FarmLinks Golf Club in Sylacauga: A test of the very best Alabama has to offer

SYLACAUGA, Ala. -- FarmLinks Golf Club is one of the most unique golf courses in America. Since opening in 2003, the course has served as a living laboratory for turfgrass research, testing the latest and greatest from companies like Toro, BASF and Agrium.

Most of that doesn't matter to golfers, except for the fact that the expertise and tender loving care has produced a golf course in impeccable condition. At the end of the day, the Mike Hurdzan-Dana Fry design is a fun and challenging test, good enough for the best amateurs in Alabama and regarded by many as the best golf course in the state.

At 7,444 yards from the tips, FarmLinks can test top players, but four more sets of tees makes it appropriate for most levels of players.

FarmLinks has many memorable holes, but two really stand out with visitors. The first is the par-3 fifth, which features a drop of nearly 200 feet from tee to green. The 17th also has an elevated tee, but golfers must hit it some 200 yards over water to a green in front of Pursell Farms' Parker Lodge.

FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 5

With a 170-foot drop from tee to green, the 210-yard, par-3 fifth hole at FarmLinks Golf Club plays much shorter than its yardage.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 1

FarmLinks Golf Club opens with a 576-yard par 5.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 2

The par-4 second hole at FarmLinks Golf Club is framed by three fairway bunkers and a pond to the left of the green.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 4

At 478 yards, the par-4 fourth is the No. 1 handicap hole at FarmLinks Golf Club.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 6

The 532-yard, downhill par-5 sixth hole is one of the best scoring opportunities at FarmLinks Golf Club.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 8

The 254-yard eighth hole is just another example of FarmLinks Golf Club's outstanding par 3s.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 10

Like the first hole, the back nine at FarmLinks Golf Club also opens with a par 5.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 11

The par-4 11th hole at FarmLinks Golf Club presents a troublesome creek that crosses the fairway.

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FarmLinks GC in Alabama - No. 12

At 488 yards, players will need to hit the big tee shot on the par-4 12th hole at FarmLinks Golf Club.

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FarmLinks golf course - No. 16

If golfers look closely at the par-4 16th, they might notice the fairway is Zorro Zoysia instead of Bermuda.

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FarmLinks Golf Club - No. 17

One of the other signature holes at FarmLinks Golf Club is the par-3 17th, with Parker Lodge in the background.

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FarmLinks golf course - No. 18

A couple of large trees frame the par-5 finishing hole at FarmLinks Golf Club.

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