Highland Walk at Victoria Bryant

The drive is quite long, but easy - not a lot of turns. When I arrived there was a very young woman behind the counter that greeted me warmly as I walked in the door. She was obviously brand new to her job, and I appreciated her hospitality. She didn't know the questions to ask to get me checked in so she called over the assistance of a 70+/yo man who is clearly the person many have included in their reviews. He gave her questions to ask me like "Do you have a rider with you?" but he'd ask it instead and look right thru me. The obvious difference in their demeanor was startling, I must say. Kind of like a grizzled old man who wanted only to be next to his woodburning stove, against the fawning of a legitimately sincere customer focused individual. My feedback would be that on days where the two of them work, the old fellow doesn't need to speak to customers because when you have a genuinely nice person who's clearly interested in your day getting off to a nice start, he just needs to re-learn human interaction or go back behind the curtain. Last thing she said to me was "How is your day going?" Nice touch by her and a disquieting uneasiness between the two of them as he was attempting to “train her”, I must say.

Off to the course. Again, my first time here. I arrived 45mins early… to hit balls. This was Monday at 11:00am and the range was closed. Not good – why is the range closed? Close it in the afternoon to pick balls when the place dies. I was scheduled to tee off at 11:50 and because I play at a high level, I like to hit balls and establish my rhythm and tempo prior to play – a key to keeping a low handicap low, and going low on the course. So, they do have an extremely nice chipping green that is oddly placed. It’s between the first green and the fifth tee box, and finding it requires a bit of a jaunt. So, I was there until 11:44 working and promptly departed so I would get to the tee box a moment prior to 11:50.

I got to the tee box at 11:48 and there were two very elderly men at the most forward tee box and two less elderly men waiting behind them at a less forward tee box. The two very elderly men were in the process of hitting their tee shots where I announced “Are you guys the 11:50 tee time?” ( I had to delineate which of these twosomes I was paired with) and they said “Yes” I said “I’m supposed to be playing with you.” The two other elderly men saw this was now a threesome, and barked “Can we play thru?” and this is the first tee box!!! Yow’za!!! So, to say this place is a cluster is a bit of an understatement – where’s the starter? She was there – she was the one who told me where to find the chipping facility. A maud of a lady complete with a tanktop (sleevless shirt). I think she might have been busy getting the cafeteria up and running or something - certainly not adhering to her duties as starter. So, the twosome tee off, in front of a scheduled threesome, and I tell the other two eldery men who I’m supposedly paired with that I play the tips and I proceed to the back tees, as I am a very low handicapper, and am accustomed to playing at well over 7,000yds. Watching the two younger, but still elderly, men play this hole was like watching paint dry. One guy had white slicked back long scraggly hair all along the side of this head and none on top, and had grown it so he could sport a pony tail - just looked completely silly, and not in golfing attire. The other was dressed like a lumberjack, complete with jeans and flannel shirt – this is golf, right? And in golf there is the notion of golfing attire? Not here – certainly not. I’ve played all over and can’t believe this – what I’m seeing.

So, from the tips of this 290yd (downhill that plays probably 270) driveable PAR 4 hole, I had to stand and watch these two slowly play out the hole, and gosh… the lumberjack had a six foot long putter that he spent gobs of time greenside at the cart fiddling with while slick willie was on the green putting. Meanwhile I’m waiting now 10mins to tee off (driveable PAR 4). As these fellows were putting out I hit my tee shot with less than full power, because I don’t want to upset these two titans of the game, and it was struck right at the flag and trickles up to the front edge of the green, and as I drive up to my two very eldery partners, they announce “You go ahead – we’ll only slow you down.” Ok. First, I understand the sentiment – very old guys who shoot 110+ do not want to be continually embarrassed by a guy shooting par or better, and they can’t feel comfortable so they feel bad to holding the better player back. The point is this – why in the world did the starter not have these clearly cohabitable group of FOUR men go off together? So, it gets worse. I make the trek to the green in a minute or less and the two guys aren’t in their cart yet. I pull up behind them, and they say “We’ll let you go in front of us on the next tee box.” And that’s fine so I acknowledge with a wave and signal of approval – I mean, I just drove the green and it took them more than 10 mins to play a silly little golf hole. So, I putt up to the pin, take my birdie, get in the cart, go under the bridge and make my way to the tips of hole #2. The silverhaired Jedi-master is teeing off. What happened to the “we’ll let you go” is what I’m thinking… but no big deal…

I stop the cart and within two seconds Paul Bunyan announces “Well, aren’t you going to go?” At this point I’m about to blow my top and have had it up to my eye balls with the goat rodeo and these non-golfers in street attire. I’ve never played this golf course before, have ZERO clue what the golf hole does, how it’s shaped, the distance, let alone the strategy to play it, and what, he’s thinking it should take me less than two seconds to discerne? That’s what I’m thinking – how dare this lumberjack in jeans and a six foot long putter that is illegal to try and hurry me, WHEN HE TEE’D OFF AT MY TEE TIME? So, I’m a big guy and much younger and spry and retort – “I’m sorry you’re having a bad day, but you just need to calm yourself down right now buddy – it takes me at least ten seconds to find my glove, put it on. Then I have figure out the hole, grab my ball, a tee, a club before I get to my tee box” and boy this made him boil, I could see his brain trying to connect with his mouth, but he had no comeback rightaway. Before I hit my tee shot he did mumble something, but I don’t speak caveman. Anyway, this hole is another driveable PAR 4 at 310yards, and I hit a laser driver into the front greenside bunker, hit that to about 6’ and made another birdie. So, I’m two under thru two holes, and have had to deal with the least savvy golfers in north Georgia on two occasions and played two driveable PAR 4 holes, which most courses, if they have one, it’s not under 300yds, but two and back to back? Well, there were more… Yawn…

