Georgia's golf scene stretches from mountain peaks to ocean shores, offering everything from $40 public gems to world-class resort experiences. Whether you're chasing elevation changes in the Blue Ridge Mountains or battling coastal winds on authentic links layouts, the Peach State delivers memorable golf adventures that justify the journey.
Why Georgia belongs on your golf bucket list
Let's be honest… most of us will never play Augusta National. But here's the good news: Georgia packs over 500 courses into its borders, including multiple layouts that Golf Magazine ranks among America's Top 100. The state's geographic diversity creates wildly different playing experiences, from cool mountain mornings at 4,000 feet to afternoon ocean breezes along the Golden Isles.
What really sets Georgia apart is the combination of accessibility and quality. You can play where Bobby Jones learned the game for less than the cost of a nice dinner, or splurge on a Sea Island experience that rivals anything in Scotland. The weather cooperates year-round (though July in central Georgia will test your dedication), and the Southern hospitality isn't just marketing speak. Course rangers actually smile when they tell you to pick up the pace.
Coastal golf that's worth the drive
Sea Island: Where your credit card goes to die (happily)
Sea Island Resort on St. Simons Island represents the pinnacle of American coastal golf, assuming your budget can handle the $310 green fees. The Seaside Course, redesigned by Tom Fazio in 1999 from the original 1928 layout, delivers an authentic links experience that'll have you checking airfare to Scotland… until you remember you're already playing golf this good.
The numbers tell the story: 7,005 yards from the tips with a 141 slope rating. But statistics don't capture the thrill of standing on the 13th tee, a 409-yard par-4 that hugs Saint Simons Sound, wondering whether that crosswind is worth two clubs or three. The forecaddie included in your fee will know, which almost justifies the price tag. Almost.
The Plantation Course got a 2019 makeover from Davis and Mark Love, stretching to 7,093 yards and featuring the famous "Principal's Nose" green on the 10th hole. Both courses host the PGA Tour's RSM Classic each November, so you can compare your scorecard to the pros. Spoiler alert: they hit it better than you.
Ocean Forest: The course you can't play (unless you know someone)
Ocean Forest sits on Sea Island's northern tip like the golf gods' private playground. This Rees Jones masterpiece from 1995, recently refreshed by Beau Welling, earned Golf Digest's runner-up spot for Best Renovation Award in 2024.
The 17th and 18th holes along the Atlantic coastline provide the kind of finish that makes you forget all the three-putts that came before. Past Jones Cup winners including Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed have tested their games here, though they probably didn't lose as many balls to the ocean as you will. The course hosted the 2001 Walker Cup, making it the youngest venue ever selected for that prestigious amateur competition. But unless you've got a member connection, you'll have to admire it from Google Earth.
Jekyll Island: Public golf that doesn't require a loan
For those of us without trust funds, Jekyll Island Golf Club offers 63 holes of coastal golf at prices that won't trigger a marital discussion. The historic Great Dunes nine, originally designed by Walter Travis in 1910, provides both ocean views and a glimpse into Georgia golf's early days.
Here's what makes Jekyll Island special:
- Green fees from $25 to $55
- Genuine coastal golf experience
- Three distinct 18-hole layouts
- Pine Lakes features tight fairways
- Great Dunes offers ocean views
- Indian Mound plays through marshland
- No attitude from staff
- Plenty of wildlife encounters
Book through GolfNow or call directly. The courses aren't going to blow your mind with conditioning, but at these prices, you can play twice and still spend less than one round at Sea Island.
Savannah Harbor: Where downtown views meet tidal challenges
The Club at Savannah Harbor, designed by Robert Cupp and Sam Snead in 1999, offers something unique: panoramic views of historic downtown Savannah while you navigate tidal wetlands. The 660-yard 7th hole stands as one of Georgia's longest, though the peninsula green surrounded by bunkers might make you wish it was even longer.
With dynamic pricing from $44-124, this former PGA Tour Champions venue delivers tour-quality conditions at prices that vary wildly based on demand. Book through GolfNow and check multiple dates… the price differences can be shocking.
Mountain golf adventures
Old Toccoa Farm: Elevation changes that'll make you dizzy
Hidden in Blue Ridge, Old Toccoa Farm feels like someone dropped a golf course from an airplane and decided to play it where it landed. The 2015 Bunker Hill Design features over 280 feet of elevation change across 6,707 yards, creating shots you won't find anywhere else in Georgia.
