The Olde Farm Shines On — Кассета

Welcome to The Turf Zone podcast. This episode spotlights Jim McGlothlin’s The Olde Farm in Southwest Virginia. Written by Beck Stanley. When I enter Southwest Virginia, only one thing comes to mind: a deep wonder of when and if I will ever play Jim McGlothlin’s The Olde Farm. That prayer was finally answered this September when I visited with the club’s staff and membership to enjoy the legendary course staked out by architect Bobby Weed in two short days back in the late 1990’s. It only recently fell down a spot to #2 in the state according to Golf Digest but went up to #103 nationally, notable as the logjam of world class courses continues to grow. And frankly, it should grow. Golf enriches the world and benefits everyone involved, protects natural environments, provides recreational venues for all and attracts millions in tourist spending. More unsettling is how exactly North Carolina’s mountain region outcompetes Virginia’s in this era of destination golf. Even Tennessee is emerging with major new courses, led by Virginia Tech grad Andrew Green’s exciting new Firefly project. McGlothlin’s commitment to the idea of The Olde Farm, a flawless, focused, excellent experience by every measure, fuels it into the future. Gone a year or so, his presence is still felt in every corner of the sprawling property. The course, Clubhouse, grounds, on-site bee hives, produce gardens, orchards and infrastructure are all flawless, with staff going to great lengths to deliver a world class experience to anyone who bounces over the cattle guards, steel emblems of entrance and escape. What blew me away and cements this club as a national leader, is its insistence on continuing and expanding the philanthropic contributions of its founder. McGlothlin and his network sprang into action after Hurricane Helene ripped through Appalachia, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for home rebuilds. The club has hosted high dollar fundraising campaigns for the Grundy school McGlothlin supported in his hometown, Mountain Mission School, where children from all over the world are given hope and healing. In just one event in 2010, the Big 3 for Mountain Mission School, over $15M was raised, shattering PGA Tour records for one-day fundraisers. In 2018, The Olde Farm hosted The American Legends Golf Tournament, raising almost $57 Million for Mountain Mission School. For his 85th birthday, just six weeks before his passing, more than $400,000 was raised for Mountain Mission. But there’s another local school, the Morrison School, where McGlothlin’s widow, Fran, is still hard at work securing a better future for children dealt a bad hand. Having seen its impacts and how it can grow in the coming years, the VTC will be making our Christmas contribution in Fran’s honor to the Morrison School, and a link can be found at the end of this article where you, too, can support both Mountain Mission and Morrison schools. The club’s General Manager and COO, Larry Klein, first came across McGlothlin in the mid 1990’s. “He was sharp as a tack and engaged in his business, family and community until the very end. There is no secret to his success. He simply worked hard and paid attention to the details,” Klein told me. “He was a great friend, and I strive to ensure his favorite place on earth, The Olde Farm, remains true to its traditions.” Every single person I spoke to about this story raved about Klein’s work, citing a lynchpin whose experience brings together hospitality, authenticity, and a deep understanding of what’s now at stake for the game of golf. Klein’s career brought him to some of the world’s most beautiful places, like the Grand Tetons and The Greenbrier, but he told me more than once during our visit how he wouldn’t trade his current role for anything. And who can blame him? Anyone who has combed through The Olde Farm’s substant