Intermediate Membership - Atlanta

crazyfast · May 17, 2017

Hi, Turning to the wisdom and knowledge of the forum for some recommendations / suggestions for intermediate memberships in the Atlanta area. I'm 35 and play off a 5. I'm being relocated for work from Toronto to Atlanta in the next 2-3 months and interested in looking at joining a club. My wife and I haven't settled on a final neighborhood, but we will likely end up in either West Midtown, Midtown or Old Fourth Ward / Ponce City Market or Buckhead area(s). Yes, i realize this is a bit of a wide net...

This is what I would value in a club...

Low / No initiation as we are not sure if Atlanta will be home for longer than 2-3 years.
Proximity to Midtown / Buckhead
accessibility to tee times earlier in the morning on weekends.
walking friendly courses. Never been a fan of carts
solid practice area.
competitive membership & events.

I'm less concerned with the F&B / Tennis / other facilitates as we are unlikely to take advantage of those....

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

Llortamaisey · May 17, 2017

You're looking for a unicorn.

crazyfast · May 17, 2017

You're looking for a unicorn.

I realize that my ask is a lot... I'm willing to to give up on driving distance as I realize that most of the private tracks ITB are unobtainable....

jpthreesticks · May 17, 2017

You're looking for a unicorn.

Unfortunately this is the case. How flexible is your work schedule? And are you willing for the club to be a weekend only deal or are you wanting a club that you can get to after work to hit balls or play 9 holes?

If you don't have a job that is flexible and are stuck to an 8-5ish schedule, you won't find a club that you can access during the week living in town. If that's okay, then there are plenty of options. Or if you do have a flexible schedule then you can probably get to courses easier.

Two years from now, Bobby Jones GC in Buckhead will have a driving range so that can cover your need to hit balls during the week if you live in town.

Good luck in your move. There are plenty of good courses that fit your wish list, but they won't be easy to access except for weekends. Traffic can be awful here.

If you have questions about specific clubs, that might be easier for people to answer.

GTgolf · May 17, 2017

Gonna have to drive 30+ minutes just to scratch the surface.

crazyfast · May 17, 2017

Gonna have to drive 30+ minutes just to scratch the surface.

That's what I'm used to here in Toronto for decent public tracks... I wouldn't call 30 minutes a long drive.

It would be weekends only. I work too much during the week to think I could get out after work. Maybe on Friday in the summer.

OutBackHack · May 18, 2017

Berkeley hills then would be one to look at. There is tons of info on these forms plus a current thread going about it and some of it's competing courses.

jpthreesticks · May 18, 2017

Since you are good with just having a weekend club, you really have a bunch of options open to you and again, depending on where you live in-town, some may be closer to get to than others.

On the east/northeast side - Berkeley Hills, Standard Club, St. Ives (no clue what initiation is these days), Club Corp options, Rivermont (it is walkable - if you are in shape; and you can call in a cart guy to bring you from 9 Green to 10 Tee - but even the walk isn't terrible as it's downhill), CC of Roswell (I am not a fan of it, but I know others are), Indian Hills (although they are shutting down each of their 9's over the next three years to put in much needed bermuda greens), Pinetree - and there are plenty more as you get away from the perimeter.

crazyfast · May 18, 2017

Thanks Maga_golfer for the info. Once we confirm everything and figure out where home will be - the search will be on!

Since you are good with just having a weekend club, you really have a bunch of options open to you and again, depending on where you live in-town, some may be closer to get to than others.

On the east/northeast side - Berkeley Hills, Standard Club, St. Ives (no clue what initiation is these days), Club Corp options, Rivermont (it is walkable - if you are in shape; and you can call in a cart guy to bring you from 9 Green to 10 Tee - but even the walk isn't terrible as it's downhill), CC of Roswell (I am not a fan of it, but I know others are), Indian Hills (although they are shutting down each of their 9's over the next three years to put in much needed bermuda greens), Pinetree - and there are plenty more as you get away from the perimeter.

jpthreesticks · May 18, 2017

Thanks Maga_golfer for the info. Once we confirm everything and figure out where home will be - the search will be on!