The 626-yard 13th hole plays so far downhill that big hitters genuinely consider going for the green in two. Of course, most of us end up in the Toccoa River, which comes into play on three holes along its 4,000-foot stretch through the property. Golf Digest ranked it the #8 Best New Course in 2020, and the zoysia fairways with bent grass greens justify the recognition.
Weekend rates hit $180, which feels steep until you're standing on a tee box surrounded by Cherokee National Forest, watching clouds drift below you. Book directly through their website and bring extra balls… the mountain laurel is beautiful but hungry.
Brasstown Valley: Scottish links at altitude
At over 2,100 feet elevation, Brasstown Valley Resort delivers a Scottish links experience that seems geographically impossible. Denis Griffiths designed the course using only 13 acres of the 210-acre property, leaving the rest as natural habitat for deer who apparently enjoy watching golf shots.
The views of Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak, distract from the course's genuine challenges. The 11th hole's escalating bunker complex looks like a giant's staircase, while the downhill par-3 17th makes club selection a pure guessing game.
Peak rates top out at $89, making this one of North Georgia's best values. The full resort includes spa services and multiple restaurants, perfect for explaining to your spouse why this golf trip is really a romantic getaway.
Achasta: Where Jack Nicklaus met a river
Jack Nicklaus's mountain creation in Dahlonega features the Chestatee River crossing the course seven times, because apparently six times wasn't challenging enough. The 5th hole plays entirely on an island in the river, creating the kind of memorable golf experience that makes you forget your score.
This semi-private facility welcomes public play when available. Call ahead to check accessibility, and prepare for Nicklaus's signature style: strategic bunkering, demanding approaches, and greens that break toward the water even when physics suggests otherwise.
Atlanta area championship golf
Bear's Best: Nicklaus's greatest hits album
Bear's Best Atlanta in Suwanee offers something unique: 18 replica holes from Jack Nicklaus's favorite designs worldwide, assembled into one course. Opened in 2002, it's like a Nicklaus tribute band that actually sounds better than the original.
The 11th hole recreates PGA National's infamous par-3 from the "Bear Trap," requiring a full carry over water to a shallow green that rejects golf balls like a bouncer at an exclusive nightclub. Other highlights include reproductions from Muirfield Village and Castle Pines, letting you experience championship golf without the airplane tickets.
Public access runs $100-140, which sounds expensive until you calculate the cost of playing all these courses in their original locations. Book through the Invited Clubs website and bring your A-game… these holes earned their reputation.
Chateau Elan: Where golf meets wine (dangerous combination)
Chateau Elan offers 63 holes across three courses, plus a winery that'll either improve or destroy your afternoon round. The Chateau Course, renovated in 2016, features water on 10 holes across its 7,030-yard layout. That's a lot of splash balls, especially after a wine tasting.
The Woodlands Course provides a more forgiving experience through tree-lined fairways, perfect for working off that Chardonnay. Stay-and-play packages include a $120 golf credit, and the resort's spa gives non-golfing spouses something to do besides calculate how much you're spending on golf.
Book through Troon or directly with the resort. The location, 40 minutes from Atlanta, makes it an easy escape that feels much farther from civilization.
Reynolds Lake Oconee: How the other half lives
This 12,000-acre lakefront paradise features six courses by architects including Nicklaus, Fazio, and Bob Cupp. Great Waters, Nicklaus's signature course renovated in 2019, brings Lake Oconee into play on 10 holes and ranks #99 in Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest.
The catch? You need to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee to access the courses. Discovery packages run $349-499 per night including golf, which means you're essentially paying hotel prices for green fees. But when you're standing on a Fazio-designed tee box overlooking the lake at sunrise, the math suddenly makes sense.
Central Georgia's hidden gems
Forest Hills: Bobby Jones slept here (probably)
Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta offers genuine golf history at municipal prices. This Donald Ross design is where Bobby Jones began his 1930 Grand Slam, though the course won't tell you which tee box he threw up on from nerves.
Arnold Palmer's company renovated the layout in 2003-2004, maintaining Ross's strategic bunkering while updating conditions to modern standards. The undulating TifEagle greens roll pure and fast, providing a true test of putting that explains why Augusta University's golf teams call it home.
Here's the kicker: public play costs just $40-60. At those prices, you can afford to play twice and still have money for lunch. Book directly through their website and arrive early… locals know this secret.
