The best golf courses in Georgia, USA

Augusta National isn’t just a golf course, it’s golf’s cathedral. The fairways roll like velvet, the greens are glassy puzzles only the brave attack, and every hole whispers history you’ve seen a hundred times but never quite believe until you’re there. Magnolia Lane, Amen Corner, the roars from 13 and 16, it’s all as mythical in person as the stories make it. It’s not just a round of golf, it’s stepping into the heartbeat of the game.

Peachtree Golf Club is an iconic, ultra-private course in Atlanta, crafted by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Bobby Jones in 1948. Often compared to Augusta National, it features rolling terrain, towering pines, immaculate bentgrass greens, and signature bunkering. The course blends classic design elements and world-class conditioning, earning regular recognition among America's top 50 courses.

Ohoopee Match Club is a private, members-only retreat in rural Georgia, designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner in 2018. Laid out across sandy soils and native terrain, the course is crafted for match play, featuring creative routing and risk-reward holes set within over 2,500 acres of serene woodland.

East Lake Golf Club, established in 1904 and designed originally by Tom Bendelow with later revisions by Donald Ross and Andrew Green, is Atlanta’s oldest and most storied golf course. Renowned as the home club of Bobby Jones, it is celebrated both for its championship history and its philanthropic mission, hosting the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship annually.

Ocean Forest Golf Club, opened in 1995 on the northern tip of Sea Island, Georgia, is an exclusive championship course designed by Rees Jones. The club is recognized for its dramatic links-style back nine along the Atlantic Ocean, challenging coastal winds, and routing through natural dunes, marsh, and forest. Revered for hosting top amateur events and offering elite exclusivity.

Seaside Course is a historic links-style layout on the Atlantic coast, originally designed by Charles Alison in 1929 and later reimagined by Tom Fazio. Renowned for ocean views, undulating greens, and strategic bunkering, Seaside blends natural dune landscape with a modern tournament venue. It is a regular host of the PGA TOUR’s RSM Classic and ranks among America’s top courses.

Champions Retreat Golf Club – Bluff/Island is a private 18-hole routing combining the Bluff nine by Jack Nicklaus and the Island nine by Arnold Palmer, set in the scenic woodlands along the Savannah River near Augusta. Opened in 2005, the club is unique as the only venue with nines designed by Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player. It hosts elite events and offers pristine southern golf with true championship quality.

The Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club, redesigned by Rees Jones, is a renowned private parkland layout that has hosted major championships including the 1976 U.S. Open and two PGA Championships. Known for its narrow fairways, challenging bunkering and tour-level conditioning, Highlands combines holes originally designed by Robert Trent Jones and Joe Finger.

Atlanta Country Club is a prestigious private course in Marietta, Georgia, originally designed by Willard C. Byrd. Known for its tree-lined fairways, Zorro Zoysia grass, and a classic parkland layout, it winds through historic Sope Creek and notable Civil War-era ruins. The club enjoys a storied tournament history, having hosted the Atlanta Classic, the inaugural Tournament Players Championship, and several USGA events.

Atlanta Athletic Club’s Riverside Course in Johns Creek is a private, championship-caliber layout originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and most recently renovated by Tripp Davis in 2022. It weaves along the Chattahoochee River, offering immaculately maintained Zoysia fairways, Bentgrass greens, and strategic design variety. The course is a frequent tournament host, known for its beauty and challenge.

The Keep Course at McLemore Resort, designed by Bill Bergin and Rees Jones, sits atop Lookout Mountain offering one of the most visually stunning golf experiences in the U.S. Cliff-edge fairways, mountain plateau vistas, and preserved wetlands combine to create a strategic, memorable layout that rewards precise play while immersed in natural scenery.

Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee is a nationally acclaimed private course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, featuring dramatic views of Lake Oconee and defined by its strategic bunkering, varied shot values, and natural terrain. Opened in 1997, the course consistently ranks among Georgia's best and offers an authentic, walkable golf experience through Georgia pines and native grasses.

Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course offering 18 holes along the scenic Lake Oconee shoreline. Originally opened in 1992 and restored in 2019, the layout is visually spectacular, blends lakeside play and inland holes, and showcases strategic design, bold bunkering, and superb playing conditions.

McLemore Resort's Highlands Course is a dramatic cliff-edge par 71 layout on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Redesigned by Rees Jones and Bill Bergin, the course features a variety of challenging holes with memorable elevation changes, spectacular vistas, and carefully reworked green complexes. The course offers six tee boxes and blends natural beauty with strategic golf.

Frederica Golf Club, designed by Tom Fazio with assistance from Sir Michael Bonallack, sprawls across 340 acres in a private, coastal Georgia community. Opened in 2005, it features massive, undulating greens and wide fairways framed by grand live oaks and pines. Its challenging design is matched by pristine conditioning and a luxurious, member-focused atmosphere.

Rivermont Golf Club is a private 18-hole, par-72 parkland course designed by Joe Lee in 1973 and revitalized by Michael Riley in 2006. Nestled north of Atlanta near the Chattahoochee River, it is celebrated for its thoughtful routing, pristine greens, and warm, unpretentious club atmosphere, earning numerous accolades including a top 15 ranking in Georgia.

Augusta Country Club is a classic, private 18-hole course in Augusta, Georgia, founded in 1899 and designed by Donald Ross. Known for its traditional parkland layout, tree-lined fairways, and proximity to Augusta National, the course underwent a major restoration in 2001 to restore its Ross-era features, making it a celebrated example of early American golf architecture.

The National Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee is a Tom Fazio-designed layout that opened in 1997 and features three distinct nines. The premier configuration, Ridge and Bluff, flows through rolling terrain, hardwood forests, and offers challenging play with strategic bunkering, doglegs, and some lakeside holes. A recent 2014 renovation enhanced playability and conditioning, maintaining its reputation as a standout resort golf experience.

Set along Lake Oconee, this Rees Jones-designed course blends picturesque waterfront holes with risk-reward opportunities, tree-lined doglegs, and creative shotmaking. Built in 2002, it is part of the elite Reynolds Lake Oconee resort, recognized for its immaculate conditioning and hospitality. Golfers appreciate challenging play and top-tier amenities at one of Georgia’s most sought-after golf destinations.

TPC Sugarloaf is a private, 27-hole course designed by Greg Norman, part of the acclaimed TPC Network in the upscale Sugarloaf Country Club community. It features championship-level parkland-style golf with tree-lined Bermuda fairways, strategic water hazards, and smooth Bentgrass greens. The course is known for hosting PGA TOUR and Champions Tour events and its welcoming, high-end amenities.

Lookout Mountain Golf Club is a classic 18-hole course in northwest Georgia designed by Seth Raynor in 1925. Recognized as a top classical layout, the course features memorable mountain vistas, strategic bunkering, and Bermuda fairways, providing a world-class golfing experience for members and their guests.