One of the strengths of the Atlanta daily fee golf course market is the diverse nature of the layouts throughout the metro area and the broad range of facilities from affordable to upscale.
One of the last courses in the metro area to open before golf course construction became an obsolete term was Callahan Golf Links, which opened in the northwest Cherokee County community of Waleska eight years ago.
Unlike the vast majority of Atlanta area daily fee layouts that preceded it, Callahan Links was not built as part of a subdivision, and its natural, non-developed nature has been one of its most appealing attributes since it debuted in the Fall of 2007.
Like RiverPines in the heart of the north Fulton suburbs, Callahan Links was built on family owned land and is still operated by one of the family members.
Callahan Golf Links was built on land owned by the Callahan family, who either used it for farming or cattle grazing since the mid-1800s. The family elected to build a course on the land, and local golf architect D.J. DeVictor was brought in to create a layout just a few miles from Reinhardt College along Highway 140 northwest of Canton.
In the eight years it’s been open, Callahan Golf Links has built a steady customer base, mostly from the surrounding area ranging across northwest Georgia to the nearby suburbs of Cobb and north Fulton. The course is easily accessible off I-575 and is a straight shot up 140 from Roswell via a relatively short and pleasant drive through one of the more rural parts of the metro area.
Matt Callahan, the club’s General Manager, attributes Callahan Links’ success thus far to a combination of factors including affordable rates, a welcoming atmosphere, quality conditions and an enjoyable, reasonably challenging course in a natural setting with scenic appeal.
The facility has made improvements over the years, mostly clearing out some of the rough areas just out of play, “to make the course more playable,” he says. “We haven’t done a whole lot of changes since we first opened.”
The scorecard yardages are a little different than originally, with the back tees losing about 160 yards (6839 to the current 6678), the blue tees 175 yards shorter (6382 to 6205), the white tees 85 yards shorter (5535 to 5450) and the red tees 170 yards shorter (4840 to 4669).
Because of some sizeable gaps between tees, particularly the blues and whites, tee selection is crucial. A combination set mixing and matching the blues and whites makes a few of the more demanding holes from the blues play considerably easier, while adding some challenge to a few of holes where the white tees are on the short side.
“If you choose the right set of tees, it can make a world of difference,” says Callahan, who is making an effort to get players to play from shorter tees if there’s any doubt about which ones would be the best fit for them.
Length is not a serious concern at Callahan Links with a few exceptions. Among the par 4s, only the fifth hole measures longer than 400 yards from the blues (412), with thick tree/brush lines along both sides of the fairway. The hole features a small rock outcropping bordered by rough within the fairway, with the second shot having to clear a wetlands/scrub area to reach a small target with a drop-off short of the putting surface.
Because of the existing terrain, the fifth is one of about five holes with huge disparities between the blues and whites, with the fifth a serious test from the blues. It’s no picnic from the white tees, which may be 100 yards shorter but also bring the rock more prominently into play.
The fifth is one of a number of holes at Callahan Links where accuracy off the tee is a necessity. While most of the corridors are reasonably generous, the thick nature of the forested areas will swallow up errant tee shots.
If you keep it in play of the tee, Callahan Links will present its share of scoring opportunities thanks to its modest length. Much of the trouble is located on a trio of par 5s (1, 10 and 18), which require some sound decision making and solid ball striking to avoid perils along the way on each of the three holes.
The dogleg left first hole is one of the more unique openers you’ll encounter. There is sufficient fairway off the tee, but the second shot has to carry a creek to reach a fairly small layup area. Power lines along the hole are in play, although they do allow for legal do-overs. The creek also meanders along a little short of the putting surface, one of many raised up slightly above the area surrounding it, which can make for some touchy short game shots.
Water down the right side is in play on the 10th, especially on the second shot, where there is not a great deal of fairway between the pond and a bunker on the left in the lay-up area. The water is uncomfortably close to the green for those thinking of going for it in two, and is one of just a handful of holes on the course with a hazard in close proximity to the putting surface.
A creek crosses the 18th fairway and is in play on the second shot for shorter hitters, but the hole lacks the potentially penal nature of either 1 or 10 and offers a chance to end your round on a positive note.
The par 3s are a friendly group, with the 17th the only one measuring over 170 yards and no serious trouble in play. Other than some moderate drop-offs along the edges, they don’t pose much of a danger, although the 17th does include one of the meanest-looking greenside bunkers on the course.
The par 4s vary from short, downhill and possibly drivable (No. 3), to tight off the tee with water encircling the back portions of the green (No. 7), to a rare putting surface surrounded by sand (No. 9). Several par 4s on the back nine begin with angled tee shots to obscured landing areas with some rolling terrain, with positioning much more important than length.
Callahan Golf Links features some elements of both links style and mountain (albeit gentle) style golf, with the quality bent grass putting surfaces not especially undulating, but with some natural movement flowing from the bordering mounded areas.
The course is rated at 73.0/132 from the back tees, 70.4/128 from the blues and 67.4/114 from the whites. With very affordable rates, a friendly staff and quality conditions, Callahan Golf Links possesses the ingredients for an enjoyable round of golf on a course that nicely balances the competing elements of challenge and playability.
For information, visit www.CallahanGolfLinks.com or call 770-720-1900.