Golf's first great inland course is still one of the world's best.

Willie Park Jr. created the bones of this course but Harry S. Colt made changes at the time of the gutta percha ball and elevated it to world class status (although Colt himself gives Park a lot of the credit for the course). A status that it still, deservedly, enjoys. I found this to be the better of the two courses and a level above the New. It just has more charm and variety to me than the New Course. There are a few drivable/drive-pitch par 4s as well as long par 4s, the par 3s are just as good of a set and there are a few stretches of holes that are as good as any in the UK (while the middle of the course is by far the best part of the New).

The routing is a large loop that is counterclockwise. The wind will be a factor as you rarely go in the same direction. I was shocked at how much of the terrain was hilly. However, the course uses this to it's advantage and the holes are more interesting for it. Somehow, you never notice going uphill on holes and then have a massive drop on a hole. Most of the greens can be attacked and are more approachable than the New Course-less false fronts. They usually have a tilt or ridge that is used for protection/interest but a couple have multiple tiers. The course does not have a lot of bunkers, but the ones that it does are all strategic. I am told that the Old course normally plays firm/fast and gives shot options/driving strategy from the run outs. Unfortunately for me, I was here in October of '24 and it rained so much that the club closed both courses the day before I played (it had been years since the last time they had to that). Granted, it drained better than 99% of the courses on Earth (which is a fortunate part for me as most courses would have stayed closed), but it was a far cry from firm/fast/fiery.

So many have already reviewed this course but here are some highlights (to me)

The set of par 3s is pure class. The 4th is the shortest (only 150 from the tips) but plays uphill (at least a club and most likely two more) to a green guarded by bunkers short and left and a fall away slope on the right. The green has one large back to front tilt so if you go too far, then the putt will be quite interesting. The 8th plays downhill to a green which tilts from left to right. It is protected by bunkers on the left and right. The 13th plays downhill to a green that is protected by a front bunker. To make matters worse, the green is sloped from front to back. This is probably the green with the most inner contour so just hitting it is not going to be enough for your three. The 15th is the longest-over 200 yards from all tees and 245 from the tips. It was designed to be approached with a wood. There are three bunkers guarding the green on the left. Drive one to the left and you can roll onto the green. Just be careful to not go too far left or you're in one of those bunkers. Going to the right off the tee is all forced carry and over the sole short right bunker.