Views: Tree Farm (+ Merch)

I was invited by a dear friend back to the Tree Farm.  I went last Spring for a quick day trip, and it reset my entire golf universe.  The course was/is the most fun course I’ve ever played.  This trip was different: the clubhouse and the lodging were completed last Fall, so we took the opportunity to do a ‘Lunch to Lunch’.

The trip setlist looked like this:

Set 1 (Friday):

Leave ATL around 8 > arriving on site before lunch > checking in > eat lunch > warm up > play 18 > shower > dinner > tomfoolery > bed.

Set 2 (Saturday):

Up and coffee > quick shower, pack, and change > breakfast > warm up > play 18 > another quick shower > lunch > check out > back to ATL.

My takeaways from the last visit are all still accurate, but they’ve been enhanced.  Some additions:

• The check-in experience is effortless.  Plenty of staff to take care of everything.  We went through everything in no time.
• The rooms are just right.  Minimal, but very well appointed.
• No TVs in the rooms.  This is a highlight: the team wants you out and about!
• Everything is communal.  The range is very friendly (music blasting), the back porch is a top-5 spot in the Southeast, and dinner is served family style.  You get to know everyone there.
• The food is out of this world!  They offered two choices per meal, with everything being customizable.  The family-style dinner was seriously delicious…while we didn’t have the world-famous fried chicken dinner, we did have roasted thighs and filet.  Perfecto.
• The staff is world-class.
• The course has evolved.  It’s gotten even better since last Spring.  I noticed the greens were rolling extremely well, and the “rough” has matured.
• We had rain during both rounds, but everything drained EXTREMELY well.
• The Golf Shop is the standard by which all clubs should use.  This is a destination course, and there were plenty of options for mature, traditional golf shirts (solid, primary colors) that can be worn at the office, looking professional (as opposed to the printed junk that is an eyesore).
  • NOTE(1): This was the last weekend before the course closed for the summer, so it was pretty picked over.  I’ll be back in the Fall and will give a full report.
  • NOTE(2): I was able to find some incredible stuff.  See below.

So…here are a TON of images from the experience, followed by my merch haul.  I’m seriously excited to get back!

From a merch perspective, the shop was pretty picked through, but there were still some goodies.  Tree Farm has a very B.Draddy-casual feel, and that’s where I leaned (I actually played in a lot of Draddy while over there – more on that later).  The Carhartt hoodie was a FIND, and the Draddy t-shirt will get a ton of wear.  I’ll always grab a tour visor and some koozies…

The Clayton and Crume coasters were a great find, and already getting use around our house.  I’m a sucker for anything tie-dye, so the Winston towel is a nice addition, as is the Pukka camo hat.  I couldn’t leave without getting something for the boys (besides a handful of tees and ball markers), so I got them both stonewashed hats.  They love ’em…

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