Atlanta Country Club – technically in Marietta, GA – Willard Bryd, Nicklaus Redesign
Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands – Johns Creek, GA – RTJ (back 9), Joe Finger (front 9), redesign Rees Jones
Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands – Johns Creek, GA – RTJ, redesign Rees Jones
Atlanta National – Alpharetta, GA – Pete & PB Dye
Atlanta CC is a blast to play. Fun, interesting, always in terrific condition. Since Nicklaus, Mike Riley has been doing work there the last ten years or so--minor stuff mostly (additonal tees, bunker re-dos). Maybe my favorite place to play when I get the chance. Also, Atlanta CC was the site of my dad's first job in Atlanta when he was an assistant pro under Davis Love Jr. so it gets bonus points
Atlanta Athletic Club--Highlands is just too damn hard and I have no desire to play a course where three of the four par threes are pretty much identical--hybrid, 3-wood or driver over water to a green surrounded by bunkers. The one par three that is not a hybrid is also over a pond to a well bunkered green but it may only be a 6 iron. (Unless of course they built another back tee which I am guessing they did).
I simply feign an injury even when asked to play as I just don't enjoy shooting 85. Riverside was a more fun and more interesting course to me but I havent played there since they converted the greens to bermuda. AAC is the best facility in town if you want swim, tennis, dining, raquetball, basketball, practice facility, barbershop (really) but I can't say I'd go there for the golf.
Atlanta National--Doak gave it a zero and it was pretty awful. First Atlanta course to have zoysia fairways and the greens used to be the best in town but that was 20 years ago. Course has softened quite a bit over time. It's a least a 2 now.
Alpharetta Athletic Club--Michael Riley did the heavy lifting for this, ahem, "Curtis Strange" design. Early on it was in great shape and lots of fun. Over the years the housing development encroached and its pretty cramped in spots and I think they are on third or fourth different ownership group now. A real shame as the design is solid.