Atlanta’s golf club landscape reflects the city’s position as a major Southeast hub for both recreational and competitive golf, with private clubs offering premium member experiences alongside city-managed public facilities that deliver quality at accessible price points. The city has produced some of golf’s most legendary figures, including Bobby Jones, whose legacy permeates Atlanta’s club culture and naming conventions. Private golf clubs in the Atlanta metro area serve as social institutions for the region’s business and professional communities, offering not just golf but dining, fitness, and event facilities that support year-round member engagement. The ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) golf division and USGA handicap networks keep the metro’s competitive amateur golf community active and connected.
When evaluating golf clubs in Atlanta, clearly distinguish between public, semi-private, and private membership structures before investing time in visits. Private clubs require member sponsorship, initiation fees ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, and ongoing monthly dues, while public and semi-private facilities are accessible without membership. Course condition is best assessed in person during a late-morning weekday visit when play volume allows a realistic view of greens and fairways without the post-weekend wear. Ask clubs about their tee time reservation windows, cart requirements, pace of play policies, and guest privileges if bringing non-member clients is part of your intended use.
Top Golf Club Companies in Atlanta
1. Chastain Park Golf Course (City of Atlanta Golf)
Address: 216 West Wieuca Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone: (404) 255-0723
Website: https://www.cityofatlantagolf.com/chastain-park-golf-course
Hours: First light to last light, seven days a week
Services:
- 18-hole public golf (par 71, 6,570 yards)
- Pro shop
- Tee time reservations
- Bermuda grass greens and fairways
- Scenic Buckhead skyline views
About: Chastain Park Golf Course is the flagship of Atlanta’s city-managed public golf system and consistently rated the top public golf course in Atlanta. The course was designed in 1937 by Chandler Egan with input from Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones, giving it an exceptional design pedigree for a municipal facility. Located within Chastain Park in Buckhead, the course combines rolling terrain with scenic views of the Buckhead skyline and is managed as part of the broader City of Atlanta Golf program. Green fees of $28 to $45.50 make it one of the most accessible quality golf experiences in the metropolitan area.
2. Bobby Jones Golf Course
Address: 2205 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 355-1009
Website: https://www.bobbyjonesgc.com
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Services:
- 18-hole reversible public golf (Magnolia and Azalea courses)
- Pro shop
- Walkable terrain
- Affordable city pricing
About: Bobby Jones Golf Course honors Atlanta’s most celebrated golfer with a uniquely designed reversible layout that creates two distinct playing experiences from the same property. The Magnolia and Azalea course configurations use large double greens with two pin positions and separate tees to create genuinely different challenges from one round to the next. Its Northside Drive location is among the most convenient public golf sites in relation to Buckhead and Midtown Atlanta. The course offers some of the metro area’s most affordable green fees while maintaining conditions consistent with its historic importance.
3. Alfred “Tup” Holmes Golf Course (City of Atlanta Golf)
Address: 2300 Wilson Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
Phone: (404) 753-6158
Website: https://www.cityofatlantagolf.com/alfred-tup-holmes-golf-course
Hours: Dawn to sunset, seven days a week
Services:
- 18-hole public golf (par 72)
- Pro shop
- Tee time reservations
About: Alfred “Tup” Holmes Golf Course carries one of Atlanta’s most significant civil rights legacies, named for the man who led the successful legal effort to desegregate the city’s public golf courses in 1955. The 18-hole par 72 layout in Southwest Atlanta was designed by Garrett Gill and George B. Williams and is managed through the City of Atlanta Golf program. The course serves the Southwest Atlanta community and provides quality public golf at city-managed pricing that makes the sport accessible to residents throughout that corridor. The historical and community significance of the course makes it one of the most meaningful public golf venues in the state of Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between joining a private golf club versus playing public courses in Atlanta?
A: Private golf clubs in Atlanta offer guaranteed tee time access, consistent course conditions maintained for member exclusivity, social programming, dining facilities, and often lower per-round costs for frequent golfers who absorb initiation and monthly dues over time. Public courses like the City of Atlanta Golf facilities offer walk-in access at much lower green fees without initiation costs but may have more variable tee time availability and course conditions during peak periods. The right choice depends on how often you play and how much value you place on the social and facility dimensions of private club membership.
Q: How much does a private golf club membership in Atlanta cost?
A: Private golf club initiation fees in the Atlanta metro area range from approximately $10,000 to $75,000 or more depending on the club’s prestige, exclusivity, and location. Monthly dues at private Atlanta clubs typically run $300 to $700 per month covering golf access, and additional dues may apply for dining minimums, fitness facilities, and family membership extensions. Semi-private clubs offer a middle path with lower initiation costs and fewer social restrictions on access. The Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek is among the metro area’s most prestigious private clubs with initiation fees reflecting its championship-tier reputation.
Q: Are Atlanta golf courses busy year-round given the climate?
A: Yes, Atlanta’s mild winters allow year-round golf, which keeps all city-managed courses in play throughout the calendar year. Spring and fall are the busiest seasons due to the most favorable playing conditions and heavy league and tournament scheduling. Summer rounds are available but afternoon heat and afternoon thunderstorms can shorten playing windows, making morning tee times preferable June through August. December through February represents the easiest period to secure weekend tee times at popular Atlanta public courses.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s golf club options cover the full range from city-managed public facilities with historical significance and accessible green fees to premium private clubs serving the region’s most active golfer communities. Chastain Park Golf Course delivers the metro’s top-rated public golf experience with Buckhead skyline views and a Bobby Jones design pedigree. Bobby Jones Golf Course offers a unique reversible layout near Buckhead at affordable city pricing. Alfred “Tup” Holmes Golf Course combines quality Southwest Atlanta public golf with profound civil rights historical significance. Contact each course’s pro shop or the City of Atlanta Golf program to book tee times and confirm current fee schedules.