Old Town Club, NC

[Ronald Montesano]

It looks like something from the Australian sandbelt.

[Paul Rudovsky]

I was very fortunate and was able to play OTC today.  Am guessing that this was either my 10th or 11th round there stretching back to 2006.  I simply loved the latest set of changes...and the greens and overall conditioning today was at minimum, superb.  The course played great even if I did not. 


We also has the opportunity to spend time w Dunlop after the round...and I second all of the very positive comments in this thread about his efforts through the years at OTC.  A fabulous club and course and certainly under appreciated in magazine ratings for years.


As a side note, I wonder if OTC's recent efforts will start a movement to update prior restorations and renovations...after all it has been almost two decades since this movement commenced.

[Dunlop_White]

I was fortunate enough to spend a day at Old Town Club in North Carolina yesterday. Aside from a great day with my host, I also bumped into Dunlop White (not sure if he still hangs about these parts).


Couldn’t find a recent thread on the course so here are a few high level thoughts to hopefully kick-off discussion:


1. The course immediately reminded me of the front nine at Crystal Downs. Given the first half at CD is widely considered as superior to the back half; and all 18 at OTC felt more like the front nine at CD, why shouldn’t OTC be considered a better course than CD?


2. The green shapes are second to none (in that I can’t think of a better set anywhere). I don’t know if they are all Maxwell or whether C&C took any creative license in their resto / reno but… wow.


3. The rollicking topography and the way the routing uses it is absolutely first rate.


4. The detailing is perfection, whether it be the bunker shaping and positioning; or the short grass running everywhere (particularly tying greens to tees), there is not a decision in the re-do that appears to have been misplaced. This includes the tree-clearance choices, opening up the huge long views (big scale) whilst leaving notable specimens.


5. All of the above would make great holes by themselves; but then add the ravine / stream / barranca that weaves its way through half of the holes to create different choices / strategies; and you have an unbelievable collection.


I’m only one day removed from my game so will need to contemplate further; but right now, I can’t see any reason why Old Town Club shouldn’t be talked about as one of the very best courses (Top 30) in the world. For those of you that know the place better than me, tell me why I might be wrong? Or right?


(I played awfully by the way).

Ally -

Thanks for your comments above.

Thanks also for the kind words in the 'Firm and Fast' Podcast here ... https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ULdNG7zzja8RpauR0oUwd

It has now been one full year since re-opening from C&C, Vol. 2 ... about the time you first visited. Couldn't be happier with how things have evolved, settled and matured over the past growing season. The design work was so comprehensive this time around, and the results have been equally transformative, aesthetically .... and with greatly improved playability.  The window when all areas of the course are dialed-in has expanded exponentially.

Please let me know when you return?

[Ally Mcintosh]

Still thinking of Old Town, Dunlop - I will be sure to let you know if I can manoeuvre a return in the coming years.