Zac Blair hails from Utah, attended Brigham Young University, and has played professional golf this year everywhere from Hawaii to Puerto Rico on the PGA Tour, plus four weeks on the Korn Ferry Tour that included a stop in Mexico. So he’s got a lot of miles and international experience.
But this week, at the Colonial Life Charity Classic, is as close as he comes to a “home game.” Since 2020, when he purchased 500 acres near Batesburg to build an exclusive golf course, the 35-year-old professional has made Tree Farm his passion project.
Designed by architects Tom Doak and Kye Goalby with input from Blair, the course is one of a dozen or so new designs built in South Carolina since the pandemic, after decades of almost no golf courses construction.
Blair is pleased to be here and part of that growth. “I’m pretty much a transplant here now,” he said. “I spend a lot of time here, and we’ve got a house in Batesburg. I’m definitely spending time in this neck of the woods.”
So: is Blair now primarily a Tour player or a golf entrepreneur? Thursday’s first round at Columbia’s Woodcreek Club made a strong case for the first, at least this day.
Blair shot 7-under par 63 with a day’s-best nine birdies, a shot off his pro career best, to take the early lead. But Bryce Lewis, in his second year on the Korn Ferry Tour, eagled the par-5 14th for a share of the top spot and added a birdie at the par-5 17th to grab the solo lead at 8-under.
Lewis’ best finish in nine previous tournaments this year was a tie for 23rd at the Panama Championship in January. His 62 Thursday set a new Woodcreek course record and is a personal best on Tour by two strokes.
“I did not know that,” a delighted Lewis said of the course record. “I’ve shot other 62s at my home course (Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club in Hendersonville, TN), where I’m still trying to break my dad’s record, 61.”
Lewis credited a strong day on the greens to his new putter, a TaylorMade Spider blade putter. “I putted with a blade as a kid, and I pulled this one out of a demo bag,” he said. “This one will stay in my bag this week.”
A shot back of the leaders was Paul Peterson, a 2024 Korn Ferry winner, at 6- under. Hot on the heels of the top three was a gaggle of players at 5-under, including South Carolina natives Carson Young (Pendleton) and Trent Phillips (Inman). Thursday was a bit of deja vu for Young, who won the 2013 South Carolina Amateur at Woodcreek before his college career at Clemson.
While golf remains Blair’s priority, Tree Farm has fulfilled a long-held dream. “I was hurt for a few years, and that was something I’d always wanted to do,” he said. “I got super lucky finding the place, and the (management) team behind it. We’ve got good people who run the place and good membership.
“I grew up with it (because) my dad owned and operated golf courses, and I watched him build and managed and do that side of the business. So it’s been cool.”
After playing in the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic a week ago, Blair has seen two very different properties back-to-back. “There are definitely some serious elevation changes here,” compared to the mostly flat terrain at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club. “The greens here seem pretty tricky, and they can put the (flags) in some tough spots. But both courses have a lot of good stuff.”
Blair was pleased with his performance Thursday, with good reason. “I’m focused on playing golf now, obviously,” he said. And playing well is important, because despite his investments in Tree Farm, golf is how he makes a living … and was able to afford his course.
“I’m in conditional status (with the PGA Tour), so I’m mainly focused on this tour,” he said. His best PGA Tour finish is a tie for eighth at the Puerto Rico Open, and he’s missed two of five cuts. A week ago, Blair finished tied for 60th at Myrtle Beach. By comparison, he’s had three top-20s and made all four cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour.
After Thursday’s round, Blair had an easy drive back to Tree Farm. “It’s just 45 minutes down the road,” between Batesburg and Wagner, and with KFT stops coming up in Raleigh and Greenville, he’ll be spending more nights there than on an airplane, which suits him.
“Tonight, I’ll go have dinner at Tree Farm … and hopefully play good tomorrow,” he said. It’s always good to be home – or for Blair, pretty close.