Old Hickory Golf Club

This was the first time I’ve played Old Hickory in nearly 15 years, since I had a corporate membership for several years. Old Hickory is a private club with bent grass tees and greens and zoysia fairways. The course is designed by P.B. Dye (the son of Pete Dye who designed the TPC Sawgrass – home of the Player’s Championship). Holes 7,8,9 are like holes 16, 17, 18 at the TPC Sawgrass. The first 6 holes are carved through numerous single standing tall trees.

Hole 4 green was under construction and they had a temporary green. Doing repairs to the cart path on hole 2. The walkway had astroturf to the 8th green but now was covered in dirt and you had to walk on boards to get to the green. Doing some work on the 8th tee also.

New items to the course since I last played here. White sand is now in all bunkers. In the low-lying areas (water run-off areas) on the front nine have been filled in with rock. I believe they removed the railroad ties around the 8th green.

Old Hickory has some solid holes but what distracts from the design of the course is the tricked-up and sometimes unfair holes. Certain holes, you must be very conservative to leave your ball in certain spots or a very high score will result.

Hole 1. Green is very small with a lot of slopes.
Hole 3. A 3-tiered green. If the pin is in the front, there is no way to keep your putt on the green if you are on the 2nd or 3rd tier. If the pin is upfront, it is best to miss your shot short of the fairway.
Hole 8. The green is a tabletop with severe slopes on the sides.
Hole 11. Another smallish green with only a small flat section of the green and edges sloping off.
Hole 12. Very tricky green with difficult up and downs if you miss in the wrong spot.
Hole 14. The hourglass green. If the pin is on the right side, the green is so small and going over the green is nearly impossible up & down. Best to land your ball short in the fairway.
Hole 16. A boomerang green, which has two distinct green areas.

The conditioning of the course is very good, however, not as good as it was 15 years ago. A pretty course but with the seven holes listed above, the course has never been high on places I want to play.

Played in an interclub match here today. The hospitality was great and the club met all my expectations.

The course was in great shape and somewhat challenging due to the number of angled holes. Without GPS or a caddie, the course would be extremely difficult to get around.

I can't wait to play this track again.

Played this course with a member and was shocked at the conditions and the secluded beautiful setting (no houses or businesses around).

The course conditions were pristine with a courteous staff, I didn't play well but tough course well worth seeing again. On par with Fox run I'd say