Old American

You get to drive over this cool bridge to the Third.  I think it goes over a dry river bed.  

The Third is a 554 yard par 5.  The fairway gently dog legs left and is rather wide.  There are ripples and contours that make it interesting, with the green protected by cross bunkers on the front.  These first few holes felt like a nice easing into the round.  It’s nothing flashy, but a pleasant series of holes that allow you to take in the scenery and fine tune your swing. 

The Third

View of the Third from the bridge

Second shot territory

The Fourth is a 163 yard par 3.  There are bunkers and waste land generally in front of the green, and then to the right of the green, and a run off area on the far left of the green.  You need your distance to be spot on here, then you get to putt on the undulating green.

The Fifth is the 2 handicapped hole, a 452 yard par 4.  The hole just left after the tee shot, but the green and a lot of the fairway is blind due to mounds and bunkers rising up.  Just know there is a lot more room to the right than it appears from the tee, and once you clear the dog leg, you should have a relatively straight forward look at the green.  A nicely designed hole to create a little visuals and make you trust your club selection.

The Sixth is a 185 yard par 3.  You start to close in on the lake, which is behind the green, while some nice houses are situated well back but along the hole, creating  stadium-esque atmosphere if enough people are out on their balconies.  You have an enormous green, so this should be a good scoring hole unless the wind is really blowing.

The Seventh is a 496 yard par 5.  The hole dog legs to the right hard, but allows you an opportunity to get home in two by leaving the turn relatively open.  The fairway is on the narrow side and there is a lot of serious trouble just off the narrow fairway and the green.  The scenery of the lake comes in full force on this hole.  The course opens itself up slowly, but this is where I realized that I found some where special.

The Eighth is a 192 yard par 3.  There is a false front and the green gets shallow pretty quick with a run off on the back side, and sloping on the other sides as well, so sticking the green is paramount here.

The Ninth is a 351 yard par 4.  I started to catch up to foursomes at this point and they were gracious enough to waive me through.  I think I passed 3 groups and they all let me through without me having to ask.  I really liked everyone I encountered here, from the staff to the players.  It is a semi private club, but everyone said hello and waived to me.  When  you have that kind of genteel atmosphere, it makes the golf that much better.

Unfortunately, I missed photos of some of the holes so I could hurry past these foursomes and the Ninth was the first victim.  It’s a shame because I really liked this hole.  The tee shot is straight, then the fairway turns left and downhill before coming to the green, which is raised.  You can carry the entire elevation difference if your tee shot and approach are well hit.  There are some deep bunkers in front of the green, so I’d be long if anything.

The front nine does a good job of starting out with some meandering holes before kicking things up at the Fifth.  I really enjoyed stretch of holes near the lake.  The par 5’s were great and diverse, the par 3’s allowed some creativity and there were some very good par 4’s of various distances.  Ranking the front nine, I’d go 7, 8, 9, 3, 5, 1, 2, 4, 6.

The back nine starts with the 429 yard Tenth.  It’s a dog leg right similar to the Seventh, but if you don’t try cutting any of the turn, your second shot is pretty long, with the green uphill and protected by cross bunkers.  Aim over the bunkers on the right near the green and let it rip.

The Tenth

Approach shot

The Eleventh is a 471 yard par 4.  Again, I was caught up with passing another obliging foursome so photos on this one are scarce.  The hole is straight, but the ripples and contours of the fairway provide enough adventure, including the slope down to the green from the tee landing area.  Cross bunkers and contours pinch the fairway into some what of a bottle neck just prior to getting to the green, so anything to the green or just long should work out well.

Going up the fairway of the Eleventh

Second shot territory

The Twelfth is a 189 yard par 3.  With the lake in the background providing for some nice scenery, anything left, or short left, is either OB or in a large bunker complex.  The green is narrow but deep, so straight and even slight right is ok, while the green undulates a good deal.

