DARREN CARROLL + WHISKEY RANCH
If the name rings a bell it’s because you may have heard it mentioned in some stories about a couple of Texas kids named Ben and Byron who caddied there. Turns out they even played each other for the caddie championship across nine of its holes, way back in 1927. That would be “Ben” as in Ben Hogan. And “Byron” as in Byron Nelson.
Our photographer
Darren Carroll, himself an avid golfer and student of golf history, and who had the opportunity to get to know and photograph Mr. Nelson on numerous shoots for Golf Digest and Sports Illustrated, relished the chance to photograph this gem of golf’s bygone era for The Golfer’s Journal.
In constructing “Whiskey Ranch,” Firestone and Robertson have preserved most of the historic course; the original 6th and 7th holes have been moved to make way for a state-of-the-art distillery and event space. Stop by, sip a bourbon out on the porch and look out over the fairways. Or better yet, play a couple of holes. Either way, You just might sense the ghosts of some of golf’s greats out there.
