u000007523933

Best daily fee in Atl (so far).

Caveat, I’m new to the area and was told stone mountain ”stonemont” was a decent course... And while it was an ok course, this course blew it out of the water for about the same green fee (and I didn't have to pay and additional $20 just to get on the stonemountain property...). Of the 4-5 courses I have played in Atlanta so far this is the best course I have found by far.

The above said, this course had an exceptionally good layout, with wonderful greens that ran fast and true. Note, this course is no pushover. I’d say it’s a true test without being unfair.

The course has no boring repeated ”meh” hole layouts. There was significant elevation changes to the point that this probably isn't walkable unless you are in great physical condition. The elevation changes on the property were fully exploited to the point of tee off on bluffs to a lower fairway with a water hazard green side, then the next hole might be a par three over the water hazard/stream you just negotiated on your approach. Then the next hole you might be playing a dogleg which slowly winds back up to the top of the next peak.

The course is making every effort to be ”beginner friendly”. The twosome we were paired with just bought clubs and started playing because of COVID, and the ranger did have to come to us to tell them to pick it up. Which they were good about. Once my partner and I started showing them the proper etiquette and how to do things more efficiently (even while learning) we immediately caught up with the group in front of us.

Bring your A game. You will use every club in your bag. Lots of elevation changes in the layout. You will find yourself with uphill, downhill and sidehill lies most of the day. Especially if you haven't played it before and know where to hit it to. Pro shop said the greens average 13 on the stimp meter.

So I’m a walker and I was under 2 hrs to the 12 tee box.... Where I waited 15 minutes for a guy standing on the tee box with a ball teed up and a driver in his hand to finish a work call and hit the ball.

Then another 10 minutes for him to chase his ball up the fairway to get on the par 4 in 4 shots. Then for him to spend 3-5 minutes each reading each of his 4 putts.

I got to the 13th tee and the same gentlemen of the twosome in front of me had ridden in the cart to his partners ball 200 yards away. Then walked back 100 yards to get the yardage reading for his ball... Then he walked back to the cart for a club...

I just turned around and went home.

No marshall, and they seemed put out that I was obviously waiting for them so I could play. Odd it never occurred to them to just wave me and the several groups behind me to play through.

I played the course on 4/28/19 and it was the worst conditions I have ever played on.

That said, the course was one of my all time favorite layouts ever.

I will play here again once it heals from getting punched (and not before) as I think it would be a true test of your golf skills.

However as it stands regardless of the reduced cost for greens fees due to the recently punched greens and fairways the value represented is next to nil as the course is basically unplayable. Even all of the beautiful green contours... the ball just doesn’t break when the greens are running at 6-7 on a stimp meter.

Flat out, this is one of the prettiest courses you will ever find. It’s a true test of every club in your bag, and from downhill, uphill and side hill lies at some point in your round as the fairways don’t have a lot of flat spots.

That said, I played it right after they punched the greens and fairways and so while they usually have the greens rolling at 12-15... they were at a 6-7 today... so all of the amazing Mackenzie green contours... nope the ball just landed and stopped. Even putts that would probably be 90degree putts at 12-13 were maybe 25-30degree putts.

Stated simply, the way it played was not what Mackenzie intended at all. I’ll be back to the west coast just to test my game on this course every so often as this course in working order would be a true test of anyone’s game.

Worth noting: the back 9 is probably the best 9 hole stretch of golf outside of pine valley.

The lounge looks like it is under construction, yet thats where the only restrooms are? There are literally old unused soda machines just littering the lounge? A horder style golf club?

The course was a bit boring, and the staff were rude.

I was dying to play a game and this was the only course with tee times available that I hadn't already played... Won't make this mistake again.

3 separate 9 hole courses let you mix and match so things don't get boring. Also, so far these are the best maintained public courses I have found in the area.

Staff actually took a moment to chat with me on the fairway. Very friendly people. I'll definitely be back to play this 9 hole course...

That said, I'm going to skip the other 9 hole par 3 course they have, it was the worst course I have ever played. Maintenance is required on both of the courses, but on this one it it's tolerable.

At sign in the attendant mentioned it would be in the 90's that day, so it's really good they have a drink cart...

By the 6th hole we started calling the front desk to have the girl drive around the drink cart and they said they'd send her around...
In 4.5 hours of playing 18 holes we didn't see the drink cart once!

If we didn't stop play and head to the club house we would have had to quit playing regardless of the money spent to play a round of golf.