The 13 Best Public Golf Courses in and around Atlanta

By Mary Welch

Published October 7, 2021
Last Updated July 23, 2024

Atlanta is perfect for outdoor activities and perfect for golf. The weather makes it easily a nine-month sport, and, let’s face it, year-round for golf fanatics. Atlanta offers a number of public courses that allow visitors to hit the tees and keep their game sharp. Here are a number of local public courses – and a few that are a bit outside Atlanta.

1. Alfred “Tup” Holmes Golf Course is a city-owned, 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Garrett Gill and George B. Williams. The Southwest Atlanta course is named after Alfred “Tup” Holmes, who led the city of Atlanta in the desegregation of golf courses in 1955. Alfred “Tup” Jones Golf Course is located at 2300 Wilson Drive SW.
2. Bobby Jones Golf Course, the city’s first 18-hole public course, was built in 1932 as a tribute to the game’s most famous golfer (and Atlanta native), Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones Jr. Located near Buckhead and Midtown, the course features a completely redeveloped layout and surrounding area — a 130-acre nine-hole reversible course, buildings and facilities including a parking deck, Bitsy Grant tennis courts and a paved PATH Foundation walking trail around the perimeter. Bobby Jones Golf Course is located at 2205 Northside Drive NW.
3. Brown’s Mill Golf Course is run by the city of Atlanta and is located on the south side of the city. The par 72 course offers nice views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. There is a newly remodeled clubhouse offering a food prep station, room for meetings, an outstanding view of the course and more. Brown’s Mill Golf Course is located at 480 Cleveland Ave. SE
4. Candler Park Golf Course is one of the city’s oldest public golf courses. Perfect for those who live or are staying in-town, this 9-hole executive golf course is a par 62. It features three sets of tees for different skill levels. Candler Park Golf Course is located at 585 Candler Park Drive NE.
5. Charlie Yates Golf Course is located just 4 miles from Downtown Atlanta. Located at East Lake and designed by famed golf course architect Rees Jones, the course includes a driving range, chipping and putting areas and a golf shop. Charlie Yates Golf course is located at 10 Lakeside Village Drive SE.
6. Chastain Park Golf Course is a city-run course. The 18-hole course is a par 71 course. Located in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, this 18-hole course is rated Atlanta’s top public course with outstanding features including a scenic view of the Buckhead skyline that can be seen from many of its rolling hills. Chastain Park Golf course is located at 216 Chastain Park Ave. NW.

Outside Atlanta:

7. Ashton Hills Golf Club is located 35 miles east of Atlanta and was designed by Desmond Moorhead., The course offers scenic views and amenities including a practice range, putting green and cuisines made to order. It was named one of Golf Advisor’s Top 15 courses in Georgia. Ashton Hills Golf Club is located at 10400 By Pass Road, Covington, Ga.
8. Chateau Elan Golf Club features three state-of-the-art golf courses, each of which is open to the public. The 18-hole Chateau Course is a par 71 with con­toured fair­ways, three lakes and two mean­der­ing streams. It was originally designed by renowned course archi­tect Denis Grif­fiths. The 18-hole Woodlands Course is a 6,735 yard, par 72 course with numerous elevations and memorable views. The 9-hole Executive Course features holes that vary in length from fewer than 100 to more than 200 yards. Chateau Elan is located at 100 Rue Charlemagne Drive, Braselton, Ga.
9. Cobblestone Golf Course is located on the banks of Lake Acworth, about 30 miles from downtown Atlanta. Cobblestone opened in 1993 and was fully renovated in 2010. The clubhouse was expanded recently and new practice areas were constructed in 2021. The course offers Champion Bermuda greens, white sand bunkers and a lakefront Ken Dye design. Cobblestone Golf Course is located at 200 Nance Road NW, Acworth, Ga.
10. College Park Golf Course is a 9-hole course located next door to Atlanta’s Hartfield-Jackson International Airport. With a regulation length of 2987 yards, the course consists of 2 par 3s, 5 par 4s, and 2 par 5s. It’s a good course for average players, and maintains a level of difficulty due to it’s hilly terrain, streams and on-site lake. College Park Golf Course is located at 3711 Fairway Drive, College Park, Ga.
11. Echelon Golf Course, 45 minutes north of downtown in Alpharetta, is a formidable course designed by golf course architect Rees Jones. The course wanders over 600-acres of rolling hills, providing elevation changes and panoramic views. The semi-private course features a 32-acre practice and training facility. Golf Magazine rates Echelon the 11th best course of the more than 400 golf courses in Georgia. Echelon Golf Course is located at 511 Founders Drive, Alpharetta, Ga.
12. The Frog Golf Club is a bit outside Atlanta (about 40 miles west on Interstate 20). Designed by golf course architect Tom Fazio, the parkland-style, 18-hole championship public golf course opened in 1998. The course is complete with Bentgrass greens and expansive bunkering and has also attained status as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The Frog is located at 2699 Georgian Parkway in Villa Rica, Ga.  
13. Stone Mountain Golf Course actually is two championship golf courses and offers views of historic Stone Mountain and Stone Mountain Lake. The Stonemont Course is a classic challenge that places emphasis on accuracy and strategic course management. The Lakemont Course complements Stonemont with a less demanding, target-oriented layout. Along with the two courses, Stone Mountain Golf Club features The Common’s Restaurant.

Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications.