My 2-year-old loves to just sit in his chair and hang out, naming everything he sees out loud to nobody in particular. “Bird… Tree… Squirrel.” I hope his penchant for doing old man things transfers over to an enjoyment of golf.
Haven't posted a picture of the course under construction in a while. But I also haven't posted a good dog photo either. Gotta give the people what they want.
Can’t express how grateful Sarah and I are for this piece on Old Barnwell’s mission. We hope that the nuanced writing of
@feedtheball
shows that a changing approach towards private golf need not be an indictment of old ways, but instead, an embrace of newer, more inclusive ones.
“It is about people and creating a really exceptional golf experience at a place where everyone is welcomed."
The mission and identity of this new club in South Carolina will be one of openness and inclusion.
I was pretty pumped when these
@RushOrderTees
were delivered this afternoon. But then Emmett reminded me that looking good is about more than just the clothes you wear (or don’t wear, I guess).
With all the shaping on 1-5, 16, and 17, it’s easy to forget about holes that haven’t been touched yet. Here is 8 tee shot (with my yellow marker poorly denoting green in the distance), and a second photo of the green site, with 9 tee above and to the right
The driveable par-4 2nd hole begs you to take on these bunkers instead of playing it safe to the left. (The skinny greensite is on top of the hill behind the hazards, to the right of the truck.)
Coming directly after what might be the best green site on the OB property, 16 tee shot will provide its own mighty punch, over a valley to a gently sloping fairway (landing area to right of yellow CAT). Pic doesn’t do land movement justice, but still wanted to share.
Want to reach the 16th hole in two, and take advantage of the embankment to the right of the green that will feed balls to the hole? You’ll need to contend with this bunker.
Thanks to Jonathan &
@golfweek
for spreading the word about OB. As folks familiar with great golf already know,
@bschneider126
&
@Dundee_Golf
are incredibly talented architects. I'm lucky to have them &
@JohnLavelle2015
running the show to create courses worthy of our mission.
To be successful in executing on our mission, we need to build a community of members that are committed to that mission and to creating a truly welcoming culture. Our founding member
@goodwill27
is one such person. How cool is this gift he and his son dropped off at OB today?!?
I’m pretty sure Henry is the first person to ever finish a hole at OB (this is on
#1
).
@JohnLavelle2015
or
@bcwatso3
, if this isn’t true, and you’ve already played some golf in the sand, don’t tell me.
I'll continue to give the necessary disclaimer that my iPhone8's camera doesn't do the land movement justice. That said, here's
#5
green from behind &
#6
tee shot, down 50ft into the valley. And then there's Mavis on 17 tee. These photos were all taken within 90ft of each other.
I may not have
@bschneider126
’s t-shirt in these photos, but I do have proof of progress at Old Barnwell. Tree clearing has begun!
@Dundee_Golf
- if you plan to come at the king of golf architecture t-shirt selfies, you best not miss.
Wow. Just wow. Thank you Don! Can’t wait to see the finished product. Already starting to think about where it should be placed on display for our members and guests.
My uber-talented friend and co-worker, Don Placek, has a unique way of adding depth and life in two dimensions, as demonstrated by this in-progress plan for
@Old_Barnwell
I am proud to announce I will be joining
@JohnLavelle2015
as the Golf Course Superintendent
@Old_Barnwell
. I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to being part of something that will impact lives beyond the golf course. Big things happening in Aiken!
As you celebrate your Memorial Day, consider supporting a wonderful organization called Operation Double Eagle that trains veterans and connects them to jobs in the golf industry:
I'm beyond grateful for all the insights I continue to receive from maintenance pros, diversity and inclusion experts, and regular golfers passionate about creating something truly great. It may start with the land in this picture, but it certainly doesn't end there.
Went on a great field trip yesterday with Professor
@bschneider126
. The biggest takeaway is that
@engineerscc
has some fantastically wild greens, and the first hole really sets the tone for the rest of the course.
Here's a link to our latest newsletter (), and a picture of Mavis in one of the bunkers you'll contend with if you try to drive the green at the two-shot 2nd hole (David Bowie, our other dog, is safely over, but still short of the green).
Sure, we can dream of one day hosting the Solheim Cup. But hopefully this weekend proved (again) that good women’s golf on a great course is beyond captivating, and something worth supporting at all levels. Sign Old Barnwell up to host junior girls and women’s amateur tourneys!
Great fun on the latest episode of The Talking Greenkeeper podcast with Nick Schreiber who is helping start
@Old_Barnwell
Also available on Spotify for Android users. Thanks to our sponsors
@GreenKeeperApp
&
@RightLineLLC
I'm a horrible photographer, so getting a shot that highlights the unique and lovely land movement of the Old Barnwell site is above my pay grade. Luckily,
@PurvisMorgan
is here to help with his expertise.
We're starting a newsletter! If we haven't already connected, but you want to stay up to date on Old Barnwell's progress, you can add your email to our newsletter mailing list here:
Henry's tiny cough meant a sick day and his first trip to Old Barnwell. He approved. He also seems willing to stay home again tomorrow to watch the Ryder Cup.
