Old Memorial A Golf Experience For Purists

Old Memorial Golf Club — The Kind of Place That Feels Surreal
By Jeff Stanislow, Golfers Unite

There are very few places left in golf that feel untouched by modern noise.
Old Memorial is one of them.

What makes Old Memorial different isn’t just the design—it’s the freedom.

Designed by Steve Smyers, the course doesn’t dictate. It suggests. You’re constantly choosing angles, trajectories, and strategies instead of following a prescribed path. It’s subtle, but it changes everything about how you think your way around the course.
Wide fairways give you confidence off the tee—but if you’re on the wrong side, you’ll feel it immediately on your approach. The greens aren’t overbuilt or flashy, but they’re exacting. Miss in the wrong spot, and suddenly you’re forced to get creative.

It is a good thing that you have access to some of the best caddies in all of Florida. Their expertise is imperative for most golfers to have a chance at adding a decent score to this amazing experience.

It’s not punishing—it’s revealing. And I’ll be honest… it exposed parts of my game I thought were stronger than they actually are.

Best to have your sand game dialed in at Old Mo, as it has over 100 bunkers and is inspired by the Melbourne Sandbelt with large sweeping and dominant sandscapes along with traditional green side bunkers.

The Par-3 8th Hole is called the Quiet Signature hole and it is beautifully integrated by Smyers who is known for his natural land use. At first glance I was thinking birdie all day, but then after analyzing the hole more like man I hope to make par and move on… The distance that day was 163 and a bit of a left to right breeze. Pulling shot is dead, long is dead, right side of the green is best and gives you the most margin of error. Come up short or hit it right of the green, and you are faced with a tricky little chip on greens that were running a 13 stimp. Let’s just say I took it to the far right side of the green, with a 60 foot putt made a four and ran.

From the moment you step up to any tee at Old Memorial, it doesn’t overwhelm you visually. In fact, it’s almost understated. But the more you study it and chat with your caddie, the more you realize how much is going on beneath the surface—angles, subtle elevation shifts, and a green complex that demands absolute commitment. Off the tee, the decision isn’t just distance—it’s position. Favor one side, and the approach opens up. Drift the other way, and the entire hole tightens in on you. Key to success at Old Mo is the approach shot. The green doesn’t just accept the ball—it challenges how you bring it in. Trajectory, spin, and landing spot all matter.
It’s the kind of course that doesn’t just test your swing—it tests your thinking.

The Walk, The Feel, The Strategy

Old Memorial is meant to be walked, and you feel that immediately.
The routing flows effortlessly. Nothing feels forced. There’s a rhythm to the round that’s hard to describe but easy to feel when you’re in it. You’re not rushing. You’re not waiting. You’re just… playing. And maybe the most underrated part of the entire experience is the guidance provided by your caddie and deciding your strategy, and hoping you execute.

In a world where golf is getting louder, faster, and more commercial, Old Memorial goes the opposite direction.
It doesn’t try to impress you. It doesn’t need to. It just gives you the game—pure, simple, and honest.
And when you leave, you don’t just remember the shots. You remember how it made you think.

Oh wait, you never want to leave as the experience in the mens grill is one of the best you will have at any club!

I’ve played a lot of courses that are memorable. Old Memorial is different—it’s meaningful.