Atlanta Athletic Club-Johns Creek, Georgia
-11th (Highlands) and 14th (Riverside) best courses in Georgia (Golf Digest)
The Riverside Course is truly a wonderful course…well maintained, challenging, and beautiful. Aside from a top-
notch golf course, the history that accompanies the Club is unrivaled. When the club was located at East Lake, it
was Bobby Jones' home course and all the history that accompanies a club that was home to the only calendar
year Grand Slam champion, and the co-founder of The Masters, is simply unable to be matched. The driveway
leading up to the club circles around a huge statue of Mr. Jones. The club champion plaques date back to the
early 1900's and Bobby's name is all over them. Frankly, that is really neat and adds a "wow" factor that is
difficult to top.
The course itself was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones and was renovated by his son, Rees. Similar to
many of Rees' courses, The Athletic Club is fairly long and pretty wide open. The course has no housing on it
and a wonderful river runs through the backside of the property (hence the name, Riverside). Couple this with
excellent routing and you've got yourself the foundation for a very solid golf course.
Although the course lacks one truly outstanding golf hole, you've got yourself nothing but solid golf holes followed
by solid golf holes. Add in the undulating greens and you've got yourself a challenge as well. Throw in some eye
candy with zyosia fairways and tee boxes and the course really pops!
The club has hosted many PGA events…including U.S Opens, PGA Championships at its Highlands course, and,
while the Atlanta Athletic Club was located at East Lake, it hosted a Ryder Cup.
I play the Blue tees---6,695 yards, 72.4/131.
The Highlands course seems to be two seperate courses wrapped into one. The front nine has a wide open,
classical golf course feel. In fact, it reminded me of East Lake a great deal. However, the back nine is tight and
cramped with many blind shots, elevation changes, and many short par 4's. It seems like they might have run out
of land/space while designing the back nine.
Highlands is a severe test of a golfer's precision. The greens are intensely guarded by bunkers and water.
Distances and lines must be dialed in...or you will pay the price at Highlands.
I played the Tournament (member) tees which are rated 72.5/138.
Interestingly enough, Joe Finger originally designed the front nine and Robert Trent Jones did the back nine in
1964. This might explain the different feel of the nines. Then in 2006, Rees Jones redesigned the entire
course.