Lunchball
The Tree Farm is the physical manifestation of professional golfer and architecture ‘sicko’ Zac Blair’s fever dreams, brought to life by Tom Doak and lead associate Kye Goalby. Located on a sandy, heaving site in South Carolina, this course is a direct rebellion against the stuffed-shirt rigidity of modern country clubs. The architecture is a rugged, texture-heavy masterclass in minimalism, featuring massive fairways, menacing bunkers, and a routing that feels like a ‘greatest hits’ album of strategic templates—including a polarizing ‘Volcano’ green on the 6th and a masterful Redan on the 3rd. It is raw, brown, and beautiful, demanding creativity and ground-game prowess akin to the links of the UK.
The vibe here is strictly ‘Lunchball’—a term coined by the founders to describe a culture of fast play, big bets, and zero pretension. There are no formal tee markers; players simply choose a spot on the massive ribbon tees that suits the day’s match, echoing the flexible spirit of the Old Course at St. Andrews. The club is designed as the ultimate hangout, where the golf is built specifically for match play and the daylight is maximized for emergency nines. It is a modern sanctuary for the true golf degenerate.
Comparison: 3rd (Redan)
3rd (Redan)
Redan
North Berwick (West Links)
Architectural Analysis
While North Berwick established the strategic geometry, Tree Farm amplifies the visual drama with American scale, utilizing the natural sandy terrain to create a steeper, faster sliding effect.