Visionary leader brought to life the ‘Best Golf Course in Virginia’
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Bobby Weed Golf Design extends its sincerest condolences to the family of Jim McGlothlin following his recent passing this week. Jim was the visionary founder of The Olde Farm Golf Club in Bristol, Virginia, chairman of The United Company and owner of Scratch Golf Company.
Jim had the rare ability to move mountains – not with force, but with quiet generosity and humility. Alongside his beloved wife, Fran, he impacted countless lives throughout Virginia and across the nation with his philanthropic foundations.
Pictured is Jim McGlothlin, founder of The Olde Farm in Bristol, Va. (Photo: The Olde Farm)
Golf course architect Bobby Weed, offered these personal reflections about McGlothlin:
“Jim’s unwavering support and vision were instrumental in bringing The Olde Farm to life – a course that remains deeply meaningful to me. Rooted in southwest Virginia, The Olde Farm is a reflection of Jim’s beginnings, values and personal pride in the region’s heritage.
In addition to The Olde Farm, our company built numerous golf courses for Scratch Golf over a 35-year period. Nobody supported the game more than Jim. His passion for the game was evident throughout golf. He served on the PGA TOUR Board of Directors, enthusiastically supported The First Tee and was the driving force behind two of the largest, one-day charitable events in the history of golf.”
The Olde Farm in Bristol, Va., one of the nation’s premier private golf clubs, features award-winning architecture and renowned service in a beautifully sculpted setting. (Photo: PJ Koenig)
The Big Three for Mountain Mission Kids (June 8, 2010) was a 19-hole scramble event hosted by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player at The Olde Farm. 19 teams of amateur players, along with corporate partners, collectively raised over $15 million for Mountain Mission School (MMS), an accredited, non-profit school located in rural Virginia that provides stability, shelter, nourishment and a high-quality education for at-risk children from throughout the U.S. and world.
The American Legends for Mountain Mission Kids (Sept. 18, 2018) was another one-day charitable tournament that raised in excess of $56 million. The event allowed patrons to watch and play alongside 10 iconic personalities from golf, football and basketball, including Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Dan Marino, Betsy King, Jerry West, Peyton Manning, Lorena Ochoa, Lanny Wadkins and Tim Finchem.
The Olde Farm’s distinct north-south routing produces an enjoyable walk that flows seamlessly and expands the site’s natural ridges and contours. (Photo: The Olde Farm)
The Olde Farm’s 18-hole layout and short course, The Orchard, are set amidst the southwestern foothills of Virginia. Catering to a national membership, Weed’s lay-of-the-land architecture exemplifies walkability while mitigating rolling topography.
The Olde Farm debuted as “America’s Best New Private Course” by Golf Digest in 2000. Over the past quarter century, GOLF Magazine, Golfweek, the Virginia State Golf Association and many others have praised the course layout.
The Olde Farm’s rustic elegance and remote feeling contributes to its distinguished character and charm. (Photo: PJ Koenig)
Weed concluded his thoughts by stating, “Jim’s legacy, love of golf, charitable commitment and service to others set a new benchmark that will endure for generations to come.”
