whynotgolfatl96

This review is primarily about the new greens. Played blue tees.

Tees, fairways, bunkers all in good shape considering a big rain the night before.

The new green surfaces were well received for the most part...they look great with a couple of exceptions (#8, notably, just too much shade I guess, they need to figure that one out).

They were fairly smooth, but slow in general and slower against the grain...not as firm as I thought they might be, (you will make pitchmarks, please repair them) very receptive to almost any approach wedge thru 5i...balls will spin back on short irons and staying within 3-4' of the pitchmark on midirons...maybe not a back pin with a long iron, but you can fly the ball to the pin right now. I wouldn't suggest that on firm Champions Bermuda.

If you can hit the putts firm enough (even downhill against the grain) you can score well...If you don't, you will curse the greens as being too slow. I don't think it will play any easier than right now.

The contours and breaks are mostly the same...#5 is bigger, friendlier...if you go long you can keep the next shot on the green now.

If you have played Providence, Lane Creek, or Chicopee (School/Village) then you have an idea of what these greens will be like in a few months...fast and smooth.

Some new sodded areas I assume covering the temp greens...all in all I applaud their efforts on the conversion and I'll be back soon. I'm not thinking they will reach peak form before the growing season for Champions Bermuda ends, but I think they made a smart move for years to come.

Played the School and recently re-opened Mill.

Tees, Fairways, Bunkers in great shape. Rough is healthy...Note some GUR marked on #4 on the Mill. Greens are rolling smooth...the School greens are fast...putts you think might come up short will roll out and get to the hole and beyond, especially downhill, down grain...careful with your speed.

The Mill's new greens are beautiful surfaces, firm...approaches didn't check up as quickly... rolling a bit slower than the School...be more aggressive on line and speed and you can make some putts because they are smooth and won't break as much as your eye tells you.

School & Village greens will be more consistent, but the Mill offers great scoring opportunities...Chicopee is a gem....play it.

One of the few times I've played the GA Club at less than very good conditions...greens recently punched/sanded. That in itself was not the problem...I know courses have to do it in this heat...not knowing ahead of time was the problem.

I was taking a group out that had never played it and after hearing so many good things...the greens were a big disappointment...the good was we paid a very fair rate and that should've been a signal but I've played at that rate before in great condition.

If you like smooth greens...give the GA Club a couple more weeks and they should be back to their normal great standard.

Played here many times...the dog days of summer are officially here and that normally means fuzzy, slow bent grass greens.

Well...the greens keeper didn't get the memo...about a 1' or so slower than they were in late June or even early July, but the greens are still on the quick side compared to the bent greens I've been playing at other courses on the north side of town.

We're doing an okay job with ball marks, but we can do better, don't be surprised to see some unrepaired or old ball marks...still smooth surfaces to putt on.

FWs, tees, bunkers in good shape...Reunion won't disappoint...if you haven't played it...great mix of tough holes where par is a great score, and some other holes where the bogey or better player will have good chances to make birdie.

Conditions...tees, fairways, greens were in great shape...bent grass greens are rolling fast and true...with the summer heat kicking in...I can't imagine they will keep them cut this low for much longer. Had one issue in the GS bunker on #5...no sand in part of the bunker...ball came to rest on the fabric underlayment.

Course...great mixture of very difficult holes where par is a great score and some holes that offer very good birdie opportunities, especially on the back with three reachable par 5s. Forced carries are not real long but require solid contact.

If you don't hit it at least 240 consistently you'll have a lot more fun from the white tees on this course.

Late afternoon times are a bargain for this course, but you might have to dodge the weather as we're in the seasonal afternoon thunderstorm pattern.

Last played the course back in March and the dormant/hardpan like conditions around the greens made it tough to get a wedge under the ball on the tight lies. The lies made me feel as if I needed to bump-n-run every shot.

Not so today...with a few exceptions, the grass has grown in and you could play a variety of shots with confidence around the greens.

I drive out there for reasons.

1. The greens...they're relatively small, but smooth surfaces and the speed is faster than average...especially downhill, down grain. The course is not long, so if you can figure out the greens, you can score here.

