Atlanta Area Golf

[Ryan Wharton]

A buddy and me were planning on taking a trip down south to the Atlanta area next week to play golf for a few days. We are coming from Cincinnati so we will be driving down 75. Now we are just excited to get out of the cold weather to play golf anywhere, but I was hoping to play at least one decent course along the way. Does anyone have any recommendations? I know its been cold and wet lately, so my options might be limited........

[Carl Nichols]

Ryan:
Duck!

[Eric Strulowitz]

A buddy and me were planning on taking a trip down south to the Atlanta area next week to play golf for a few days. We are coming from Cincinnati so we will be driving down 75. Now we are just excited to get out of the cold weather to play golf anywhere, but I was hoping to play at least one decent course along the way. Does anyone know if we could get on Holston Hills? I know its private, but they are soliciting memberships on their website, which makes me think that it's not impossible to get on. Anyone have any ideas/insight into this?

If you are making a trip down just for golf, may I suggest postponing the trip.  I live in Atlanta and conditions are generally pretty bad.  It has been cold,windy, and wet here for many weeks.  I usually play well over 100 rounds a year, I have played one 18 hole round in the last three months.  Even if you find a half decent day, all the courses here are cart path only.  For many courses, that makes for a misireable experience, given that most courses here are very hilly.

Anyway, best of luck if you do decide to come down.  I have played just about every course here, public and private, do not hesitate to contact me if you need a local resource.

[PCCraig]

You could call the pro shop and ask?

[John_Cullum]

If you are just driving south to play golf, then drive a three more hours and get down to where you can find some playable conditions. Try Kinderlou in Valdosta, and maybe try to get on Valdosta CC. The downside is there is not much to do in Valdosta except play golf

[Chris Cupit]

Ryan,

I'd be happy to have you as my guest in Atlanta at Rivermont but the weather absolutely sucks right now.  I am about 25-30 minutes north of buckhead, just east of GA 400 off of exit 7A.  If you are interested just shoot me an IM.

Kinderlou is an excellent choice and while I'd be happy to have you my advice is to keep driving south for this trip!

OK, John C, I'll bite--what single thing is there to do in Valdosta except play golf, especially as it's not football season yet

[Mac Plumart]

It all depends on when you are going to be here next week, but the weather looks pretty good (relatively speaking) next week.  However, there has been lots of rain so the ground will certainly be soggy in spots.

About an hour and a half east of Atlanta is the Lake Oconee area.  Cuscowilla is open to the public Tues-Thursday, it is an excellent Coore and Crenshaw course.  Also, in that area there is the Lake Oconee Ritz courses...Great Waters, Plantation, and Oconee...Nicklaus, Jones, Fazio (but maybe not in that order).  They are usually overpriced, but you might get a deal this time of year.  Also, in Madison, GA...which is between Lake Oconee and Atlanta is Longshadow.  It is a Mike Young design...excellent lay out, but the maintenance isn't the best...but the greens fees are very inexpensive.

North of Atlanta about 1.5 hours is Achasta.  An under-played Nicklaus course in the North GA mountains.  I love the place. 

In Atlanta proper, I haven't played too many public courses and therefore can't recommend any with the exception of the East Lake Charlie Yates executive golf course.  Pretty solid for an executive course.

That is my 2 cents.

If you can make it to the coast (another 5 hours, ugh), Sea Island is pretty sweat!!!  Seaside is my favorite.  And if you stay at The LOdge, you will get you own butler.  Not too shabby!!!

[jeffwarne]

Ryan,

I'd be happy to have you as my guest in Atlanta at Rivermont but the weather absolutely sucks right now.  I am about 25-30 minutes north of buckhead, just east of GA 400 off of exit 7A.  If you are interested just shoot me an IM.

Kinderlou is an excellent choice and while I'd be happy to have you my advice is to keep driving south for this trip!

