[Gib_Papazian]

Gentlemen,

A rather discriminating and close friend has been saddled with the task of finding a golf course - daily fee, price no object - in which to take three groups in early November.

The constraint is that it must be close to the Atlanta Convention Center. 40 minutes drive would be about the most.

The range in handicaps will be between 3 and 14. With the exception of my friend, most of the players (read: customers) are not "hidden gem" types, but are long on appreciation of glitz, conditioning and eye candy.

Suggestions?

Thanks.  - Gib

[Mike Hendren]

One of the great writers/posters in GCA history pops in for the first time in eons and all we get is this?  Come on Gib, throw us a bone.  At least a good San Mateo Times link, for crying out loud!

Maybe Bears Best?

http://www.bearsbest.com/atlanta/default.asp

[A.G._Crockett]

Gib,
Are you talking about the World Congress Center?  It is downtown and adjacent to the Georgia Dome, and if that is where they are, then going south is the best option.  (Cuscowilla is more than 40 min., but not a lot!  )  Mike Young's Wolf Creek is only about 10-15 min. from the Atlanta airport, and is an excellent value.  If you are looking for more of an eye-candy experience, Bear's Best certainly fits THAT bill, though it is north of the city.

[Keith Williams]

Getting to Bear's Best from downtown in 40 minutes or less is highly questionable, unfortunately.

In actuality it is an unfortunate fact that most of the Atlanta daily fee golf market exists "OTP" (outside the perimeter; I-285) making 40 minutes from downtown kind of restrictive.  Getting out I-75, I-85 and GA-400 to where most of the golf is located can get time consuming.

Mike Young's Wolf Creek is one of the only daily fee offerings I can think of that would be easily reached from downtown, so it is certainly worthy of consideration.

Keith.

[Tim Taylor]

They could try Cherokee Run, about 25 minutes east on I-20. A decent enough Palmer track on some hilly terrain. Probably not the best example "glitz" and "eye candy". It is a solid test of golf, especially from the back tees and is easy to get to.

TimT

[Gib_Papazian]

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming.

Bogey (Mike),

I popped off about Old Greenwood a few days ago on a previous thread. Manged to piss somebody off.  No surprise there. Have not gotten around to the Cruden Bay thread . . .  

[Mike Hendren]

Gib,

Just this week I re-read your comments as editor of Mr. Bhato's book.  It made me miss your writing style and passion for the subject.  Don't be a stranger.

[Gary_Nelson]

Here's another vote for Wolf Creek.  The course is terrific.   Not too far from the airport.  

The only downer for guests in need of eye candy is the lack of an "impressive" clubhouse... back when I played in April '04.

[cary lichtenstein]

Is Bear's Best really a good course? I don't care for the replica courses and/or holes. The ones at the Links in Las Vegas was awful, and ditto witht he Florida course near Tampa

[Derek_Duncan]

Bear's Best is a terrific, well-conditioned, scenic course, and most of the "replicas" come from courses few people have played. In that sense it doesn't feel much like a replica.

I like Wolf Creek, but I would also suggest The Frog about 30-35 minutes west of the city in Villa Rica, an isolated Tom Fazio design with no housing (for now) and pretty lively green complexes; and Cobblestone, a late '80's Ken Dye design 30 minutes north in Acworth. Cobblestone isn't glamorous (although it's a step above Wolf Creek) but the architecture is unique, and there are a number of outstanding holes, including a rousing four-hole finish.

I'd also second Cherokee Run--tremendous variety of holes over pockets of diverse terrain. A little over the top in places (17th hole is ridiculous), but a lot of fun.

Atlanta's been getting clobbered with rain so you might call ahead to courses to make sure they're relatively dry.

[Bill_McBride]

Gib, I would suggest my original home course, Newnan CC, just down the road from the airport, but unfortunately it's no longer an un-irrigated nine holer with tiny, pushed up hard greens and harder fairways.  Now it's a new 18 with lush grass and is absolutely forgettable......     Of course all the new stuff happened 40 years ago but I still remember that old nine fondly.  I think it's where Lewis Grizzard learned to play, but that's another story!  

[A.G._Crockett]

Cobblestone is terrific, but it is well over an hour from downtown, IF traffic isn't bad.  I've never been to Cherokee Run, but have heard good things about it.  I like the Frog a lot, but it isn't worth the extra drive to get there relative to Wolf Creek.  

One other possibility is Summer Grove, a course that doesn't get much attention, but is very interesting.  It features huge bent grass collars that make for lots of chipping vs. putting decisions.

As to Bear's Best, opinions here in Atlanta are mixed; the people that like it are not wild about it, and the people that don't like it don't hate it.

I'd still vote for Wolf Creek.

[Andy Doyle]

If you are playing in Atlanta in November, you will want to tee off by 1 pm so you can get your round in before dark.  If you're heading out from downtown by 11 am or noon, you shouldn't have too much trouble with traffic.

Wolf Creek is a great suggestion.

I also enjoy playing The Frog, a nice, very playable Tom Fazio layout.  It's like the twin sister of White Columns, without all the make up.  Beautiful property - rolling hills & pine trees.  It's about 35 miles from downtown, but it's interstate most of the way.

