For most Atlanta area daily fee golfers who remember life before the internet, Mystery Valley was a part of their formative years in the game. The course is one of just a handful of metro Atlanta facilities with a history that pre-dates drivers with metal heads, although that history includes some lengthy stretches when Mystery Valley’s course conditions were something less … [Read more...]
Sugar Creek Golf Course among Atlanta’s Best Bargains
Most golf courses featured in publications and on web sites tend to fall into three categories – prominent resort facilities, upscale daily fee layouts and first class private clubs that host tour events. Atlanta’s Sugar Creek does not fall into any of those three categories, along with a lot of other courses that serve a vital (but largely unnoticed) role in the golf … [Read more...]
Echelon On The Way Up With New Ownership
Superb Rees Jones layout remains a strong draw In the wake of the economic downturn of the late 2000s, having an outstanding golf course with first class conditioning has not guaranteed a successful operation. A case in point is Echelon, a Rees Jones design in the north metro Atlanta suburbs that opened to sterling reviews late in 2006, but encountered early difficulties … [Read more...]
Collins Hill Golf Club Continues on Comeback Trail
Improved Gwinnett course enjoyable, affordable Before the concept of upscale daily fee courses became prevalent, golf in metro areas like Atlanta was largely divided into two camps – those who were members of private clubs and those who played most of their golf at community-oriented public courses. The proliferation of upscale daily fee facilities has had a huge impact on … [Read more...]
Smoke Rise Country Club a Hidden Gem
Distinctive Layout Among Quality Amenities Metro Atlanta has a size-able number of outstanding country clubs, some of which are well known nationally, others not attracting much attention outside their immediate areas. Among the latter is Smoke Rise County Club, which opened in Stone Mountain in 1998, and has kept a mostly low profile the past 15 years. The club has … [Read more...]
One Year After Sale, Heritage a Big Hit
Standout daily fee layout has plenty to offer... Major League Baseball hands out a slew of post-season awards during its Winter break, among them a Comeback Player of the Year. If there was a comparable award for golf courses in the metro Atlanta area for 2013, the almost certain winner would be Heritage Golf Links. The course was acquired out of foreclosure earlier … [Read more...]
Summer Grove Returns to Public Status Newnan Course Among Best in Atlanta Area
There hasn’t been a great deal for daily fee golfers on Atlanta’s south side to celebrate in recent years. Several former semi-private clubs converted to private status after being acquired by the Canngate family of courses and a few others have shut down. However, there is one piece of very good news, especially for those in proximity to Newnan. Summer Grove, which … [Read more...]
Mike Young Revives The Fields Golf Club – His First Design
LaGrange course features enjoyable layout... Few professions have been as negatively impacted by America’s economic downturn as have golf course architects. The number of courses being constructed in the U.S. has dwindled to next to nothing in recent years, and there are on only so many existing facilities in need of renovation. Some American golf course designers have … [Read more...]
BridgeMill Athletic Club a Success Story From Day One
Island green 16th among many attractions... One of the success stories in metro Atlanta’s golf scene over the past 15 years has been BridgeMill Athletic Club, a semi-private facility that has deftly balanced the challenge of serving both its members and daily fee visitors. The course opened in 1998 to positive reviews, and has maintained its status as one of the Atlanta … [Read more...]