As
@PurvisMorgan
will tell you, we are very, very lucky to be a part of the larger Aiken community. Thanks
@MJ_Croley
for highlighting such a great and historic town.
We're starting a newsletter! If we haven't already connected, but you want to stay up to date on Old Barnwell's progress, you can add your email to our newsletter mailing list here:
If
@lukeboat
ever tells you he never broke 100 in high school & then casually offers a friendly $$ game, don’t be fooled.
@jsetterl
& I witnessed him fire a nonchalant 71 at
@ChechesseeCreek
today. He is a scoundrel. Amazingly kind, but a scoundrel nonetheless.
On
#ThankASuper
day, I'd like to know: what do supers want/need in a maintenance building? How can/should the maintenance building make their job easier and more efficient?
@JohnLavelle2015
Old Barnwell is beyond lucky to have someone with your depth of expertise and your caliber of character running the show. Welcome aboard - here’s to a long partnership and friendship ahead!
The fact that it will cost zero for the worthy participants to play in the
@underrated
Tour's events is just tremendous. Competitive golf in the U.S., especially at the junior levels, is needlessly expensive because the payoff down the line is so significant and obvious. Bravo.
McKellar
#6
Update: 🇺🇸 pre-sale list is being delivered as we speak and new US orders will ship with ⚡️ speed. 🇬🇧/🇮🇪/ 🇪🇺: Your distributors’ boxes are en route, so it won’t be much longer. 🇨🇦/🇦🇺: Shipping tomorrow, 7/14.
Great issue, check it out:
Because of our partnership goals with HBCUs, a potential member sent me this compelling article about the value of an in-person network, and how we can close the "networking gap." It's spot on. Thanks Gary!
I quite enjoyed this. The newsletter is worth a subscribe if you're interested in the business of golf.
St Andrews: A Big Business, by
@readperfectputt
I loved reading about the partnership between The Country Club and
@brooklineteen
. It shows how you can start small, and grow to make a huge impact. My new favorite person is Kristen LaCount!
If only there was a club with an environment designed for families, where golf is an inclusive invitation — to fun, to time together, to the beauty of the outdoors, to great food & hospitality, and activities that go beyond chasing a little white ball.
Got a sneak peek at
@Old_Barnwell
today. The place has some off the charts potential from a golf perspective and an even greater potential to do amazing things for others through the game of golf. Thanks for the tour
@PurvisMorgan
!
Kudos to
@LittleFallsMN
! This is great. "If you get people hooked on golf, or at least exposed to golf when they’re in their younger years, they’re going to come back when they’re older and capable to pay." - City Administrator John Radermacher
Prepping the first Old Barnwell newsletter in a while. If you're not yet subscribed and have any interest in regular updates on the club, our mission, and our golf, here's the sign-up link:
We are proud to announce this years YOC Scholarship recipients. These 20 outstanding young people will receive nearly $350,000 in funds to help them pursue their dreams of higher education.
We can't wait to see what they accomplish.
Read more:
While we've got a strong foundation of programming, I'm looking for more ideas on effective community partnerships, scholarships or service-oriented programs at golf clubs. Evans Scholars @ Caves Valley, for example. What can Golf Twitter point to as models of a club doing good?
Excellent golf is at the heart of our identity, but so are welcoming/functional spaces in our clubhouse & lodge. We're so excited to have Basic Projects leading our interior design. Their Post House Inn was just recognized as a Top 101 hotel in the world!
Down in Wilson, Arkansas for a couple days. The 6-hole reversible course went to bed in great shape, excited for her to wake up in April! Pictured below are greens for 1/5, 6, 3, and 5/1.
@dylanstevensgca
@TheSidehillLie
Brian was kind enough to provide us with 1’ topo maps at a price that saved us literally $18,000. He’s as generous as he is talented.
@Hammbear
Keen, I agree. The idea of an inclusive private club is a bit of an oxymoron. But we’re trying create an exceptional golf experience that is deliberate in providing access for all sorts of folks. And with effective programming, we can create great opportunities for public play.
Thanks to all who reached out - the response was overwhelming. As a golf twitter newbie, I am amazed at the kindness of superintendents. Stay tuned for more questions!
@Steve1968
@BPBlackMetal
@ragantechnical
It's still early, but Old Barnwell will be a private, national club with a mission to create an exceptional golf experience that encourages and fosters a diverse and inclusive club culture. Blake Conant and Brian Schneider are the architects.
@ktrain_11
Just outside of Aiken, SC. The mission is to bring people together through golf and provide an exceptional and inclusive golf experience for our members and their families. Working with & learning a ton from women in golf as we build programming to support aspiring female pros.
Once upon a time there was a golf course called The Lido. And then, there wasn't.
Now, there are three.
@BrettCyrgalis
, Gil Hanse and Brian Schneider take us on a journey through the past, present and future of "the greatest golf course—ever."
@TimGavrich
@bschneider126
@buildsmartrgolf
It's a nod to my Pops, whose middle name (and nickname) is Gilroy. Before we found this land, I was thinking it would simply be a short course, and my dumb idea was to call it Lil' Gil. Then someone pointed out that it has to "earn" its nickname. So, for now, it's The Gilroy.