The Twelfth

A look at the green and lake from the right side

The Thirteenth is a 398 yard par 4.  Didn’t get a photo of the tee area because I was passing yet another nice and pleasant foursome that was more than happy to let me play through.  They even complimented my shot on the Twelfth, then ribbed me on the tee.  “We’ve seen you hit your irons well, now let’s see how you hit your driver.”  No pressure.  Thankfully, the shot was nice enough.  The hole itself is a slight dog leg right where a plethora bunkers wait for you at the turn.  The green is set to the left, making it almost a double dog leg.  The green itself has a ridge running through it and putting is on the tougher side.  A nicely done hole.

Approach shot territory

The Fourteenth is a 566 yard par 5.  It’s a sweeping, long dog leg left, with the lake to the left.  The fairway is wide and has a few ripples, but you’re able to deal with the distance of the hole as you see fit since there isn’t a whole lot of bunkers or other hazards getting in your way.  The green overlooks the lake and is relatively large.

The Fourteenth

Moving down the fairway

Approach shot territory

The green, facing the lake

The Fifteenth is a 475 yard par 4.  You have a forced carry tee shot over native vegetation and cross bunkers to ensure that you stay relatively straight.  The green is raised and is multi tiered.  Another long hole that’s liberal enough to allow some creativity and can be played a few different ways.

The Fifteenth

Approach shot territory

The Sixteenth is a 335 yard par 4.  It’s the shortest par 4 on the course and other than carrying  your tee shot over some native plants, you have a lot of discretion what to hit off the tee to give you your preferred approach shot to the elevated green.  A lot of times, the quality of short par 4’s make or break a course, and this one is very well done.

The Sixteenth

Approach shot territory

The Seventeenth is the last par 3, a 148 yard par 3.  Another great short par 3 to a raised green well defended by bunkers.  The slope from back to front is severe, so anything landing too far to the front of the green will roll off.

The Seventeenth

The Eighteenth is a 517 yard par 5.  A river runs along the left side of the hole while the fairway turns slightly to the left to a green that has an opening on the right side, forcing the better play up that side of the fairway.  It’s a great finishing hole, a little shorter par 5 that emphasizes accuracy.

The Eighteenth

Second shot territory

Approach shot territory

The back nine really clinched it for me, as I thought every hole was distinct, scenic and interesting.  Specifically, the par 5’s and 3’s exemplified this while the par 4’s varied in distances, shot selection and angles.  Maybe a few too many greens were raised, but that’s more nitpicking than anything else.  Ranking them, I’d go 18, 14, 13, 12, 17, 16, 15, 11, 10.

Generally, I have a lot of good things to say about this course.  The weather certainly added to the feel of this place, but you could tell that the design was very thought out so that the course can be played differently every time you step up to the first tee, regardless of the weather.  What works so well is there is a consistent theme during the entire round, utilizing cross bunkers, the undulations of the terrain and the native plants, yet keeping that theme fresh with each distinct hole.  They didn’t try too much, like I recently saw at Royce Brook, but kept it simple, which allows the course to facilitate creativity.  What that meant for me was a relaxed round where I had to think about my shots, not how to actually survive and get to the green (which was more the case at Harbour Town), but how to play each hole to best fit my game.  The scenery was fitting to the course, I found the service and perks top notch, and every player I encountered was beyond friendly.  Old American accomplishes what it set out to do and what it touts on its website.  I found it to be a course that representing classic American golf.  I only wish I lived closer to it.

Two perks I can think of include the free drinks and snacks at stations throughout the course.  These stations are stocked with soft drinks, water and snacks, so you’re able to fuel up as necessary.  After the round, the starter used a compressed air pump to clean my clubs and bag.  That’s top notch service as far as I’m concerned.

Gripes:  I can’t think of any.  I always find it more difficult to find complaints when I’m traveling, but everything was very well done.  I guess the higher green fee is of note, but it is worth it.

Bar/Grill:  A great indoor area with plush couches and ample televisions, as well as a nice outdoor patio area.

Clubhouse:  On the smaller side, but a decent selection of higher end apparel and equipment.  A thumbs up on the hat design and selection too.

Practice area:  Natural grass for the range and short game areas.  And a putting green.  Pro VI’s for range balls.  One of the better facilities I’ve come across.

Getting there:  I know it’s Northwest of downtown Dallas, about 30 minutes from DFW airport.