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For the local golf scene, Old American has even one of those quiet gems for years with a unique and challenging experience with a taste of old world charm with the quaint clubhouse to the crushed rock cart paths. And in recent years, Old American has tried to position itself as worthy of hosting top-class golf with LPGA, PGA Professional, AJGA and other events. While the intent is genuine, I’m here to tell you that the delivery is falling woefully short.

In my last few rounds there, the course itself has been in generally decent condition. The greens are smooth, fairways lush and overall appearance on the surface is ok. But when you get on the course and really experience it, you realize just how appearances can be deceiving.

Let’s start with the bunkers. I’ve never experienced a course with such inconsistent bunkers than Old American. Raked? Yes. But that’s where any positive marks end. In several cases, my footing gave me ample confidence that there was a nice amount of sand under the ball, only to have my club bounce off of clay/hard mud or even the underlying canvas layer. And then other times when I took precautions with a shot I’d find out that there was a good 6-8 inches of soft sand. Did I mention inconsistent? Someone needs to tell the staff that just because they rake the bunkers to make them look nice, it doesn't mean that they are in good playing condition.

One last comment regarding the course and it's setup is the Rough and natural growth areas. While I understand the concept of the course and it's setup, several items seem to show a general lack of maintenance rather than course setup. For instance, on the Par 5 7th hole, you have a choice to hit your tee shot straight away, or try to carry the corner for a relatively short approach to the green. In this instance, the corner to carry includes several large bunkers with some very high grass. And when I mention very high, I mean 'lose your golf ball' high. Should there be a penalty for missing the shot? Yes. Should you lose your ball? No. And many other areas around the course, particularly around bunkers, have grass/weeds so unkempt that a shot that you clearly see land in a specific area is lost, if not unplayable. Agian, is this good course design/setup, or just lack of proper maintenance? I obviously lean towards the latter in this instance.

And now to the next concern: the cart paths. Old American outwardly tries to deliver an experience of early century golf with the rustic clubhouse and crushed rock cart paths. The problem is that those cart paths are nothing but a collection of washed out holes that force you to bounce your way through them, or drive around them on the grass. So what's the point of having paths anyway? When you have to take a 1/2 mile ride to the driving range on such a path, and basically bounce and jar your way there and back, you wonder if it was worth it in the first place. I was in need of a chiropractor before I ever hit the first tee!

Then there's the 'clubhouse', a quaint old woodframe building that houses the Pro Shop, Bathrooms, and Dining. If you noticed something in that last statement that didn't seem to align to a top-notch golf course, you'd be correct: I stated 'bathrooms' and not 'locker rooms'. That's right, the nearest Locker Room is down the street at the Tribute Golf Course. Somehow Old American is hosting a LPGA event and only has a small bathroom with 3 stalls each. No space to change your clothes, clean up or stretch and relax.

Some additional context and feedback from the members that I played with showed that the experience is beginning to wear on their patience as well. Each of them have been members for several years and live nearby, therefore it being relatively logical to join Old American. But each of them made comments implying that they are considering leaving as they just don't enjoy the course anymore and are frustrated with the lack of investment and progress. They mentioned playing The Tribute more frequently as the new greens have improved dramatically and the overall course and clubhouse experience surpasses that of Old American.

Old American has the potential for being a top-notch course and experience, but simply isn't delivering. My instinct tells me that the owner/developer is too concerned with profit from the surrounding real estate growth and using the course as a tool to attract home buyers. Not a bad strategy, but only if the course is actually an attraction and not a deterrent. This potential gem is in dire need of investment, and it's beginning to show. Will I return to play Old American again? Sure, but only if someone else is paying for it or I receive some feedback that changes have been made.

Old American can and should do better.
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Old American Reviews

Golf Advisor

For the local golf scene, Old American has even one of those quiet gems for years with a unique and challenging experience with a taste of old world charm with the quaint clubhouse to the crushed rock cartpaths. And in recent years, Old American has tried to position itself as worthy of hosting top-class golf with LPGA, PGA Professional, AJGA and other events. While the intent is genuine, I’m here to tell you that the delivery is falling woefully short.

In my last few rounds there, the course itself has been in generally decent condition. The greens are smooth, fairways lush and overall appearance on the surface is ok. But when you get on the course and really experience it, you realize just how appearances can be deceiving.

Let’s start with the bunkers. I’ve never experienced a course with such inconsistent bunkers than Old American. Raked? Yes. But that’s where any positive marks end. In several cases, my footing gave me ample confidence that there was a nice amount of sand under the ball, only to have my club bounce off of clay/hard mud or even the underlying canvas layer. And then other times when I took precautions with a shot I’d find out that there was a good 6-8 inches of soft sand. Did I mention inconsistent? Someone needs to tell the staff that just because they rake the bunkers to make them look nice, it doesn't mean that they are in good playing condition.

One last comment regarding the course and it's setup is the Rough and natural growth areas. While I understand the concept of the course and it's setup, several items seem to show a general lack of maintenance rather than course setup. For instance, on the Par 5 7th hole, you have a choice to hit your tee shot straight away, or try to carry the corner for a relatively short approach to the green. In this instance, the corner to carry includes several large bunkers with some very high grass. And when I mention very high, I mean 'lose your golf ball' high. Should there be a penalty for missing the shot? Yes. Should you lose your ball? No. And many other areas around the course, particularly around bunkers, have grass/weeds so unkempt that a shot that you clearly see land in a specific area is lost, if not unplayable. Agian, is this good course design/setup, or just lack of proper maintenance? I obviously lean towards the latter in this instance.

And now to the next concern: the cart paths. Old American outwardly tries to deliver an experience of early century golf with the rustic clubhouse and crushed rock cart paths. The problem is that those cart paths are nothing but a collection of washed out holes that force you to bounce your way through them, or drive around them on the grass. So what's the point of having paths anyway? When you have to take a 1/2 mile ride to the driving range on such a path, and basically bounce and jar your way there and back, you wonder if it was worth it in the first place. I was in need of a chiropractor before I ever hit the first tee!

Then there's the 'clubhouse', a quaint old woodframe building that houses the Pro Shop, Bathrooms, and Dining. If you noticed something in that last statement that didn't seem to align to a top-notch golf course, you'd be correct: I stated 'bathrooms' and not 'locker rooms'. That's right, the nearest Locker Room is down the street at the Tribute Golf Course. Somehow Old American is hosting a LPGA event and only has a small bathroom with 3 stalls each. No space to change your clothes, clean up or stretch and relax.

Some additional context and feedback from the members that I played with showed that the experience is beginning to wear on their patience as well. Each of them have been members for several years and live nearby, therefore it being relatively logical to join Old American. But each of them made comments implying that they are considering leaving as they just don't enjoy the course anymore and are frustrated with the lack of investment and progress. They mentioned playing The Tribute more frequently as the new greens have improved dramatically and the overall course and clubhouse experience surpasses that of Old American.

Old American has the potential for being a top-notch course and experience, but simply isn't delivering. My instinct tells me that the owner/developer is too concerned with profit from the surrounding real estate growth and using the course as a tool to attract home buyers. Not a bad strategy, but only if the course is actually an attraction and not a deterrent. This potential gem is in dire need of investment, and it's beginning to show. Will I return to play Old American again? Sure, but only if someone else is paying for it or I receive some feedback that changes have been made.

Old American can and should do better.