Kevin Griggs
Kevin Griggs
Derek Duncan
Kevin Griggs
Kevin Griggs
Kevin Griggs
Kevin Griggs
Atlanta Country Club
Atlanta Country Club
500 Atlanta Country Club Dr SE
Marietta, GA 30067-4714
United States
Overview
Years ago, one of the most spirited debates in golf was over who really designed Atlanta Country Club. Both Willard Byrd of Atlanta and Joseph S. Finger of Houston claimed the honor. Both lobbied Golf Digest hard for the architectural credit, but neither provided much supporting documentation. Both architects are deceased now, and from what we can piece together, Byrd landed the original contract in the early 1960s, but was still more land planner than course architect in those days, and it seemed possible the club had brought in Finger to finish the job. The final word in that debate didn’t come until recently when architect Beau Welling, during a 2022 remodel of the course, found Byrd’s plans for the course and used them to restore a number of tee boxes that had shifted during previous renovations. Welling also reoriented and added bunkers, expanded and rebuilt greens and, importantly, redesigned the third and 11th holes, long considered the course’s weaknesses. The club also added hydronic systems under each green in order to heat or cool the bent grass as needed. Atlanta Country Club hosted the inaugural Tournament Players Championship in 1974 and the PGA Tour’s Atlanta stop from 1967 to 1996, and was among Golf Digest’s Second 100 Greatest courses until it fell out of the ranking in 2023. Welling’s remodel resulted in fourth place in the 2024 Best Renovation award; we'll see if it propels ACC back into the top 200.
About
Awards
ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked for 26 years from 1969-'90, 1995-'96, 2003-'04.
Highest ranking: 79th, 1985-'86.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked from 2015-'22.
Highest ranking: 158th, 2015-'16.
Best in State: Ranked fifth, 2011-'12. Ranked inside the top 5, 1977-'99, 2003, 2009-'10. Ranked sixth, 2013-'16. Ranked seventh 2017-'22, 2025-'26. Ranked eighth, 2023-'24. Ranked inside the top 10, 2001, 2005-'07.
Previous ranking: 8th.
2025-'26 ranking: 7th.
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
“This 1965 Willard Byrd design is built on a beautiful rolling piece of property that has a stream that influences play throughout. The Par 3 holes are particularly strong especially #13. Definitely, a thinking man's course off the tee. The course provides great conditions and the sloping; fast greens require a deft touch. A must play if offered an invite."
Read More2026
Review
“A fantastic mix of golf holes."
Read More2025
Review
“A solid course after the renovation. Great variety of holes from all different lengths. Greens are fantastic. More elevation changes than you would think when you arrive at the course. Definitely a best in state candidate"
Read More2025
Review
“A well conditioned course that moves up and down rolling terrain and has a nice mix or yardages, hole directions, and shots required. A strong set of par threes of varying lengths and hazards. A beautiful course inside the playing area but surrounded by houses on many holes with OB in play on some of them that detracts from the playing experience. The tee shot from the back tees on the 15th hole is outstanding. The par three 13th is a beautiful par three with an excellent water feature on the short left side. A treat to play and I look forward to playing it again."
Read More2025
Review
“A well conditioned course that moves up and down rolling terrain and has a nice mix or yardages, hole directions, and shots required. A strong set of par threes of varying lengths and hazards. A beautiful course inside the playing area but surrounded by houses on many holes with OB in play on some of them that detracts from the playing experience. The tee shot from the back tees on the 15th hole is outstanding. The par three 13th is a beautiful par three with an excellent water feature on the short left side. A treat to play and I look forward to playing it again."
Read More2025
Review
“Surprisingly interesting layout with lots of subtle requirements to post a good score. With the exception of the fourth and fifth holes at the lowest area of the course, the land movement was very interesting. I also thought the holes changed directions in a good way. Again, besides the fourth and fifth holes that went in the same directions, the wind played at different angles through the round."
Read More2025
Review
“A wonderful layout on an extraordinary rolling landscape. The par 3s are particularly strong. Very strong and interesting green complexes. Great conditioning."
Read More2025
Review
“A wonderful layout on an extraordinary rolling landscape. The par 3s are particularly strong. Very strong and interesting green complexes."
Read More2025
Review
“Very nice Beau Welling redo. A lot of solid, beautiful holes, but still somewhat a “subdivision” golf course."
Read More2024
Review
“Tremendous layout and course!"
Read More2024