Barnsley Resort: Golf among the ruins
Jim Fazio's 1999 design at Barnsley Resort incorporates the ruins of a 19th-century manor house, because regular golf course scenery is apparently too boring. The par-72 layout stretches to 7,200 yards with a 141 slope, providing genuine championship challenges amid genuinely Instagram-worthy backdrops.
The dramatically elevated 14th hole offers the kind of view that makes you consider taking up landscape photography instead of golf. Conde Nast ranked Barnsley the #2 Southeast golf resort from 2010-2012, though they probably didn't lose as many balls in the ruins as you will.
Prime season rates run $130-175, positioning it as a premium experience that delivers premium memories. Book through GolfNow or directly with the resort.
Cuscowilla: The Coore & Crenshaw course you can't play
Cuscowilla represents Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore's only Georgia design, widely considered the state's third-best course behind Augusta National and Peachtree. The par-70 layout features bold bunkering that looks natural until you're trying to escape it.
The 305-yard 5th hole's massive bunker complex serves as the course's signature challenge and photo opportunity. Set along Lake Oconee's shores, Cuscowilla epitomizes minimalist design philosophy… which is architect-speak for "we didn't move much dirt but you'll still make big numbers."
Unfortunately, it's private with no public access. But hey, now you know what to aspire to when you win the lottery.
Planning your Georgia golf adventure
When to go (and when to avoid)
Fall delivers Georgia golf at its finest. September through November offers comfortable temperatures, spectacular mountain foliage, and courses in peak condition. Coastal areas stay playable year-round thanks to ocean breezes, while mountain courses offer summer relief from Georgia's notorious humidity.
Spring brings azalea blooms and perfect weather, but also Masters fever. Prices spike and availability plummets around tournament week in April. Winter golf remains viable throughout the state, though mountain courses might surprise you with frost delays. Trust me, teeing off at 11 a.m. in February beats not playing at all.
Summer separates true golfers from fair-weather players. Coastal courses benefit from ocean breezes, but inland layouts can feel like playing inside a clothes dryer. Hydrate aggressively, start early, and remember: there's no shame in riding when it's 95 degrees with 90% humidity.
Making your money work
Georgia offers exceptional golf value compared to other premier destinations:
Budget heroes ($25-60):
- Jekyll Island's three courses
- Forest Hills in Augusta
- Municipal courses statewide
- Twilight rates everywhere
Mid-range marvels ($75-140):
- Chateau Elan
- Bear's Best Atlanta
- Brasstown Valley
- Most resort courses
Splurge-worthy ($150+):
- Sea Island (if you can swing $310)
- Reynolds Lake Oconee packages
- Old Toccoa Farm
- Barnsley Resort
Getting there and getting around
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves as your primary gateway, offering direct flights from everywhere and rental cars that won't break the bank. For coastal adventures, Savannah/Hilton Head International provides easier access without Atlanta's traffic nightmare.
Most premier courses cluster within 90 minutes of Atlanta or along the I-95 coastal corridor. Rent a car unless you're staying at an all-inclusive resort… Uber gets expensive when the nearest course is 30 miles away. Book tee times well in advance, especially for weekend play at popular public tracks. Georgia's golfers know their hidden gems, and they're not afraid to book them.
Final thoughts from a fellow hacker
Tom Fazio, who designed more Georgia courses than anyone should be allowed to, talks about creating "symphonies of nature" that blend seamlessly with the landscape. That's fancy architect talk for "we put golf holes in pretty places," but he's not wrong. Georgia delivers those moments where you forget about your score and just appreciate where golf can take you.
Whether you're seeking accessible public courses for a buddy trip or planning a luxury resort experience, Georgia offers both without the pretension you'll find in some golf destinations. The state's combination of history (Bobby Jones learned here), prestige (Augusta National exists here), and accessibility (you can actually play here) creates something special.
From Old Toccoa Farm's dramatic elevation changes to Sea Island's authentic links experience, Georgia's golf courses justify the journey. Pack your rain gear for spring, sunscreen for summer, layers for fall, and optimism for winter. Most importantly, pack extra golf balls… between mountain carries and coastal winds, Georgia's courses have an appetite.
The best part? You're never more than a few hours from your next great golf experience in Georgia. Just remember to leave time for the 19th hole… Southern hospitality tastes best with a cold beer and golf stories that get better with each telling.
