Georgia is known as the “peach” state due to the quality of fruit it produces. It is also the economic and industrial powerhouse of the South.
Home to Augusta National Golf Club and “The Masters”, which is the flagship in Georgia, another 345 plus quality courses are on offer for avid golfers to play.
Deciding on the 10 best golf courses in Georgia, with such a large and diverse type on offer, is rather tricky.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Atlanta Athletic Club | Riverside
- Piedmont Driving Club Golf Course
- Atlanta Athletic Club | Highlands
- Kinderlou Forest Golf Club
- Dunwoody Country Club | Dunwoody
- Sea Island Golf Club | Seaside
- East Lake Golf Club
- Currahee Club
- Capital City Club | Crabapple
- The Standard Club
1. Atlanta Athletic Club | Riverside
- Site Link
- Location: Johns Creek, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,790 meters off the Tips and 5,222 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 536-meter par 5 18th is the signature hole and the impressive clubhouse behind the green adds to the scenic value of this finishing hole.
The fairway is lined with trees and the green is protected by a pond in the front.
A 36-hole complex, the Riverside layout has a long history of hosting major tour championship events.
All 4 of the par 3s have extremely challenging greens and can play long off the tips.
The opening and closing par 5s are long and demanding.
2. Piedmont Driving Club Golf Course
- Site Link
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,605 meters off the Tips and 5,356 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 404-meter par 4 16th is the signature hole and the dogleg right at the peninsula green, makes for a great par 4.
The tee shot requires carry over water, which then protects the fairway on the right-hand side to the green.
Distance control on the approach shot is imperative.
The feeling of playing a country-style course allows for a relaxed and scenic round but
don’t be fooled by the surroundings as the greens will keep you focused.
The tree-lined fairways are generous, but the slopes can be tricky with deep penal fairway bunkers.
A walking course, but the hilly terrain will test your fitness level.
3. Atlanta Athletic Club | Highlands
- Site Link
- Location: Johns Creek, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,959 meters off the Tips and 5,224 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The picturesque 192-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole and plays downhill over a large lake.
Short is wet and long is bunker-land. A perfect sand -shot onto the downhill green, will give the golfer a chance of not ending up in the water.
Distance control off the tee is essential.
A few name changes, revamps and additional holes added, have seen this course host its fair share of top tour tournament championships.
Some long “beasts”, doglegs, risk and reward holes, strategically placed bunkers, and water make this challenging layout a great test of any golfer’s skill level.
The variety of green complexes will just add a bit of “spice” to conquering the course and provide hours of discussion after the round.
4. Kinderlou Forest Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Valdosta, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,112 meters off the Tips and 4,308 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – At 600 meters, the par 5 4th hole is the signature hole and a true 3-shotter. It is a beautiful hole with a natural ravine on the left and water on the right.
A thinking golfers hole that could make or break your scorecard.
A Davis Love 111 signature designed layout with no gimmicks but a great challenge for all skill levels.
The hilly track is unique in this predominantly flat terrain area and offers all the elements to test the golfer’s nerve and shot-making.
The course has hosted 8 pre-qualifying PGA tour events in its 10-year history.
5. Dunwoody Country Club | Dunwoody
- Site Link
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,449 meters off the Tips and 5,507 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – So many great holes on this track, but the 180- meter par 3 6th with carry over water to the green is nerve-racking.
The 505-meter par 5 11th is another spectacular hole, with a tree-lined fairway and a gentle dogleg left. Water down the left side as you approach the green requires accuracy with the 2nd shot.
Dunwoody Country Club has been described by many as the “best-kept secret in Atlanta”.
Another flattering description is “Augusta Lite”. This is a true golf course designed for golf and not around a development.
There are no 2 holes that play the same and each has its unique challenge.
Perfect bunkers and greens that run true throughout, the layout requires a variety of shot-making precision that will please all who play here.
Take any opportunity to play.
6. Sea Island Golf Club | Seaside
- Site Link
- Location: St Simons Island, Georgia.
