Going Places

Barnsley Gardens is a bucolic Eden about an hour north of Atlanta’s hubbub. In 1842 Godfrey Barnsley, an English-born shipping magnate, wanted a country retreat for his new wife. He created an Italianate villa surrounded by elaborate English gardens in the rural countryside.  The Civil War devastated both Godfrey’s considerable personal fortune and the estate. Relatives tried to keep it going in the ensuing years, but fratricide, neglect and tornado damage took their toll. The manse became a shell and the gardens a jungle.
    In 1988 Hubertus Fugger, a German Prince from Augsburg, purchased the property. He restored the gardens to their former glory and opened the grounds as a state historical site, drawing almost 40,000 visitors per year. In the late ’90s he added 33 cottages housing 70 guest suites, a clubhouse, spa, swimming pool, horseback riding, golf course, restaurants and a sporting clays course to turn the complex into a stunning resort. Investors purchased the complex a few years later, and Barnsley Gardens quickly found itself on numerous “best hotels” travel lists.
    This past winter Orvis joined forces with Barnsley Gardens to establish an Orvis Shooting Grounds at the resort. It is being billed as the “Sandanona of the South,” and Orvis has a full pro shop there and offers both fly-fishing and wingshooting lessons.
    Recently I was privileged to take a shooting lesson there from Orvis’s head instructor, Bruce Bowlen, author of my absolutely favorite “how to shoot” book, The Orvis Wingshooting Handbook. It’s been around forever, and Bruce says there will be an updated edition shortly. I recommend it highly. If Orvis doesn’t have a copy, Amazon.com will.
    Bowlen is a marvelous wingshooting instructor. He emphasizes the Churchill approach, with the gunstock started well back under the armpit. This starting position involves both hands in the gun mount, as the gun must be pushed forward to clear the shoulder and not just drawn straight up. He likens the move to the action of a porch glider instead of a rocking chair.
     He urges the shooter to take enough time to see the target clearly enough to identify detail. Enough time should be taken to smoothly mount the gun. Then fire decisively. Don’t ride it to make it “better.” Even if the gun mount isn’t perfect, good hand-eye coordination often will be enough in the field. Clay shooting requires precision, whereas a field shooter needs a more spontaneous relationship with the bird. Continuing to focus on the bird after the shot will aid follow-through.
    He accurately assessed my style as a hybrid of clays and field. When I missed a clay, he asked, “Where were you?” I told him I was a little high and right. He then said that if I knew where I’d missed with such precision, I was looking at the rib too much and not concentrating completely on the target. He was right, and that’s something I shall remember.
    The shooting school and clays course currently are located on the original 1,300-acre parcel. Barnsley Gardens has recently added an additional 1,700 acres. In the near future the school, clays course and 5 Stand layout will be moved to the new acreage. A bird hunting preserve also will be cleared. Just in case you feel that you deserve a new gun while visiting Barnsley, the Orvis pro shop handles Caesar Guerini, Beretta and Arrieta. Fittings and stock alterations are available. There is also an extensive selection of shooting gear and clothing as well as the same for fly-fishing.
    Barnsley Gardens and Orvis are a great co-branding combination. Orvis has been in the high-end travel industry for some time, with its lifestyle offerings. And with Barnsley’s Lexus guest transportation, excellent and varied restaurants, single-malt tastings, six-course wine-sampling dinners, luxurious accommodations, spa (offerings include a rose-petal facial), fabulous gardens and, above all, polite and professional staff, it is a natural fit for Orvis. This is a luxury resort in every sense of the word.
    Your regimen might include a little fly-fishing or golf in the morning, shooting in the afternoon, an evening stroll among breathtaking floral displays, a sip or two of Balvenie 17 in the gloaming, followed by an elaborate dinner and then a retreat to your picture-perfect little cottage. Repeat as often as necessary.
    For more information, contact Barnsley Gardens Resort, 877-773-2447; www.barnsleyresort.com; or the Barnsley Orvis Shooting School, 770-773-9230; www.orvis.com.