I’ve lived in NC for 13 years now and always found one reason or another not to make the 90 minute trek to Winston-Salem to play Old Town. Well I finally got my lazy butt up there yesterday and was quite frankly floored by the quality of the course and its design. I expected it to be good. But I didn’t expect it to be SO GOOD! I know Old Town is no longer considered a “hidden gem” and is now ranked in GW’s most recent top 100 classic list. But in my opinion, it is still substantially underrated. More importantly, it has a style unlike anything else I have played in this part of the country. While Dunlop White’s “My Home Course” profile tells you everything you need to know about the architecture and history of the course, it is a bit light on pictures. And the only other photo essay I could find was Sean Arble’s from last year. But his pics have apparently been removed from their host site and no longer show up on the threads. So I thought I would post some pictures I took yesterday.
#1 – 423 yard par 4 from the tee. Dunlop White notes in his profile that the preferred line is deceptively toward the right fairway bunker.
I didn’t listen and played it straight away leaving this approach from the left rough.
The first green from behind.
#2 – 166 yard par 3 from the tee and from behind.
#3 – 427 yard par 4 from the tee and the approach.
#4 – 526 yard par 5 from the tee, which is one of the few spots where trees really encroach.
...the approach. A creek in the valley short of the green is hidden from view and will catch a less than perfect attempt to hit the green in two.
…and the green from behind.
#5 - 383 yard par 4. What a great hole. The drive is through a shoot of trees over the bunkers...
…leaving this approach. Everything on the left side of the green or even the back left bank will funnel to the right...
…and the 5th green from behind.
#6 – 186 yard par 3 from the tee and a shot of the green from the 5th fairway which points out some of the bunker and green features.
#7 – 419 yard par 4 from the tee.
…the approach is substantially uphill...
…the green from behind.
#8 – 402 yard par 4. The tee shot is one of many (1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16) where you can’t see the landing area.
… the approach to the flag on the left side of the terrific double green with the 17th.
#9 – 436 yard par 4. A good drive from the tee…
…will end up at the bottom of the hill, leaving an uphill approach…
…to the green.
#10 – 406 yard par 4. A drive over the crest of the hill…
…will leave a short downhill approach to a tricky green.
#11 – 216 yard par 3 from the tee and from behind. The most picturesque hole on the course.
#12 – 451 yard par 4. The shoot of trees at the tee belies the width of the landing area beyond the hill…
…leaving this approach. Not sure of the purpose of the second back left bunker just short of the 13th tee.
#13 – 444 yard par 4. The downhill approach.
#14 – 335 yard par 4. A good drive…
…will leave just a short pitch up to the green.
#15 – 245 yard par 3. Into the wind, I hit driver!
#16 – 367 yard par 4. Here is the approach.
#17 – 590 yard par 5 from the tee…
…two good shots will leave just a wedge to the flag on the right side of the double green.
#18 – 441 yard par 4. An uphill drive…
…leaves an uphill approach…
…to the green.
Ed