- Par: 70
- Length: 6,403 meters off the Tips and 5,466 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 374-meter par 4 13th is the signature hole, and plays to a dogleg left with a trio of bunkers on the right side and marshland on the left.
The green is slightly raised and is protected by a bunker in front.
A pretty hole.
Sea Island is a very underrated track and is an old-school links type course, with marshland prevalent on the front 9 and sandy conditions on the back 9.
Numerous water hazards and some tight fairways off elevated tees, add to the difficulty but also enhances the views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Contours and soft shapes throughout the layout are a feature of the course.
7. East Lake Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,740 meters off the Tips and 5,490 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 195-meter par 3 15th is the signature hole and was the first island green in America.
It is a stunning hole that will test the nerve off the tee and keeping the ball dry, a challenge.
Make par and smile.
The former home club of golfing legend Bobby Jones, the clubhouse is filled with memorabilia.
East Lake hosts the Tour Championship at the end of the PGA season and is a walking course only.
Tree-lined fairways and gentle contours are a feature of the track and add to the challenge, but it remains very user-friendly.
8. Currahee Club
- Site Link
- Location: Toccoa, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,867 meters off the Tips and 6,426 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 179-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole and the panoramic view is breathtaking. It overlooks Lake Hartwell with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background and concentration on the tee shot can be difficult.
The course was designed on very hilly terrain and above Lake Hartwell.
The heavily contoured, tree-lined fairways make this a very tough track, but 5 tee options can alleviate some of the pressure.
Dramatic elevation changes will test the control on approach shots to the green.
9. Capital City Club | Crabapple
- Site Link
- Location: Woodstock, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,503 meters off the Tips and 5,664 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – Difficult to establish the signature hole, but many reviews fancy the 353-meter par 4 17th as a serious contender.
A tree-lined fairway which doglegs to the left on the approach shot to the water-fronted green.
Accuracy and distance control are the keys to scoring well here.
A challenging yet friendly layout that will appeal to all skill levels.
With plenty of doglegs on the course, the ability to move the ball both ways off the tee is an added challenge.
Bold golfers attacking the corners have to face strategically placed bunkers.
The track is long and the bunker- protected tiered greens, require precision approach shots.
Good golfers will also enjoy the risk and reward hole offerings during play.
10. The Standard Club
- Site Link
- Location: Johns Creek, Georgia.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,411 meters off the Tips and 5,931 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 221-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole and has a stunning setting, surrounded by trees.
Played from an elevated tee down to the green that is fronted by a creek and a backdrop of rock at the rear.
The green is wider than it is long, so distance control is required.
The rolling terrain provides an ideal setting for the wide variety of holes in the design layout, resulting in the opportunity to test every club in the bag.
A shot-makers delight.
The back 9 is relatively flat, but fescue and trees frame most of the fairways.
A very underrated golf course and any opportunity to play at this venue should be taken.
Other Notable Golf Courses Outside The Top 10
1. Golf Club of Georgia | Lakeside
- Site Link
- Location: Alpharetta, Georgia.
PLAYER RATING
The golf course is set in scenic woodlands, with undulating greens and rolling fairways.
Lake Windward features prominently on the back 9.
2. Atlantic Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Marietta, Georgia.
PLAYER RATING
Surrounded by historic Civil War sites, this course has a long history of hosting PGA and USGA events.
Set on Sope Creek and scenic rolling terrain, the course is worth a visit.
3. Druid Hills Golf Club | Druid Hills
- Site Link
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia.
PLAYER RATING
Set in the natural surroundings of Druid Hills, this 18- hole course is both scenic and a pleasure to play for all skill levels.
Final Thoughts
We would all love the opportunity to play Augusta, but unfortunately, it is reserved for the privileged few.
Having said this, the quality of golf courses throughout Georgia should please any level of golfer that can appreciate the scenic and challenging nature of all the layouts on offer.
If in the territory, stay and play.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
