Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

I made a short trip to a short course last week, so I’m writing a short piece about my short time there - this place is nothing short of remarkable! More on that shortly…

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINE

3 Notes from a Preview Loop Around Old Field

Back in June, 2DP did a small part in helping spread the word about a new short course coming to Mocksville, NC - a small town located off I-40 conveniently between Charlotte and Winston-Salem. Fast forward 5 months, and I had the chance to spend a morning walking the completed routing with architect Colton Craig (of Smyers, Craig, and Coyne) and representatives from the Outpost Club/Outpost Foundation, Twilight Golf Club, and the First Tee - Central Carolina.

While the people and fellowship were top-notch, the course, still in its infantile grow-in stage, absolutely stole the show. Hand up for having low expectations - the name “Old Field” isn’t exactly over-selling!

Here are 3 things that stood out from our preview loop around North Carolina’s newest short course:

1. Maximizing the land

The team of Colton Craig and Landscapes Unlimited squeezed every drop of charm and character out of the gently sloping hillside. If architects/builders are to be judged on what they can produce on a simple site, the team behind Old Field is passing with flying colors!

While the land started as a mostly flat plane, there is more than enough elevation change and tilt to create interesting golf. The routing, which starts down low by the road before climbing to a high point, takes players to all 4 corners of the property on what feels like a very intuitive loop.

For a small golf course, it feels like you are entering a big, expansive playing arena as you set off down the hill to the first tee. The team nailed the scale, as the built features mesh naturally and sit in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape.

2. Classic aesthetic

The team at Old Field set out to build a course using “folk style” architecture, meaning shunning some modern bells and whistles in favor of simple, affordable, and sustainable methods. The result - a course that already feels old despite some lingering construction scars and young turf.

Land movement and shaping work were concentrated in a few areas, at it’s clear the team went to great lengths to disguise human intervention. The newly excavated creek, one of the standout features of the property, is a great example of this, as the irregular forms and rumpled edges clearly took time and attention to get just right.

The course also features a number of “no-mow” areas - a great fit for a short course where players are less likely to spray it. These natural areas create visual contrast, texture, and contribute to the course’s classic look and feel.

3. Fun factor

There is a ton of quirk packed in to this sub-600 yard layout, with blind shots, a double green, and an island green all appearing in the routing. While the layout itself is going to be a blast once the putting surfaces are fully functional, the facility’s details and off-course amenities are all focused on giving visitors a unique and memorable experience.

A few little things I loved - named holes on the scorecard, yellow and red pin flags (a nod to Old Town Club), a super unique putting course (with a creek running through the green), and plans for extremely basic amenities to preserve the laid-back, family-friend vibe.

The bottom line: The course is set to open in earnest next spring, but I’m already convinced the product is on par with any of its well-known peers. My comp for this place is Sweetens Cove meets the Cradle - I haven’t been to Sweetens, but I’m optimistic that Old Field can become a cult classic destination in a similar way.

Shoutout: I’d be remiss if I failed to thank the Outpost Foundation, the charitable arm of the Outpost Club, for their generous $10K to support youth golf programs at Old Field. If you want to learn more about the Outpost Foundation, visit their website.

STORIES TO TRACK

50th Palmetto Amateur Begins Today: The event, which moved to the fall from its traditional summer date, features a diverse field of top Mid-Ams and current college players. Palmetto Golf Club, the Aiken OG and Alister MacKenzie masterpiece, plays host to the 54-hole stroke play event this weekend.

• Good follow: The Back of the Range is giving this one the full treatment. They do awesome photo and video coverage of some of the biggest amateur events in the country, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

• Details: Field, tee times, and live scoring

Carolinas Golf Foundation Auction Raises Over $125,000: The proceeds from the annual event will help fund junior golf, scholarships, and turfgrass research across the Carolinas. Shoutout to everyone who donated to the cause!

• Final tally: It’s fun to see what folks are willing to pay for a (tax deductible) round of golf - tee times at Old Barnwell, The Tree Farm, and Quail Hollow were among the highest winning bid amounts.

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