Atlanta Golf Course Scene

The legendary Bobby Jones' influence on the game of golf, especially in the state of Georgia, is unsurpassed. He is honored from his birthplace of Atlanta to Augusta, a city that was put on the map by the Masters, an event founded by Jones and first played in 1934.

Covington's Oaks Golf Course holds a special place in the annals of golf history because of its relationship with arguably the greatest amateur athlete in the history of sports. The 18-hole championship layout now known as The Oaks was built on an already existing nine-hole course that was originally created by Jones, the co-founder of Augusta National. Jones himself frequently played the course in the 1940s.

More than 100 miles of inviting coastline can be found as you travel south down Interstate 95 from Savannah, Ga. to Jacksonville, Fla. In either direction from I-95 a number of excellent golf destinations beckon; seven to be exact. Here you won't find the famous layouts of Atlanta or that premier patch of greenery found in Augusta but you will find the hidden gems of Georgia golf.

The elite and secretive Jekyll Island Golf Club started the ball rolling in Coastal Georgia by removing enough wild boars and keeping deer incursions to a minimum on a 26-acre site just north of and adjacent to what is now the historic district so golf could be played.

North Fulton Course was first designed in 1937 by Chandler Egan in collaboration with Walter Hagen and Atlanta's greatest golfer, Bobby Jones. Located in the heart of Chastain Park, Atlanta's largest park, North Fulton Golf Course is situated on the site of an ancient Creek Indian Village.

The golf course is also formerly home of a pre-Masters PGA Tournament and the National Public Links Tournament. Consistently rated Atlanta's top public course, North Fulton features a scenic view of the Buckhead skyline that can be seen from many of its rolling fairways.

The par 4, 446-yard No.18 is one of the most difficult holes in Atlanta that requires a well-placed tee shot down a narrow fairway with a creek looming on the left. The second shot presents an uphill strike to an undulating green with a bunker guarding closely on the left.

Browns Mill Golf Course was originally designed by George Cobb, who designed the par three course at Augusta National. Conveniently located, Browns Mill is only 10 minutes from downtown Atlanta. The 18 hole, open design course measures 6500 yards.

The front nine offers three small lakes that will occasionally grab a wayward ball. The signature hole on the front nine is a 435-yard par-4 with a thirty degree incline from tee to green. Many golfers walk away from this one with a bogey and a smile.

Alfred Tup Holmes Golf Course is a historical golf site with rolling hills and many elevation changes. The site of a Civil War battlefield, the course is named after the civil rights pioneer who paved the way to desegregating Atlanta’s public golf courses in the 1950s.

The course was renovated in 2006 and new Champion Bermuda greens were installed on all 18 holes. The par-3 ninth is the signature hole, a 200-yard carry to an elevated green.

Located just minutes from downtown Atlanta and 10 minutes from Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, the course is a great option for getting in a quick round when flying in or out of Atlanta.

In a city known for great golf courses, BridgeMill Athletic Club has a championship course considered phenomenal in its design and conditioning.

Designed by Desmond Muirhead, designer of Mission Hills (home of the LPGA Nabisco Championship) and consultant to Jack Nicklaus on Muirfield Village, and Georgia’s own 1987 Masters Champion Larry Mize, BridgeMill opened in late 1998 as one of the most well-balanced tests of golf in Atlanta.

The par-72 layout was masterfully carved into the rolling terrain and plays to 7,110 yards from the championship tees. With five sets of tees and a variety of landscapes, BridgeMill does not overemphasize any one aspect of the game. Touting a true island green, BridgeMill’s 16th is one of the most recognized holes in Atlanta.