Cherokee Run is another good suggestion - about the same distance in the opposite direction.  Arnold Palmer course - very hilly terrain, very rocky so it doesn't drain very well.  They have very nice Zoisia fairways.  Some very good holes, and at least one dreadful one - #17.

If you want an adventure, try Heritage.  Probably the best non-private course close to downtown.  It's just outside the Perimeter, up I-85 in Tucker.  It's a a semi-private club that runs about $90. I forget the the architect, but they boast of having the highest slope rating in the state.  It has the most dramatically-sloped greens I've played in Atlanta.  Also beautiful property - rolling hills and very open property that all runs down towards a lake in the middle.  Very reminiscent of the East Lake property.

Another possibility would be the Stonemont course at Stone Mountain - RTJ from the '60's.  There is a newer course at Stone Mountain as well by John LaFoy (Lakemont), but it's not one of my favorites.

Andy

[Tim Bert]

I'd definitely vote for Cobblestone over Cherokee Run, but I agree with the comment that it is more than 30 minutes from downtown.  As I recall. it was 30-40 minutes from my apartment when I lived in town, and I was a good 15-20 minutes north of the city (in the direction of the course.)  Unfortunately, most of my golfing experiences in Atlanta were more than 40 minutes away from downtown.

[Keith Williams]

Gib,

You're getting some great suggestions, but I will second what
A.G. has expressed re: Atlanta driving times... they are highly unpredictable and if you live here you quickly realize that it usually takes longer to get to places than logic would dictate.  Both The Frog and Cobblestone (though it is Ken Dye circa mid 1990's, not '80s) are good suggestions, but I wouldn't bank on 40 minutes from the World Congress Center for either one, especially considering the magnitude of highway DOT work occurring in the ATL for the remainder of the year.  In fact, any effort to drive north from downtown might very well encounter traffic.

Additionally, if your friends are concerned about course conditioning, then Cobblestone would be hit and miss as it is traditionally wet and conditions are rarely predictable.  The Frog, though, is often in very good condition.

Summergrove is another good suggestion that, once again, might stretch the drive, I don't know for sure as I have never made that drive from downtown in typical traffic.  I know many people, though, that consider Summergrove one of the best courses in the metro area and definitely one of the best values around.

Hope this helps some.

Keith.

[Mike Hendren]

Ace McBride,

I'll just bet you've knocked down some barbecue at Sprayberry's.

[Top100Guru]

Find Someone to get you on at The Farm.........host to the US Senior Amateur in September......only 80 minutes from ATL.

If you can't swing that, try a good public access course like Great Waters at Lake Oconee or Bears Best!

[Mike_Young]

Gib,
Wolf Creek is close to the airport and it is public.  We built it without moving much dirt and for the most part it has worked out pretty good.  But Heritage is one we did that is close to downtown, 8 minutes, at spaghetti junction and it is a good course but difficult and does have one of the highest slopes.  We did noy wish to make it so difficult but the owner kept insisting as we progressed.  But email or IM me and I will help you with either if you wish.  Wolf Creek
Mike

[Bill_McBride]

Mike Hendren, Sprayberry's is the home of "stew and Q," Brunswick stew and BBQ.  My mouth is watering right now. But go to the old store on Hwy 29 in town, not the plastic job on I-85.  The new place is sort of the equivalent of the new Newnan CC while the old place is sort of like the old Newnan CC.

[Andy Doyle]

If you want some great ribs, you've got to try Fat Matt's Rib Shack on Piedmont Avenue, just south of where it crosses I-85.  Especially if you like Blues with your 'que.

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[Andy Doyle]

Now that I'm on a computer with my favorites list:

Cherokee Run
http://www.cherokeerun.com/

Georgia National
http://www.georgianational.com/

The Frog
http://www.thegeorgian.com/

Heritage
http://www.theheritagegolfclub.com/

Wolf Creek
http://www.wolfcreekgc.com/index.html

Stone Mountain
http://www.stonemountaingolf.com/

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[BCrosby]

Allow me to second the nomination for Fat Matt's. It is usually very, very crowded so a large group at the usual mealtimes may be hard. You migh go late for the blues show.

To toot our friend's horn, Mike Young's Wolf Creek and Heritage are the easiest to reach from downtown and both are very good courses. Mike pretty much owns inside the perimeter golf in Atlanta.

The clubhouse at Heritage is nicer. Very good range. More importantly, their cartgirls are world top 10. At least they were two weeks ago. Wow.

Bob

[Andy Doyle]

Bob:

Good recollection on the Heritage talent - they also had a bartender that made sticking around the clubhouse very worthwhile.

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[Gib_Papazian]

Fantastic. I have forwarded you comments. Also, thank you Mike Young. If I can make it down there, perhaps we can play again. . . . . . you got - as you are fond of saying - "natural born talent."  

[Mike_Cirba]

Gib,

I was going to suggest Cobblestone because it's a good course, pretty on the lake, and because it has some of the wow factor your customers might appreciate.

However, given your affinity for Nicklaus as a designer, I can't imagine you'll pass up the opportunity to play "Bear's Best".  

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