The Tree Farm – Played June 2024
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 210 Old Chalk Bed Road, Batesburg, South Carolina
- Year: 2023
- Original Architect: Kye Goalby
- Additional Work By: Tom Doak
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Caddies Required
Score Card Information:
- Back: 6,855 yards, Par 71, 73.7 Rating/136 Slope
- Middle: 6,445 yards, Par 71, 71.3 Rating/132 Slope
- Front: 5,750 yards, Par 71, 67.6 Rating/122 Slope
When people think of Aiken, South Carolina, they might not think of golf. The Tree Farm is one of the new golf course entries in the area looking to change that. Along with Old Barnwell, the area is adding some heavy hitters.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the area’s classic courses Palmetto Golf Club and Aiken Golf Club. Palmetto hosted a tournament akin to The Masters before Augusta came to be (or so the story goes) and Aiken GC is one of the best values in America when you factor in the architecture you get to see.
Today’s post, however, is all about the new stuff! The Tree Farm was born from the idea of PGA Tour player Zac Blair. Originally, he wanted to create a club in his native Utah. Through various circumstances, the desired piece of land was found in Aiken and construction began.
What resulted is a course with plenty of elevation change and numerous shot options. For this post, I didn’t take photos of every hole because I was intent on taking in the course fully as I played it. The result is a smattering of photos that summarize the feel of the place.
Starting with our first photo, the bunkering is going to stand out to you when you first see the course. The land movement will pop as well.
Below is their take on a Redan hole with a massive swale on the right side.
Below is the drivable finishing hole. Birdies will be plentiful, but if you find yourself in the wrong spot, doubles lurk.
The next four photos represent the scale of the land and the movement throughout. There are big targets at The Tree Farm, but you have to be in the right spots to truly take advantage. If you’re on the wrong sections of some of these greens, good luck!
The Tree Farm certainly lived up to my expectations. It’s a fantastic addition to the Aiken and American golf scene. While it’s private, I hope people can get out to see it.