Old Course Golf Course at Stonewall Links

This course is on a top 25 public courses in Pa list I’ve been using for two years to visit them all.

First impression is gimmicky. The castle theme is everywhere including the buildings. Was bit over the top.

Staff was very helpful getting started. I was ignored after my round. I share because a course back home that charges less than half of this will often clean your clubs if it’s not too busy with no tip expected. For this price a thank you for coming would have helped.

The course is immaculate. Not any other way to say it.

Range decent.

The greens were very tough and fast. But the practice green was extremely fast. I would want the practice green to be exactly the same as the course. As such I left some putts short early in the round.

I loved most of the holes. First 10 and last few, but those others were up and down and cart paths crossing each other. I don’t mind hill’s and shots over gullies, but after a few it got old not knowing what to expect. Two par 3’s in a row and no par 5 on the back nine added to the already SLOW play. That added to me getting irritated after awhile. You can only daydream so much.

So I’d say it’s worth playing once. But at the discounted rate of $125 I’d make a habit of other courses.

I got an invite to play this private top 100 course again and again it didn't disappoint. Walking with a caddie is always a treat. The course was wet so in addition to it's difficulty there was no roll so we played shorter tees and even then a couple par fours were basically unreachable. Even in the off season in late fall it was in wonderful condition and the greens were still fast, just not their normal lightening fast according to the caddie.

There is nothing not to like about this top 100 course. We walked with caddies (required on Old Course) and Tom Doak used terrain to make it look natural like it was there all the time. The day we played it was very windy which the caddies said is unusual. Made it tough and made you think over and above what challenges the course presented. Can't say I had a favorite hole there were so many good ones and that plays into the Reese Jones theory of having players come up with different favorite holes and not just one signature hole. I hope I can get another invite to play this hidden gem of a private club.

I had the opportunity to play the Old Course at Stonewall. This course belongs in the same league of Merion, Oakmont, Aronimink and Philadelphia Cricket Club. Driving the ball is critical, not that the rough or bunkers are overly difficult, but the greens are very small with trouble lurking everywhere if you miss your approach.

The greens rolled perfectly and true. They were very fast but fair.

The Old Course will be in the national spot light when it hosts the US Mid Am in September.