoming more and more of a golf Mecca, but to have the dedication to excellence that your family has had in this process I think typifies what is best about Alabama – about Alabama ideals and our quest for excellence in everything that we do,” Riley said.
Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, who designed the course, said the FarmLinks process had been different from any other project they have worked on.
“This was an awesome experience for us to be immersed into the Pursell family,” Hurdzan said. “And it isn’t just all the people named Pursell who are necessarily part of that family. Everybody and anybody who is with them and around them is part of that family.”
Fry echoed Hurdzan’s thoughts on the strong family ties.
“The thing I take away from this is not the golf course, but the family values,” he said. “To think that we were involved here is a great thrill, and I will never forget it. Coming back here is coming home.”
Representatives from several of PTI’s partners took the opportunity to express their thanks for being involved in such an innovative project.
“We’re certainly very proud to be part of this,” said Phil Tralies, president and CEO of Club Car. “When I think about what you’re trying to do here, the words quality and innovation came up time and time again.”
Tim Ford, vice president for commercial and irrigation for The Toro Co., said the ability for his company to spend time with the 1,000 or so guests who will visit FarmLinks each year is key.
“For us to get a chance to spend a few hours with those people either on or off the golf course and get to know them a little bit better is a way to develop those relationships,” he said.
David Pursell described the challenges associated with bringing the course online, including managing six different soil types, and reminded those in attendance that, in addition to being a great golf course, FarmLinks will be a place where state-of-the-art technologies are tested by PTI and its partners.
“It’s a place whereby research will be going on everywhere, but the average golfer will probably not know it,” he said. “On the putting green, we have four different types of bentgrass. On the chipping green, we have three different types of dwarf bermudagrass.”
Pursell said that within just the next year, there could be a lot of changes at FarmLinks, including robotic mowers, moisture-sensing irrigation and GPS technology.
“The future means change,” he said. “If you stand still, people pass you by.”
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