So, for the rest of the round I saw not a soul on the course and was able to play golf the way it was mean to be played, with me alone with my thoughts strategizing the terrain and how to avoid mistakes, and if there were opportunities, to take them. The third hole was a medium length PAR 4, where I faded my ball to the right of the 150, and had 164 to a front right sucker pin. Ball was above my feet which meant I would not be able to get close that day, and so I favored the left meat of the green. I like the nuance of this hole. Force me to think. Ball’s above my feet so unless I put the ball back in my stance, the ball will curve hard left missing the green and leave me with a pitch. I take my PAR and go to the next.

Number four is a short PAR 5 that, after I completed the hole, I didn’t quite understand or see fully. I only saw the path to the right which is slightly uphill and a green that was hidden left by trees, requiring a draw for approach. So, I hit a stock fade to the right of the fairway and had 210yds to the center of the green. This pin was tucked far left, and I couldn’t see the pin, so hit a gorgeous pure iron to the front right of the green. When I got to the green and putted out and looked back at the hole, I saw there was a second option off the tee – a lower thinner /riskier fairway. To me, this is a waste of real-estate and something that probably causes the higher handicappers fits and slows pace of play. Only a highly skilled player can hit a thin tree lined fairway, whereas the slicer will be looking for balls and slow others down. Anyway, I took my birdie for a three under thru four and went to the next hole.

Anyway, the fairway grass was lush and superb. The rough, which I only found once during the day, was not overly penal. The green complexes are large, and the grass is a broad leaf Bermuda and not mown for speed, which is a total bummer. There were little to no ball marks, a hallmark of Bermuda, but the speed was probably a 7 or lower on a stimpmeter, so I had to hit the ball with force, which is just not realistic – you will find very few courses with greens this slow. The green speed makes it unpalatable for me to return any time soon, which is unfortunate.

If the greens were a 10 on the stimpmeter and the starting fiasco was avoided I would have no qualms at giving this place a 5-star rating. But, nothing’s perfect.

Been playing here for years. Bill and his staff are always welcoming. Bill has always been there to assist if anything was needed. The course has always been welcoming to my child who is a Jr Golfer, and been helpful while she learning the game.

The course is challenging but very well maintained. Winter golf is winter golf but still a great place to play.

I had modest expectations but had an enjoyable fast round mid week - 3 hours
Course was quite dry in contrast to other courses
Golf carts were excellent with GPS
Course starts with two very easy holes and then presents a brutal 3rd par 4..
Par 5 - 4th is also quirky - do not go left - then tough three holes 5-6-7
Need to be straight.. sharp drop offs on the side of greens
There are many places where the course can jump up and give you a double bogey
Many fairways are crown shaped etc
Hard to make a mark on greens which meant they were solid although hard to read
Back nine had some excellent holes - 11 thru 17..
Will be back

Too many blind shot… always the sames holes.Green are so fast. You do not have the right to make a mistake.
Very too much up and down… very unpleasant!!!

Last minute booking due to another courses issues. Reviews had me thinking that it was a decent course but quickly realized that was not the case. Checking in started off fine and the range was of good quality. Front side played well. Challenging but playable The turn is where everything fell apart. Walked in for lunch which hot dogs were available. Fine easy enough to put together and get back on the course. First bite and soon realized that HOT dog was not hot but refrigerator cold. Brought it to the attention of the staff and was passed off as the best they could was heat it up in the microwave. Typical state employees response. Carts have GPS which is fine most courses do but who ever mapped the un drivable either hates golfers or enjoys making life miserable by marking most of the cart paths as restricted zones. Personally I’ll avoid any golf course thats tied with the Georgia state parks.

Winter time course was in good shape. Very hilly and with the uphill approach shots the distances will be a challenge for most golfers judging the wind/elevation etc.. it made me be creative and had a great time!! My son broke 100 for the first time and my other kids had a great time for NYE playing all 18. Staff was super friendly and kid friendly!!

Great layout and variety. Lots of surprises for first time visitors....so use the gps on cart, else you will be in trouble!!! Staff were fantastic and welcoming.

Found the course last minute (relatively nearby Athens, GA), and from tee to green the course was in excellent condition. I still can't believe how nice the greens were. They were slightly slow but they were in perfect shape. The course was hosting a tournament event prior to my tee time, but the staff was very accommodating and went out of their way to meet my needs. They didn't have the best of the range balls but adequate enough to warm up and get the round started. Club house had plenty of food/snack/drink along with other golf items if needed. Staff were fantastic and very friendly. I would definitely come back when I'm in the area.

First time playing course, what a gem. First let me say that the course is one of the best courses tee to green that I’ve played all year. The hot deal was well worth the drive. I’ll be back to play this course many times. The course is fair and challenging at the same time it will lull you into thinking it an easy layout don’t be fooled.

Love playing at Highland Walk. It's a good value for a very nice course. The greens were in perfect condition! Unfortunately, the rough on several holes was 5-6 inches deep. Any ball hit into the rough was lost! That began on the first hole and was very frustrating!! In spite of this, I will return.

First two holes will put you to sleep, but you are in for a rude awakening! Very challenging course in great condition with outstanding greens.