Where To Play Golf In Atlanta

By Susan Comolli Davis

May 03, 2017

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Photo By: Courtesy of The Frog GC

Photo By: Courtesy of Bear's Best Atlanta

Photo By: Photo ©Russell Kirk/Golflinksphotography.com

Photo By: Courtesy of The Trophy Club of Atlanta GC

Photo By: Courtesy of Heritage Golf Links

THE FROG
Tom Fazio has left his mark on golf in the Atlanta area, and the Frog is one of his best—it's also arguably the nicest course on Atlanta's west side. Always in top shape, this Audubon Sanctuary is a big-hitters' paradise with ample fairways. The strategic bunkering, however, will snare wayward tee shots. Quality greens and a new clubhouse, added last year, complete the experience.Visit Website

Photo By: Courtesy of The Frog GC

BEAR'S BEST ATLANTA
As the name suggests, this replica-style course features a collection of Jack Nicklaus's biggest hits. Here, you'll find his favorite holes from the 290-plus courses he's designed worldwide. Not a member at Shoal Creek? Hole No. 7 at Bear's Best plays just like its No. 3. Is a golf trip to Ireland just a pipe dream? No. 10 at Bear's Best will transport you to Mt. Juliet. One of the best holes on the course is No. 6, a par 3 over water that you've seen on TV during The Memorial: it's the spitting image of No. 12 at Jack's home course, Muirfield Village.Visit Website

Photo By: Courtesy of Bear's Best Atlanta

THE CHARLIE YATES GOLF COURSE AT EAST LAKE
If your short game needs a tune-up, Charlie Yates is the place to be. This nine-hole gem is a fun mix of par 3s and 4s, and is always in good condition. Named after one of Atlanta's golf legends and storied amateurs, it used to be the No. 2 course at East Lake, designed by Donald Ross in 1928. Rees Jones restored the original design in 1994, and it was reborn as a public course. Four miles from downtown, the location can't be beat.Visit Website

CHATEAU ELAN WOODLANDS
Two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole executive layout are part of a 3,500-acre winery and French Inn that make up this tony resort, just northeast of Atlanta. Stronger players give a nod to The Woodlands for its classic beauty, hair-raising elevation changes, rolling terrain and challenging blind shots. The Chateau course, with newly renovated greens, is more forgiving and has large greens, yet it's still a solid challenge for all skill levels. The resort is a host site for the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School.Visit Website

GREAT WATERS AT REYNOLDS PLANTATION
"Just gorgeous" are words frequently used to describe this Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Reynolds Plantation. It offers up a beautifully balanced mix of tree-lined fairways and waterfront holes along the shores of Lake Oconee, and has a spot on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public Courses. Open to guests of the Ritz-Carlton Resort and to private club members, it's a splurge-worthy treat and one of the top Nicklaus courses you can play.Visit Website

STONE MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB
Close to downtown, the two courses at Stone Mountain Park wind through statuesque Georgia pines and offer cool views of the natural rock formations that give the park its name. Stonemont, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., serves up a nice combo of classic challenges (doglegs, uneven lies, pesky bunkers); Lakemont is tight and hilly but not as demanding. After your round, climb the one-mile trail to the top of the domed mountain, Georgia's most famous natural landmark.Visit Website

THE TROPHY CLUB OF ATLANTA GC
The Trophy Club, tucked away in the wooded countryside of Alpharetta, is a quality course with all the trimmings. With its upscale clubhouse and banquet facilities, it's a popular choice for corporate outings and events. At 6,700 yards from the tips, the course is not terribly long, but the greens are fast; long hitters might be able to reach a couple of the par 5s in two. The fairways are narrow and water comes into play on 13 holes, so accuracy is definitely rewarded.Visit Website

Photo By: Courtesy of The Trophy Club of Atlanta GC

HERITAGE GOLF LINKS
Three nines—Heritage, Tradition and Legacy—comprise Heritage Golf Links, which has one of the highest slope ratings in Georgia (146). It's no wonder some reviewers call it "ridiculously hard." A 20-acre lake frames much of the course, nestled in Atlanta's northeast suburbs, and the rolling terrain, elevation changes and water in play indeed make this quite a challenge. The bunkers, a mix of Georgia's red clay and gravel, add a visual punch to the layout.Visit Website

DESTINATION GUIDE: ATLANTA
What To Do In Atlanta (When You're Not Playing Golf)
Where To Eat In Atlanta

Photo By: Courtesy of Heritage Golf Links

Valspar Championship

Where To Play Golf In Atlanta

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