2. Value...don't expect the Taj Mahal, but it's hard to beat to this course for the money.

If you have not played it...relatively short (less than 6200 from blue, <6700 from the tips. For the bogey golfer...the wht tees will provide a solid challenge.

The GA Club continues to set the standard for high quality golf for a reasonable daily fee rate.

Fairways, tees, bunkers were all in good shape...the bent grass greens are in near perfect condition right now...with many 90 deg temps ahead, bent greens are about at their peak, play it soon!

The course...if you've never played it...the fairways are wider than most public access courses...green complexes are large, but not severely undulating...you still need to drive it well to score within your index, but missing a fairway doesn't automatically mean double or worse.

Good lag putting and sharp short game goes a long way at this course.

Played many times...3rd since spring areation.

The good...greens have recovered, and rolling smooth...better than the practice green today. Not peak speed, so uphill you can give it go and not worry much about the comebacker...made several putts today. Collar cut is in full and nicely cut.

Fairways are filling in nicely, pretty firm.

Pace of play was very good...3some in 4 hrs on a Sat.

The bad...nothing terrible but notable...a couple of fairways have dead areas that probably should be played as GUR imo...also a couple of bare tee boxes...may need to resod with a more shade tolerant grass.

Short course overall, good mix of short scoring holes mixed with some very difficult holes...but not the most player friendly design, requires a few times around to score @ your index.

1st round here since the new greens were installed...I concur with the other reviews on green speed...they are fast, but not quite as smooth as Providence or Lane Creek...both have also gone to a similar bermuda green surface, but I think they are very nice overall being relatively new.

Tees, Fairways and bunkers were all in good shape...fairway grass getting thicker...just enough rough to know there is a fairway.

1st timers...short track, (under 6500 from the tips) but plenty challenging for the most weekend golfers.The firmer greens makes it play slightly shorter imo because you need to play for some release with your approach.

My biggest gripe about the course are the blind tee shots, about 4 driving holes you can't see your tee ball land, but a disciplined player is rewarded with good approaches if you take what the course gives you off the tee.

Not a grip it and rip course.

Hard Labor has become an annual trek for us at least 2 or 3 times a year...the price is right, the golf course rarely disappoints making this well worth the hour drive out there.

If you've never played it...it's typical tree lined north GA course with lots of elevation change. Not long by today's standard, fairly tight, unless you're a 10 index or better you might have more fun from the white tees. The biggest challenge of the course for bogey and better golfers will be the greens. Stay below the pin at all costs.

Conditions were not bad, carts were on the course, but several holes were still damp in the drain off areas...greens were not at their peak speed but rolled smooth and and playable.

My 1st time playing it. Blue/tournament tee, Sat. afternoon 2some. Pace was brisk.

The course is a real treat...for a mountainous region, the course is essentially flat. Its routed along the Chestatee River basin. A simple down and back layout for both 9s, but Nicklaus made a lot of interesting and enjoyable holes often using the river & it's tributaries as hole borders, and hazards to carry.

I was expecting the green complexes to have a lot more movement, but it's noted that he did not move much dirt all to create a fun, challenging course. There a few ridges, and tiers on the greens, but more gentle than most other JN courses I've played.

The conditions were good all around...I thought the FWs might be a tad soft being a river basin...they were...not really wet at all, only once or twice my ball picked up mud in the FW.

Typical JN design...even though water is a major feature in the design, he gives you ample landing areas, very playable for all levels...holes 13 thru 15 provide a great opportunity to score...a driveable par 4, followed by b-t-b par 5s that are reachable. Of course there are risks, but avid players I'm sure like that trio.

No FW visual for the 150 yd marker, which I didn't like initially, but quickly got over it....If you have not played Achasta, I would do it soon...trees are turning a beautiful color. I will be back.

Pre-noon start time...pace was about 4:10...for a 2some sandwiched in between 4somes...I thought pace was very good.

Blue tee...Played many times in the past...1st time there this year. Tees, bunkers were in great shape. The fairways were soft on more than just a few holes...surprised me since there hadn't been much rain in the Buford area lately...several balls plugged in the FW. Certainly playable, but I did take a drop to dry ground a couple of times. Rough was cut, long enough to sink down, but a little thin...not as penal as some other courses we played this summer.