OK, John C, I'll bite--what single thing is there to do in Valdosta except play golf, especially as it's not football season yet

I'd like to comment, but she's not single anymore

[John_Cullum]

Ryan,

I'd be happy to have you as my guest in Atlanta at Rivermont but the weather absolutely sucks right now.  I am about 25-30 minutes north of buckhead, just east of GA 400 off of exit 7A.  If you are interested just shoot me an IM.

Kinderlou is an excellent choice and while I'd be happy to have you my advice is to keep driving south for this trip!

OK, John C, I'll bite--what single thing is there to do in Valdosta except play golf, especially as it's not football season yet

I'd like to comment, but she's not single anymore

The girls are definitely pretty in Valdosta. And that is all there is to do

[Brian Freeman]

Ryan:

Back from my tenure in Atlanta, my two favorite public-access courses were The Frog (a Fazio course) and Chestatee (mountain style course), both approx. an hour from downtown.  Both have got a great mix of some pretty fun holes, never seem to play the same way twice.

[Kenny Baer]

I live in Atlanta and am a member of a nice club which I haven't been to in 3 months. Right now I am looking out my window at 12 inches of snow.  If you are going on a golf trip then continue driving at least another 4hrs south. If coming to Atlanta and hoping to play golf then Atlanta still has plenty to do.  Any public course is just going to be straight up nasty. Atl is very poor when it comes to public golf, IMO, I don't see anything worth driving more than an hour for except Cuscowilla. 

[A.G._Crockett]

It is Sat. a.m. here in the ATL, with 4 inches of snow and 24 degrees.  We are supposed to get rain/snow Sunday evening into mid-morning on Monday.  Through Thursday, the lows every night will be below 25, and the highs aren't projected to exceed 40 until Thursday.  Thursday and Friday will be possible for golf here, then rain returns next weekend (which has been the case for an incredible number of weekends over the past 4 months) before we get more snow Monday week.

So how's the weather in Cincy?

[Eric Strulowitz]

It is Sat. a.m. here in the ATL, with 4 inches of snow and 24 degrees.  We are supposed to get rain/snow Sunday evening into mid-morning on Monday.  Through Thursday, the lows every night will be below 25, and the highs aren't projected to exceed 40 until Thursday.  Thursday and Friday will be possible for golf here, then rain returns next weekend (which has been the case for an incredible number of weekends over the past 4 months) before we get more snow Monday week.

So how's the weather in Cincy?

I have been in Atlanta for 20 years, and remember this being a golf haven 12 months a year.  There were maybe 12-15 days where you could not play because of cold.  I have not played in over 3 months, a record for me since I started playing.  Seems each year, the winter season gets less and less. 
This bad weather could not come at a worse time for many courses here.  Lack of revenue on top of an already deprerssed market very worrisome.  Downed trees, bare sand traps, and damage to greens from the cold will present real challenges come the spring. 

[A.G._Crockett]

It is Sat. a.m. here in the ATL, with 4 inches of snow and 24 degrees.  We are supposed to get rain/snow Sunday evening into mid-morning on Monday.  Through Thursday, the lows every night will be below 25, and the highs aren't projected to exceed 40 until Thursday.  Thursday and Friday will be possible for golf here, then rain returns next weekend (which has been the case for an incredible number of weekends over the past 4 months) before we get more snow Monday week.

So how's the weather in Cincy?

I have been in Atlanta for 20 years, and remember this being a golf haven 12 months a year.  There were maybe 12-15 days where you could not play because of cold.  I have not played in over 3 months, a record for me since I started playing.  Seems each year, the winter season gets less and less. 
This bad weather could not come at a worse time for many courses here.  Lack of revenue on top of an already deprerssed market very worrisome.  Downed trees, bare sand traps, and damage to greens from the cold will present real challenges come the spring. 

Eric,
I've been in Atlanta 30 years, and in the southeast my whole life.  I've never seen anything like the last 5 months.  I've continued to get a round in most weekends, but not easily and not much fun.  Lots of Underarmor, Goretex, and assorted other cold/wet gear, plus lousy golf. 

Ugh...

[Mike_Young]

Here is ATL and Athens area today....
no golf...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IjxIPwVEI8