By Mike Blum
Northeast metro Atlanta includes two long-time DeKalb County favorites, a standout 36-hole facility and a course named for the greatest golfer of all time that features a number of holes which will be recognized by avid watchers of televised professional tournaments.
Here’s our look at golf in Northeast Atlanta (DeKalb and Gwinnett), with two courses just outside Gwinnett County included in the list:
Bear’s Best: A compilation of holes replicating ones from some of the most famous designs from Jack Nicklaus. The layout does not seem forced or artificial in any way, flowing smoothly through relatively hilly terrain near the Chattahoochee River. Among the holes you may recognize are from Muirfield Village, two of the “Bear Trap” holes from PGA GC, Castle Rock and Sherwood CC, as well as three from courses in the British Isles that have hosted major international events.
The course rating/slope numbers are on the high side, but Bear’s Best is not an overly demanding layout, although the trio of famous par 3s are equally hazardous as the originals. The par 5s are hazard-free and relatively inviting, with several short-ish par 4s, including two from Sherwood also offering scoring opportunities. There are some interesting features on greens complexes early in the round, with the overall layout one you’ll thoroughly enjoy from the opening tee shot to Castle Rock’s long par-4 18th.
Chateau Elan: The nationally-regarded resort includes two top-quality daily fee layouts (Chateau and Woodlands), as well as one of Atlanta’s top private courses (The Legends) and a walking, 9-hole executive course. The Chateau course, designed by Denis Griffiths, opened in 1988, with the Woodlands following eight years later. The two complement each other nicely, with different design styles but offering comparable challenges.
Although the Chateau course plays to a par 71 (Woodlands is a 72), it is the longer of the two, with a very strong group of par 4s. Chateau is a bigger course overall, with more generous fairways, larger greens and more hazards, both sand and water. With a few exceptions, the par 4s are either long or hazardous, sometimes both, with a picturesque but friendly group of par 3s and a hefty trio of par 5s, one of which requires some precision to solve.
The Woodlands was built on more rugged terrain, with a modest number of hazards and slightly smaller greens, many of which are bordered by mounds that make for some testy short game shots. The par 4s are not especially lengthy, but the hilly nature of many of the holes make them more of a challenge than their length and absence of water might attest. The par 5s include one of the area’s friendlier (if narrow) holes and two with hazards that you have to make an effort to avoid.
Collins Hill: One of the metro area’s best comeback stories, the course is emerging from years of little attention and is regaining its reputation as one of the more enjoyable and playable layouts. The course is among the shorter regulation courses in the Atlanta area, but if you stray off the tee, it will not be as easy a mark as the yardage and rating numbers.
The layout features a decent amount of roll without any serious elevation changes, with the relatively small greens featuring enough movement to test your putting touch. Thanks to the terrain, some of the landing areas are obscured from view, with longer hitters leaving driver in the bag on most holes. With just a few hazards in play and minimal bunkering, Collins Hill is not a demanding layout, but the back nine, especially the par-4 11th, offers much more of a challenge than the inviting front side.
Country Club of Gwinnett: One of the three Atlanta area Champions Clubs that opened in the early 1990s before changing ownership, followed by changes in name. The CC of Gwinnett has since been separated from its two former sister courses and re-named again. The Steve Melnyk design was renovated a little less than a decade ago, with the 8th and 9th holes changing par, but the overall character of the layout not altering much.
The course remains a short, mostly tight layout with a number of holes that can be very accommodating to those who can keep it in some of the area’s narrower fairways. Even the distance challenged will have the opportunity to hit a number of short iron approaches, but there are enough holes that will provide a little more of a challenge, with some reasonably hilly terrain and tight tree lines compensating for the overall absence of length and mostly gentle greens complexes.
Heritage Golf Links: The excellent Mike Young design has survived some ownership and management challenges over the years, regaining its status as one of the metro area’s best daily fee courses following the most recent management change. The layout is among the more diverse and challenging in the Atlanta area, with plenty of hazards and undulating greens that can produce some very interesting putts.