Greens were in good shape...soft, some old pitch marks, but rolled smooth Practice green is a good gauge for speed.

The frt 9 is harder, landing areas are ample, but no room to spray it. Elevation change is severe on some holes. The par 5s on the frt are tricky for the 1st time player. Front is not brutally hard, but the back plays easier. imo, #18 should be the #1 handicap hole.

Played the blue tees, early morning.

Conditions were good tee to green. Rough was cut for the most part, it was a hindrance to shots, but not brutally penal. There were few areas where you're probably not supposed to be you could lose a ball in the rough.

Had not played here in 5+ years...the routing has one little quirk...the transition from 9 green to 10 tee puts you in the line of fire of those teeing off on 10.

Not a long course, but they stretched the blues out a little bit as several of the short par 4 holes and the par 5 9th were playing basically the same as the gold making it about 6300+ vs the 6177 on the card. Only 3 par 5 holes (par 71), both on the back offer a great chance to get home in 2. Nice collection of par 3 holes. I found this tee to be a solid challenge even though I only hit driver maybe 6 or 7 times all day.

Most holes are wysiwyg, to the landing areas but some course knowledge is helpful as there are no hole layouts on the scorecard. There's enough trouble to make you pay if you get sideways, but low and high indexes alike will have a good time.

Saved the best for last...the greens...I've played Champions bermuda this year and loved the surface...these did not disappoint...they held most of my good approach shots, fast and true. Most are pretty small greens, so it's not always a full club more or less to the back and front pin locations. A lot of them are pitched back to front back, but enough undulation to keep your attention all day. Need to stay below the hole to have a good day on the greens.

Well worth the trip and I expect to get back out there in short order.

Played on 8/31...from the blue tees.

Conditions...tees/fairways were in great shape. Rough was cut, but imo could be trimmed again...tough to find balls in the rough in some areas. Greens were soft and very receptive, from the FW every club I actually hit the green with stopped within 3 paces of the pitch mark. Greens rolled smooth thanks to many people repairing ball marks. Not super fast so you could make a run at most putts. Amazingly I did not find a bunker so no thoughts on their condition.

Course layout...72.7/140 from the tips...why such stout rating/slope? It's not terribly long from any box, most of the longer driving holes play downhill off the tee. From the blue a long hitter will not need to hit driver a ton. Lots of elevation change, rarely do you shoot at a green level with the FW or tee box..there is .ample room to land your tee ball, but if you do stray there are plenty of hazards and trees to wreck a scorecard.

I think the par 3 holes are great...challenging, yet bogey level and better have a good chance to log some low numbers.

For an early afternoon tee time on a Saturday I'm averaging less than $50, and this one was $44, right in line with most of my rounds lately.

Finally...I was braced for a 5 hour round based on some earlier reviews...our threesome finished in slightly over 4 hrs...about 4:10 actually...so slightly less than my noted pace.

Played Sat. afternoon...had not been here in many years, but the course has matured well...still pretty much a target golf course, but lots of trees removed.

Tee boxes - okay, a few get too much shade to grow bermuda.

FW - outstanding...perfect lie everytime on the Zoysia

Greens - outstanding...fast and true, play it soon

Rough - healthy, but cut and playable with mid to short irons

Bunkers - enough sand.

It's a very tough course in general, fair, but the layout becomes more fair the more you play it. A laser with slope feature will come in handy.

My only complaints...sand containers on our cart had no sand...the quality of the FW turf makes you want to fill your divots. Secondly...the tee spacing kind of set us up for some clog ups (4some then several 2somes, our 2some became a 4some, and single behind us waited forever, but nowhere to let him go, he became a 2some, etc.)...tough course on busy day is going to be more than 4 hrs I guess.

I went short of pristine conditions only because there are some low areas with soft conditions, but the course drains very well. At the price for a Sat. it was worth the trip from NE metro.

Had not been here since the green redo w/ champions bermuda..with all the rain...FWs, bunkers, most tees were in excellent condition...the new greens...the absolute right move imo.. Still love bent, but they were firm, will hold solid & even slight mishit FW shots, need hi ball from the rough to stop it... deceptively fast...smooth...get the speed right and you'll enjoy your day on the greens.

Great GN deal made it a great value.