The golf course itself is equally - if not more - impressive. Nicely-manicured fairways, sand traps and greens enhance the playing experience, and the stately hickory, oak and maple trees are a tribute to the course's maturity. The massive rock fences that border the fairway on hole #4 look natural but are another hazard to be reckoned with. The greens are relatively flat but fast, almost too fast. A good word to describe them might be 'slick.' Don't be too aggressive with your putts - they can get away from you in a hurry. Old Hickory is not an easy course... you'll need to keep the ball in the fairway and putt well to have a good round.

Hole #7 is a beautiful yet demanding par three. It plays over a large pond with a fountain in the middle, and is 179 yards from the blue tees. Consider taking one more club to have a better chance of carrying the water hazard. Being a little long is much better than short on this hole. In fact, the 'extra club' mindset is a good idea for several of the holes featuring elevated greens, most notably 9, 10, 15 and 18.

Old Hickory is a semi-private course with genuine country club charm, but without the trappings or stuffiness of a members-only facility. Everyone seems to be treated in the same manner, that is to say everyone is treated as a valued customer. Located 45 minutes from Madison and an hour from Milwaukee, it's easy to get to and a delight to play. Once you've played it, Old Hickory will soon become one of your favorite courses.

Latest Update: 11/19/2010