Overview
The Clubs of Old Trail is the umbrella name for the recreational facilities at the heart of Old Trail Village, the planned community west of Crozet's Square that has grown from raw land in the early 2000s to a 4,000-resident neighborhood today. The Clubs include three components: an 18-hole golf course, a swim club, and a full-service restaurant called Restoration that operates out of the same clubhouse.
The golf course is the anchor. Designed by Jerry Kamis and opened in 2005, the course runs par 72 over 6,914 yards from the longest tees, and it was built to conform to the existing topography of the site rather than to bulldoze the land into a generic championship layout. The course winds through the foothills at the base of the Blue Ridge, with the mountains visible from most of the back nine.
The course
The Old Trail Golf Club is semi-private, which means members get priority and preferred rates but the course is open to the public for daily-fee play. The clubhouse runs the standard pro-shop operations: tee time bookings, club rentals, lessons, the standard country-club services scaled to a neighborhood-club rather than destination-resort context.
The course's design priorities are visible on the front nine. Kamis routed the holes through the natural drainage and elevation of the property, which produces a course that walks well, drains well, and offers views without engineered drama. The greens are mid-sized and reasonable. The fairways are wide enough for amateur play but have doglegs and forced carries that reward thinking on the longer holes.
The signature stretch is the back nine's run along the lower slopes, with the Blue Ridge as the constant backdrop.
The Swing Lab
A separate Swing Lab golf instruction facility on-site offers technology-assisted lessons that are now standard for serious amateur improvement. Launch monitors, slow-motion video review, a small indoor hitting bay for cold-weather practice. Personalized training sessions with the club's teaching pros.
For Crozet residents who want to develop their game without driving to one of the bigger Charlottesville or Richmond facilities, the Swing Lab is the local option.
Restoration
The clubhouse restaurant, Restoration at Old Trail, runs as a full-service American restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and views down the slope to the golf course and the mountains beyond. Restoration has its own dedicated coverage (see /businesses/restoration-at-old-trail) but is worth mentioning: the restaurant is open daily, with weekday happy hour, Wine Wednesday, and weekend brunch on the calendar.
The hours run Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 8 PM, Friday 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM. The phone for Restoration specifically is (434) 823-1841.
The Swim Club
A short walk from the golf clubhouse, on Claremont Lane, is the Old Trail Swim Club. The pool is seasonal (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, roughly), and offers family-friendly pools, lap swimming, swim lessons for kids and adults, and pavilion rentals for parties and events. The Swim Club is a separate membership from the golf membership, though many Old Trail residents carry both.
For families with kids in Old Trail, the Swim Club is one of the major selling points of the neighborhood. Combined with the acac-operated outdoor pool at Crozet Park, the village now has two major summer swim destinations within a short drive.
Visiting
Golf course and Restoration: 5494 Golf Drive, Crozet, VA 22932. Swim Club: 380 Claremont Lane, Crozet, VA 22932.
Phone numbers: - Golf Pro Shop: (434) 823-8101 - Restoration: (434) 823-1841
Website: oldtrailclub.com.
Tee times via the pro shop or the website. Restoration takes reservations through the same website. Membership inquiries (golf, swim, full club) are handled directly through the pro shop.
Why it matters
The Clubs of Old Trail are the recreational and social anchor of the largest planned community in western Albemarle County. The 18-hole course is the regional draw, but the club's role in the village extends beyond golf: it's the venue for community events, charity tournaments, the wedding receptions that book Restoration's event space, and the Saturday-morning routine for a meaningful slice of Old Trail's residents.
For Crozet visitors who play golf, the course is one of the better daily-fee options in central Virginia. For visitors who don't, Restoration is a credible dinner reservation with one of the better mountain-view tables in the area, and the clubhouse is worth walking through for the views even if you're not playing.
Book an early-morning tee time. Walk the course. Eat lunch at Restoration after. That's the day.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is The Clubs of Old Trail?
The Clubs of Old Trail is located at 5494 Golf Drive, Crozet, VA 22932, in Crozet, Virginia.
How do I contact The Clubs of Old Trail?
You can call (434) 823-8101. Hours and current information are most reliable directly from the business.
What kind of business is The Clubs of Old Trail?
The Clubs of Old Trail is categorized as fitness in our Crozet directory. See the description and quick facts above for what makes this listing distinctive.
