Old Waverly Golf Club – Played June 2018
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #35
- Location: Magnolia Drive, West Point, Mississippi
- Year: 1988
- Architects: Bob Cupp & Jerry Pate
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Gold: 7,088 yards, Par 72, 74.7 Rating/144 Slope
- Blue: 6,496 yards, Par 72, 71.8 Rating/139 Slope
- White: 5,924 yards, Par 72, 69.7 Rating/126 Slope
- Green: 5,244 yards, Par 72, 66.3 Rating/119 Slope
- Red: 5,162 yards, Par 72, 70.5 Rating/124 Slope
The last course we played in Mississippi was Old Waverly Golf Club. The complex sits basically across the street from Mossy Oak, making it perfect for the 36 hole day we planned.
The course was the vision of the George and Marcia Bryan family. They brought in Cupp and Pate to design the course on over 350 acres of pasture land. Their creation has gone on to host some big events.
These include the SEC Women’s Championship and Women’s US Mid-Am. The biggest jewel they have hosted is the 1999 US Women’s Open. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster took home the trophy at that event. Continuing this tradition, Old Waverly Golf Club will host the 2019 US Women’s Amateur.
As you roll over to the first tee, be sure to take a look back at the old-style clubhouse. You’ll be treated to the view below.
The club has cabins on-site where we stayed for the night. You can see them below. My only gripe would be that something was wrong with the front door. You could only close it from outside. We had to in order to keep the mosquitoes out!
Below is a view of their flags and tee markers. They really embrace the clubhouse.
After a light lunch, you can walk directly out to the quaint putting green.
Hole 1 – 339 yards – Par 4
You are afforded a gentle start to the round. At this distance and being up on a hill, driver is not necessary.
The approach shot can play over water depending on your tee shot, but otherwise should be easy.
The green is on the smaller side with shaved areas around it.
Hole 2 – 474 yards – Par 5
With a good drive, this hole is a prime birdie opportunity. The hole bends to the right so avoid the bunkers that sit straightaway.
Should you be forced to layup, you will be greeted by the view below. Not too much of a tester here.
Hole 3 – 160 yards – Par 3
This mid-length par three was where I began to get the vibe that this course wouldn’t necessarily wow me with views or abstract architecture. The fun would be in the subtlety.
The green has more slope than it appears from the tee.
Hole 4 – 386 yards – Par 4
This hole bends slightly right, but the bunker you can see is in the middle of the fairway. Care should be taken when picking your line. The lip can be severe enough to prevent a shot to the green.
Your second shot must avoid the bunker on the right. If anything, the best miss is short. The mounding to the sides and behind can leave awkward chip shots.
Hole 5 – 366 yards – Par 4
My buddy looks like he’s about to give this one the Happy Gilmore! The hole itself favors a fade off the tee starting at the bunkers.
If you blow one in the right rough like me, you’ll have this view.
Here is a closer look at the green.
Hole 6 – 331 yards – Par 4
This is one of the more interesting holes on the front side. You cannot see the entire thing from the tee. Driver is not needed from this tee as the hole bends to the right and goes downhill.
For the approach shot, you face the view below. The hazard and large bunker in front are the obstacles that stand between you and par.
The green is not very deep, but you have to carry the water. Distance control is a challenge.
Hole 7 – 180 yards – Par 3
This is one of the prettier holes. It also packs a punch. Most players will be hitting long irons due to the distance and uphill slope. I imagine the front bunker sees a lot of action.
The green is large and is split by a ridge. Be mindful of the pin position while on the tee.
Hole 8 – 429 yards – Par 4
The tee shot here plays straightaway. With the length, you will need a good drive. You will want to stay away from the bunkers on the left side.
I missed capturing the full view of the approach, but here is a closer look. You can see the steep slope in front of the green that will repel mishit shots.
Hole 9 – 516 yards – Par 5
The final hole on the outward nine provides a solid opportunity to close with a birdie. Drop your tee shot between the bunkers.
Hole 10 – 517 yards – Par 5
The very next hole is another par five, but it is different in character. The tee shot plays over a hill and banks to the left.
As you get to the top of the hill the hole comes into view. There is ample room up the fairway to lay up for a simple third shot.
The green has minimal contouring as you can see below.
We were lucky to have some spectators from the pond.
And then that was not so lively.
Hole 11 – 408 yards – Par 4
After the last hole’s brief appearance of water, the tee shot here fully embraces Lake Waverly. Water is present all along the left side and continues around the fairway as the dry land runs out.
The view below is from the left side of the fairway and really shows the influence the water has on the approach shot.
Below you can see the putting surface. It isn’t very large and the water is everpresent. A ridge bisects the front portion.
Hole 12 – 155 yards – Par 3
The last in that stretch of holes to play around the lake, the twelfth shouldn’t be too taxing. Water should claim only the poorest shots.
Hole 13 – 428 yards – Par 4
Just a stout test here. The tee shot plays uphill to a blind landing area.
The second shot plays to somewhat of an infinity green. You don’t want to be long.
Hole 14 – 354 yards – Par 4
Precision is more valuable than power on this tee. You need to play between two parts of a hazard. The portion you see below wraps around the left side of the hole and back across the fairway.
The green is elevated with two bunkers in front. Mounding behind the green adds an element of challenge.
Hole 15 – 499 yards – Par 5
I really enjoyed this view and hole. You play from a slightly elevated tee to a guarded fairway. The hazard we encountered on the last extends down the left side with trees on the right.
The hazard continues all the way to the green.
Hole 16 – 388 yards – Par 4
This drive is a bit of a challenge. Another pond awaits over the hill on the right and the trees are on the left. A controlled shot into the fairway is crucial.
Once you are safely in the short grass, the shot below is waiting.
The ridge below is actually pretty big. Putting from one level to the other is challenging.
Hole 17 – 181 yards – Par 3
We come back to the lake for the 17th tee shot. The water is much more of a factor here than the last par three. Any miss short, left, or very long will be wet. If you can fit a draw over the bunker you’ll be sitting pretty.
The green is larger than it looks from the tee. You can see the large internal contours that add some character to the putting surface.
Hole 18 – 385 yards – Par 4
The final tee shot has some TPC Sawgrass vibes. A large hazard looms to the left, but there is a larger fairway and more room to the right.
Depending on the pin position, the approach will play over water. This is a bit of a sucker pin that I couldn’t resist.
The view from behind the green really illustrates the size of the lake. It also gives you a look at the slope in the putting surface.
The day at Old Waverly was a fun round for sure. As I said before, the course won’t wow you with the scenery. What it does provide is a fair test of golf with solid conditioning. The holes are imminently playable throughout.
I would definitely recommend the course if you are in the area. I wouldn’t go so far as to say to make a trip of it just for this course, but if you can pair it with Mossy Oak the journey is worth it.
