Echelon Improvements

jloveless · May 16, 2016

I have seen many posts here talking about Echelon building a clubhouse. I played there today and they have begun construction on the foundation. They expect to move in after Christmas.

For those in Atlanta looking to play Echelon, the greens are immaculate! Smooth, fast and rolling like I have never seen them.

Joel

crazy8golfer · May 16, 2016

I played with a couple of guys on Saturday and they were complaining about Echelon, saying that if you were a few yards off on your approach shots the ball was gone. All they talked about was how tough the course was. I have never played the course so I don't know.

thejuice · May 16, 2016

It's a tough course from the wrong tees but not unfair (well maybe holes #11 and #13 but the rest of them are fair). Granted, I haven't played it in two years, but I've played it plenty of times and can tell you that an errant shot can be penalized because it's not a cow pasture, but a shot a "few yards" off target will not be lost. I've played courses like that and this ain't one of them.

jloveless · May 20, 2016

I went par, birdie on #11 and #13 the other day. I always love playing this course.

In my discussions of Echelon with anyone who has played it, there is either a love or hate relationship with the golf course. I have played the course for 5+ years now and was a member for 2. It is not a course that can be over powered, second shot golf courses usually are. It takes some time to learn how to be strategic and avoid the hazard areas. An example is #11, par 5, 560 from the blue tees. I stopped hitting driver from the tee to take right trap and left hazard out of play. The layup shot is one of the hardest I have ever played in my 45 years. Monday, I hit 3W, 5H and 5I into a 15 mph headwind. The green has hazard all down the left side, bailout to the right side. Par is always a good score.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people just don't respect their handicaps. If you are more than a 5 handicap, don't start by playing the Gold Tees at 7100 yards. The Blue tees are usually setup for 6700 yards and provide a good challenge for most golfers. If you are 15+ handicap, PLAY THE WHITE TEES! Tee it forward is a good motto for Echelon. The 7500 yard back tees are for pros only!

Joel

thejuice · May 20, 2016

I went par, birdie on #11 and #13 the other day. I always love playing this course.

In my discussions of Echelon with anyone who has played it, there is either a love or hate relationship with the golf course. I have played the course for 5+ years now and was a member for 2. It is not a course that can be over powered, second shot golf courses usually are. It takes some time to learn how to be strategic and avoid the hazard areas. An example is #11, par 5, 560 from the blue tees. I stopped hitting driver from the tee to take right trap and left hazard out of play. The layup shot is one of the hardest I have ever played in my 45 years. Monday, I hit 3W, 5H and 5I into a 15 mph headwind. The green has hazard all down the left side, bailout to the right side. Par is always a good score.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people just don't respect their handicaps. If you are more than a 5 handicap, don't start by playing the Gold Tees at 7100 yards. The Blue tees are usually setup for 6700 yards and provide a good challenge for most golfers. If you are 15+ handicap, PLAY THE WHITE TEES! Tee it forward is a good motto for Echelon. The 7500 yard back tees are for pros only!

Joel

Joel, you are so right!!!!

driveandputtmachine · June 2, 2016

Echelon is a difficult track. That is probably the understatement of the century. The front 9 is amazing with the exception of number 9. It is sooooo uphill it is almost unfair. It is not however unfair, just quirky and I know a lot of people that think that hole sucks.

The back nine is FULL of quirky holes. Number 11, is borderline unfair. The tee shot and the second shot are two of the most difficult of their type in Atlanta. I think both fairway bunkers should be gone on that hole, it is just too tight for the prevailing wind to be in your face. 12 is dumb, not unfair, but dumb. I have always disliked that hole as it seems there is no good way to play it. Short, if it wasn't for the elevation you could drive the green, but if you lay up the green is so up hill and the landing areas are ridiculously sloped you are better off trying to drive near the green a pitch on rather than lay up. 13, oh where to start with 13. 500 yards from the tips, straight down hill into a 20 yard wide fairway(where your ball should land if you are playing the correct tees), Creek on the right and crap on the left. I have seen a straight sold shot get blown from the left edge of the fairway all the way over into the creek there because of the narrow landing area. 14 once again is ALMOST TOO UPHILL to be considered a good golf hole. Then it is all good until 18. I have seen many people who play the blues all day, and they are the correct tees for them, then get to 18 and with a good driver from the same tee box, not be able to get around the corner. That is more about where the tee boxes generally are, but I have seen it happen to at least one player in my group every time I play there.

It is in impeccable shape normally and would be a GREAT COURSE to play match play because of the difficulty.