Date Played: August 27, 2010
Front Nine Rating: 9.2 Stars
Back Nine Rating: 9.2 Stars
Approximate Weekend Price Range: $125.00 to $175.00
Brief Description:

Hurray!!!! Old American Club opened ahead of schedule and is open for play as of September 1, 2010.  And what a great course with a unique and memorable layout, very good conditions, challenging green complexes, and over 150 bunkers to keep you on your game. 

Tripp Davis and Justin Leonard designed Old American with a 1910 to 1930's golf course playing style and the look and feel of some of the masterpieces from that era such as Shinnecock Hills (established in 1931), National Golf Links (built in 1911), Prairie Dunes and Crystal Downs.  They've thought of everything to make this reminiscence of the older courses including the old style yardage book (a must for it's hints and tips), cart paths of decomposed granite that are emblematic of paths on courses from the north east, and short beautifully polished wood pins with antique attachments.  During your round you'll encounter many large, flowing bunkers, native grasses, challenging green complexes, and subtle elevation changes that will challenge players of all levels and provide a unique test of your golf game.

Old American is visually pleasing as well - 15 holes provide views of Lake Lewisville and eight holes play along the shoreline.  On a hot summer day, at times it's hard to keep your focus on golf thanks to all the beautiful yachts, jets skis, and bathing beauties on what looks like cool refreshing water. 

In stark contrast to many modern courses that are tricked up and heavy on eye candy and visual stimulation, Davis set out to create a classic and strategic design with Old American.  This course will throw a lot at you and it requires you to play strategically.  You'll encounter dog legs, over 150 bunkers, risk reward opportunities, prevailing winds, sloping and contoured fairways, some forced carries, elevation changes, and very difficult green complexes.  With six sets of tee boxes, yardages from 5100 to 7174 and a slope and rating of 144 and 75.8, the key to scoring well is to pick the right set of tee boxes and manage the risk reward opportunities.  For example,

• #3 is a hard 580 par 5 and if you risk biting off more than you can chew by trying to fly the huge bunkers guarding the short cut or try to nail the green and miss, par will be evasive - but its an easy par 5 if you avoid the risky shots and take the safe route
• #5 is a 474 yard par 4 where an aggressive tee shot gives you a good angle to the pin and shortens the dog leg left but miss it and you're looking at a bogey or better
• on the tee box of #9 you may ask "how hard can this short 371 yard par four be?" and then you may find you drove the natural area that cuts across the fairway leading to an uphill well protected green or you've got a very uneven lie on the rolling, sloping, and contoured fairway making for a challenging approach
• the seventh hole which is a 506 yard par 5 with 18 bunkers and the smallest green with plenty of slope and undulation will most likely require your best sand shots
• the very fun #1 handicap #15 is a 488 yard par four with two huge bunker complexes, a fairway bunker, and a blind second shot and requires accuracy all the way to the green
• #16 is the shortest par 4 at 351 yards and it will tempt you to go for the challenging green but poor positioning can result in a bogey or worse
• and Tripp Davis claims that #16 to #18 provide one of the most dramatic finishes in golf

Old American has a links style feel to it and most of the fairways are wide and forgiving off the tee box.  The fairways are new and still maturing but in very good condition.  The first cut was very playable and there are no homes or few trees to contend with.  Miss the fairway and you've got a problem.  The tee boxes are perfect and they don't require a hammer to drive your tees in.   When the fairways mature, they should be very lush and plush.

The greens were also in near perfect condition, rolled well, held ok, and were very true.  They were running about a 9 to 10 on the Stimp meter - a very manageable speed.  Most of the greens are smaller than average, well guarded, elevated, and have both slope and undulation.   A number of the greens are oblong making them harder to hit on the approach.  In many cases, it's best to try and run the ball up. 

With over 150 bunkers, you will get some sand time but the good news is the sand is soft and thick and the bunkers are treated as waste bunkers - meaning you can remove impediments, ground your club, and take a practice swing but you can't improve your lie.  The lips are one to two feet and easy to clear and the rough around the bunkers is thick and challenging.  You'll encounter bunkers of all shapes and sizes, some that run most of the length of the fairway or green, some that are small, deep and oval,  several in the middle of the fairway, and plenty around the greens.

Old American is a blast to play and very fair if you play smart.  It gives you the opportunity to bite off as much as you want, take risks, or play conservative and most likely turn in a good score.   This is a course that you will want to play again.  It's pricey but well worth it. 

Old American is still a work in progress - the pro shop is in a trailer, the parking lot is dirt, and the food is very limited.  Don't let that stop you from playing and all that will change - new carts with GPS, a new clubhouse, concierge area, member bag storage, grill, and more are planned.  When all is said and done, this will be one of the Dallas areas finest courses and a top notch first class experience.