Since you are good with just having a weekend club, you really have a bunch of options open to you and again, depending on where you live in-town, some may be closer to get to than others.

On the east/northeast side - Berkeley Hills, Standard Club, St. Ives (no clue what initiation is these days), Club Corp options, Rivermont (it is walkable - if you are in shape; and you can call in a cart guy to bring you from 9 Green to 10 Tee - but even the walk isn't terrible as it's downhill), CC of Roswell (I am not a fan of it, but I know others are), Indian Hills (although they are shutting down each of their 9's over the next three years to put in much needed bermuda greens), Pinetree - and there are plenty more as you get away from the perimeter.

Sounds good. Don't mean to be too down on clubs in the area and traffic, but it sounds like you are approaching it with a good mindset. Feel free to reach back out once you know where you will be living though, and plenty of us Atlanta area golfers will be happy to help out. Once you get out in the suburbs, you can find pretty much any type of course and club that you could want.

crazyfast · May 18, 2017

Thanks Maga_golfer for the info. Once we confirm everything and figure out where home will be - the search will be on!

Since you are good with just having a weekend club, you really have a bunch of options open to you and again, depending on where you live in-town, some may be closer to get to than others.

On the east/northeast side - Berkeley Hills, Standard Club, St. Ives (no clue what initiation is these days), Club Corp options, Rivermont (it is walkable - if you are in shape; and you can call in a cart guy to bring you from 9 Green to 10 Tee - but even the walk isn't terrible as it's downhill), CC of Roswell (I am not a fan of it, but I know others are), Indian Hills (although they are shutting down each of their 9's over the next three years to put in much needed bermuda greens), Pinetree - and there are plenty more as you get away from the perimeter.

Sounds good. Don't mean to be too down on clubs in the area and traffic, but it sounds like you are approaching it with a good mindset. Feel free to reach back out once you know where you will be living though, and plenty of us Atlanta area golfers will be happy to help out. Once you get out in the suburbs, you can find pretty much any type of course and club that you could want.

I live in downtown Toronto. We have the exact same problem. A 30 minute drive to the course at 6am on a Saturday is a 75 minute drive a 3pm on a Thursday... Thanks again for the information!

jpthreesticks · May 18, 2017

At least you are moving to a year-round golf season! It might be cold during the winter and hot during the summer, but there are only a handful of days that you truly can't get out and play.

jkaiseresq · May 18, 2017

We are members at Country Club of Roswell. I would put our bermuda greens up against anyone's. Yes the course is a little quirky, but its challenging. Also our mens golf association is very friendly, active and welcoming. Id be happy to arrange a round and a tour...

lincolnduff · May 21, 2017

Check out Rivermont. It's a great course, and low monthly fees for under 40.

crazyfast · May 21, 2017

Check out Rivermont. It's a great course, and low monthly fees for under 40.

Will do. I've heard good things about the course. Thanks!

jpthreesticks · May 21, 2017

Reach out to Chris Cupit when you come down here - Rivermont is family owned and he is running it now. The course is different than most offerings in the area. It is a lot of fun to play, and now that they put in bermuda greens, it is worlds better than the bent grass that was on there before. The range is not great and there isn't much of a short game area. You can walk the golf course, but it will get you in shape. You can call down to the shop and get a shuttle ride from 9 to 10, and that is the longest walk, but it is pretty much all downhill.

Holes 1-3 are good. 4-6 are okay. Not a huge fan of 7-9. 10-14 are really, really good and bordering great. 15 is solid. 16 is a very good hole. 17 is a big drop on a 190 par 3 that plays a couple clubs shorter. 18 is a very solid finishing hole.

There is a good men's group out there. They do good food and beverage out there, especially the halfway house. But give Chris a call and he can show you around and probably get you out to play a round there.

tannerdc · May 21, 2017

As an Atlanta native, I have had the pleasure of playing most everything around (high end to low end) and Rivermont sounds like a great fit. Yes, that is where my monthly dues are spent, but I've never regretted signing that check! Let me know when you are in town...I can introduce you to Chris and happy show you around!