SPRINGBOARD Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, N.C., makes the biggest move in the ranking, surging from No. 92 to No. 54.
Jon Cavalier
Laurence Lambrecht
Laurence Lambrecht
Laurence Lambrecht
Eric Kiel
Laurence Lambrecht
Laurence Lambrecht
Laurence Lambrecht
Wayne Freedman
Old Town Club
Winston Salem, NC • Private
Old Town Club
2875 Old Town Club Rd
Winston Salem, NC 27106-5299
United States
Overview
Created by architect Perry Maxwell on the heels of his work at Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills, Old Town Club was surprisingly unique, and included perhaps Maxwell’s only surviving double green. When Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw were hired to address the bunkering at Old Town, they opted not to reproduce the original bunkers (some of which were enormous) but rather emulate their gnarly shapes, edges and vegetation in places where bunkers naturally fit. Lots of trees had already been removed, but the architects convinced the club to get rid of even more. Now, a single swath of fairway connects the seventh, eighth, ninth, 17th and 18th holes. Very unique. The course has jumped a remarkable 59 places in the rankings since it debuted in 2019.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
Previous Ranking: 54th.
2025-'26 ranking: 39th (highest).
Best in State: Ranked Top 5 in North Carolina since 2019; Top 10 in 2007 & since 2011; Top 15 in 2009.
2025-'26 ranking: 3rd since 2023.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“I keep thinking about it."
Read More2026
Review
“This is a complete course. Fun, Challenging and Beautiful with plenty of variety."
Read More2025
Review
“An incredible and memorable routing on this fun, challenging and great conditioned golf course."
Read More2025
Review
“An incredible and very memorable layout that is fun, challenging and in great condition."
Read More2025
Review
“Awesome course that really shines after you play your second shot on hole 4, getting to a high point of the course. From there you can see the expanse of connecting fairways rippling up and down the hilly terrain with a lone creek that meanders and comes into play multiple times, sometimes on your right, sometimes on your left and even a forced carry to protect the shade 8th and 17th green. Very cool feature. Because of the merged fairways there were many ways to play much of the holes which would make it a fun everyday course."
Read More2025
Review
“Wonderful Maxwell gem that has been masterfully restored 2x by Coore Crenshaw. The Maxwell green contours provide challenge and great variety day to day.... an incredible set of green complexes. The routing takes you through dramatic elevation changes and plays off the large creek that runs through the property."
Read More2025
Review
“Wonderful Maxwell gem that has been masterfully restored 2x by Coore Crenshaw. The Maxwell green contours provide challenge and great variety day to day.... an incredible set of green complexes. The routing takes you through dramatic elevation changes and plays off the large creek that runs through the property."
Read More2025
Review
“The course layout is very impressive. The double green and the Coore and Crenshaw reno was very well done. If you ever get a chance to play here do so."
Read More2024
Review
“Love how Maxwell layed it out over the land. One of the best I have seen. The use of the double green is reminiscent of Scotland. There is a special feel about this place that is difficult to quantify. Special."
Read More2024
Review
“Put this one at the top of your bucket list... in NC or across the US! Here are just a couple of great highlights from OTC's routing study: "Golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw don’t often mince words when speaking of the brilliance of Old Town Club in Winston-Salem (NC). Crenshaw, for one, always touts Old Town for its extraordinary topography. “It’s the best land I’ve ever seen for golf,” says the two- time Masters champion repeatably, who has played and studied many of the world’s most venerated designs." "Originally a Perry Maxwell design, OTC is routing thru some of the most undulating terrain. Coore claims that Old Town’s true mastery emanates from its routing. Coore interjects, "it’s actually how Mr. Maxwell utilized the land here—maximizing every inch—that’s so fascinating." Coore always marvels at how each hole leans against the pitch of the land, showcases the natural features of the landscape and how flawlessly they all fit together on such a small, undulating canvas." There are 18 great holes at OTC, but talking about the holes themselves seems small... if you get a chance... visit OTC and enjoy one of the best routings and more importantly... one of the best walks in all of golf!"
Read More2024
