Ultimate Guide to
Golf In Atlanta

Atlanta is a golfer’s city—if you know where to look.

Inside the city limits, you’ll find affordable courses where you can get a round in without breaking the bank. Just beyond them, the options expand dramatically: mountain courses, lakeside layouts, championship-caliber public courses and some of the most prestigious private clubs in Georgia. In fact, you can find several completely different golf experiences within about 45 minutes of downtown Atlanta.

From affordable city courses to bucket-list private clubs, Atlanta offers a golf experience for every kind of player. Put together by an Atlanta golf expert, this guide shares the courses, destinations and local insights you need to plan your next round.

The Golf Expert

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Joe Davis is the founder of ATL Golfs, a one-stop shop for all things Atlanta golf. He has played at over 100 golf courses around the city and helps people plan their golf trip to Atlanta. His website, www.ATLGolfs.com, is a go-to source for in-depth course reviews and highlights of the people who make up the Atlanta golf scene. Find Joe on Instagram (@atl.golfs). 

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Golf in Atlanta

Within the city limits, there are primarily two types of courses: budget-friendly and prestigious yet private.

Budget-Friendly

Golf is often seen as a sport exclusive to the wealthy, but not so in Atlanta. There are four 18-hole courses you can play for under $40:

• Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Club
• Chastain Park Golf Course
• Brown’s Mill Golf Course
• Alfred Tup Holmes Golf Course

And four 9-hole courses you can play for under $25:

• Charlie Yates Golf Course
• Candler Park Golf Course
• John A. White Golf Course

Honorable mention to 9-hole College Park Golf Course that technically isn’t within the City of Atlanta, but is next to the Airport. At just $14, it’s one of the best bang for your buck in the area.

What to Expect

When playing budget golf courses, setting proper expectations is essential to enjoying the round:

• Pace of play will be slow on weekends.
• Amenities are minimal.
• Conditions can be hit or miss. Call ahead in case renovations are taking place (or reach out to a local expert, like me).

Two Exceptions

Bobby Jones Golf Course

Bobby Jones is a very well-maintained 9-hole course. You can expect very good conditions from tee to green, excellent amenities and the only public course with a view of the Atlanta skyline. One unique feature is that the course flips every day with a completely different layout. It’s more expensive than the other 9-hole options, but it’s also a more elevated experience. If you’re able, walk the course and avoid the cart fee.

Wolf Creek Golf Club

Wolf Creek is a full par-72 course with course conditions you can always rely on. In particular, their greens are some of the best around for public courses. New ownership has pumped millions of dollars into the course, and it shows. Hole 14 (pictured above) is one of the best and most challenging public par 3s in Atlanta. 

Prestigious Private Golf Courses

These are historic clubs with bucket-list quality courses. If you have the network and net worth, it is well worth calling in some favors to get on. 

• Peachtree Golf Club – one of the toughest tee times in the world to get. Golf Digest ranks it #22 in the world and second only to Augusta National in Georgia.
  
• East Lake Golf Club – home to the PGA Tour Championship and one of the oldest golf clubs in all of the United States. Global rank #102 according to Golf Digest.
  
• Druid Hills Golf Club – founded in 1912 and full of unique challenges. You’ll remember every hole at Druid Hills. Ranked #34 best in Georgia
  
• Piedmont Driving Club – a phenomenal club and course. This Reese Jones diamond feels as if you’re in a secluded area hundreds of miles from civilization.
  
• Capital City Country Club – established in 1911 and ranked #28 best in the state. It’s a unique par-70 course tipping out at only 6,700 yards. A real shot-maker’s course. 

While these private courses aren’t within the city limits, a list of Atlanta Private Courses isn’t complete without mentioning:

• Atlanta Athletic Club
• Cherokee Town and Country Club
• Ansley Golf Club – Settindown Course

If you’re playing luxury courses, you might as well match with a luxury hotel.

If you’re part of the Invited Club Network, there are quite a few options to choose from just outside of the city limits. These are consistently rated as some of the best:

• Atlanta National Golf Club
• Planterra Club
• Laurel Springs Golf Club
• Brookstone Golf and Country Club

For those part of the Arcis Network, there are three very nice courses that I would recommend:

• White Columns Country Club
• The Manor Golf and Country Club
• Country Club of the South

Golf Near Atlanta

Another feature of golf in Atlanta is that many mid- to upper-tier public courses sit just outside the city limits. Depending on what direction you drive, you can find a completely different experience. I often say Atlanta has 4 or 5 unique golf trips within 45 minutes of downtown Atlanta. 

Here are some of my top picks:

North

• Echelon Golf Club – many consider it to be the best public course in Metro Atlanta.
• The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farm – 27 holes with three of the most epic opening tee shots around.
• Woodmont Golf and Country Club – consistent, high-quality golf in Atlanta.
• Fairways of Canton Golf Club- mountain course with a lot of quirk; Hole 18 is the best finishing hole in the area.

Northeast

• Heritage Golf Links – challenging layout that does all of the little things right.
• Lanier Islands Resort – this is the best course for views along the water.
• Chestatee Golf Club – mountain golf with huge elevation changes.
• Chicopee Woods Golf Course- tree-lined fairways and elevation changes are quintessential Georgia golf.
• Bear’s Best Atlanta – a replica course featuring some of Nicklaus’ favorite golf holes.

East

• The Chimneys Golf Course- extremely fun layout with a lot of scoreable holes.
• The Château Élan Golf Club- two 18-hole courses that provide an elevated experience alongside the classy amenities of the winery.
• Country Club of Gwinnett – solid course, solid conditions, solid layout – very reliable.
• Cherokee Run Golf Club – tricky holes with some of the fastest greens around.
• Ashton Hills Golf Club – one of the wildest par 3 bunkering you’ve seen. Really fun layout and quality conditions.

South/Southeast

• Georgia National Golf Club- another solid course with consistently above-average conditions. Never a bad day at National. 
• Crystal Lake Golf and Country Club – A great ebb and flow of challenging and easier holes. Hole 17 is an all-time par 3 on the water. 
• Heron Bay Golf and Country Club – great bunkering throughout and hole 12 is one of the best par 5s in the area.

Southwest

• The Fields Golf Club- it’s a bit further out, but a true links-style experience. There’s a reason folks regularly travel far and wide to play it.
• Summer Grove Golf Club- some really fun holes along the water on the front 9, but the back 9 is the better of the two.

West

• West Pines Golf Club – a true hidden gem and one of the best bang for your buck in the area.
• Chapel Hills Golf Club – an amazing layout, despite a few tee boxes needing some love.
• Mirror Lake Golf Club – 36 holes in total. The Lake Course and Mountain Course each offer different challenges. Most consider Lake a better overall course, while the Mountain course has a bit more character in the layout. (As of Sept. 2026, Mountain Course is working on revitalizing some of its greens.)
• The Frog Golf Club – one of the more famous public courses in the area and for good reason. It’s one of the best layouts around. 

Northwest

• Cobblestone Golf Course – great views of Lake Acworth, with hole 17 being one of my favorite short par 3s in the area
• City Club Marietta – short and quirky, with some of the best greens on the NW side.
• Towne Lake Hills Golf Club – tree-lined fairways with some fun elevation changes.
• Fox Creek Golf Course and Driving Range – executive course that will have you using every club in the bag.

Atlanta Golf is a “choose your own adventure” experience. With a little bit of local knowledge and a plan, you can have an unforgettable experience that will leave you wanting to come back and plan your next Atlanta golf adventure!

Find fun things to do when you’re not golfing.