With several holes including fairly substantial carries off the tee, it’s vital for players to select the correct set of tees to play, with the lofty slope rating evidence of the challenge the layout poses. Play the right set and Heritage is a very playable layout, although you will have your entire game tested. The club also features a shorter third nine that is more forgiving than Young’s original design.
Legacy on Lanier: The scenic Lake Lanier layout has changed names a few times and underwent a recent renovation that removed a par 3 and replaced it with a new 10th hole that has slightly altered the routing of the back nine. With the majority of the holes bordering the lake, it offers more splendid views than almost any course in the metro area, with its handful of inland holes also visually appealing.
The course is on the short side, but the slope numbers are more revealing of the challenge than the absence of length. There are plenty of opportunities to encounter trouble, with several carries over water, along with one of Atlanta’s toughest holes (No. 14). Even some of the short par 4s start with some intimidating tee shots over the lake, but if you don’t bite off more than you can chew, the course offers a highly entertaining resort-style experience.
Mystery Valley: An Atlanta favorite since the 1960s, the traditional Dick Wilson design has enjoyed a loyal following thanks to one of the metro area’s most playable layouts. With mostly generous fairways, a lack of hazards (the risky par-4 15th an exception) and relatively gentle greens complexes, it is an accommodating course for all levels of play, but is by no means an easy mark.
There is a decent amount of roll throughout the layout, creating some uneven lies in the fairways, but the terrain around the greens is more level, placing minimal pressure on your short game. Mystery Valley is on the short side by modern standards, but there are some very solid par 4s and a nice group of rolling par 5s that vary in length and difficulty.
Reunion: An interesting and enjoyable layout by Atlanta-based architect Mike Riley, Reunion poses a reasonable challenge without an excessive amount a length. Some fairly rugged terrain requires a few modest carries from the tee, with hazards also a factor, along with mounds bordering fairways that can be either friend or foe.
Riley also makes good use of the rolling nature of the layout to create some appealing views, beginning with the opening hole, one of a standout group of par 5s. The mix of holes is among the best in the metro area, with a trio of demanding par 4s balanced by several shorter but potentially hazardous two-shotters.
Stone Mountain GC: Along with Chateau Elan, the only 36-hole daily fee facility in Atlanta. The two courses (Stonemont and Lakemont) are thoroughly distinct, with the original Robert Trent Jones, Sr., layout a splendid traditional design that is one of the area’s more demanding courses, even with a minimum of hazards. The John LaFoy Lakemont 18 is more a resort-style layout that is considerably shorter and more inviting that Stonemont, but features more hazards in play.
Stonemont is a very strong par-70 with a long and strong group of par 4s (with the exception of the 2nd hole), two friendly (if narrow) par 5s and one of the tougher mid-length par 3s to hit in regulation (No. 16). The moderately sloping greens typically have enough speed and slope to give your putting touch a workout, adding to the challenge tee to green.
Lakemont begins with one of Atlanta’s most intriguing par 5s and includes a tough, over-water par 4 early in the round, but things ease up after that, although you will have a number of opportunities to find trouble. Length is rarely a concern, although the former par-4 sixth is now a hefty par 3. The 11th is one of Atlanta’s most entertaining short par 4s, and is part of a back nine that was built separately from the front and gives Lakemont a contrasting pair of nines.
Trophy Club of Apalachee: The third of the original Champions Clubs, the course features contrasting nines, with the par-35 back considerably longer and tougher than the par-36 front, mostly due to a very strong quartet of par 4s. The front nine includes a pair of short par 4s and two fairly tight but friendly par 5s, offering some scoring opportunities before you make the turn. A tougher test overall than the modest yardage due to the extra par 3, with the mid-length quintet of short holes not particularly penal, but with no soft touches.
Executive course: The Hooch is a par-61 with seven par 4s, several of which are more than drive and pitch holes. A handful of the par 3s also have some serious length, making the course the longest of Atlanta’s quality group of executive facilities. The expansive practice range is also a popular stop for area golfers.