Augusta

Accommodations:

Country Suites Augusta Riverwalk

Location:

The Club at Jones Creek
Since its opening in 1986, this Rees Jones track has become one of the best daily fee courses in America. Golf Digest ranked the 7th hole as the #1 hole in the State of Georgia. This dogleg left 380-yard par 4 features the creek cutting across the fairway twice and causing all sorts of havoc. A driver is not necessary, but your approach better be right on. The two finishing holes will either ruin your round or make you so proud, you’ll want to play 18 more. The 17th is a 3 shot par 5 with the creek cutting across in front of the green and the fairway on 18 is protected by bunkers and the green is a wide, but shallow green. All the greens are undulating and very fast.
 

Mount Vintage Plantation
The talk of the town during the Masters 2000 was this new track. Byron Nelson said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen any place quite like this. This is a magnificent layout.” Architect Tom Jackson recognized the potential and created a layout that delivers the rare combination of being scenic, challenging, diverse and yet fun to play. Players have their own Amen Corner here with holes 14, 15, & 16. The 14th is a slightly downhill, straight away par 4 with gently rolling hills and a green fronted by 2 sand bunkers and a creek. 15 is par three that features a lake you must carry any where from 126 to 203 yards. The par 5 sixteenth is a reachable, but it presents the classic risk/reward situation. The beauty and challenge of these holes will pump you up.

The River Golf Club
Set along the banks of the Savannah River, this Jim Fazio design features large bent grass greens, numerous lakes, wetlands and dramatic bunkers. With its links style layout, you will discover wide-open fairways with a sprinkling of trees. The signature hole, which is #6, a 418-yar par 4, offers all elements with a carry over a water hazard to a two-tiered green. In the background is a great view of Downtown Augusta skyline. The finishing hole is the only par 5 on the back and it is a brute. 601 yards of thrills!
 

Cedar Creek Golf Club
Located in Aiken, this Arthur Hills design is in rolling pine covered sandhills. Hills only had to move a little dirt to mold the greens and fairways. His routing was selected to complement the existing lay of the land. He used Cedar Creek to enhance play on holes #4, 5, and 6 and used the arid sand pines and natural wilderness to provide a variety of memorable, natural and spacious hole on the back nine. If you’re looking to play a long course, then the 7206 yards should be to your liking. Lucky for the rest of us, the forward tees are a bit saner.
 

Forest Hill Golf Club
If there is a Donald Ross Course in the area, do not pass up the opportunity to play it. This beauty, built in 1926, is home for the Augusta State University Jaguars Golf Team. They play some terrific golf and are often ranked among the top collegiate teams in the country. The course was built on semi-hilly terrain, so expect some uneven lies, but you could walk the course if you want. The fairways are typically wide and a pond comes into play on two holes. The signature hole is #3, a 575-yard par 5 that requires an approach over water to the green. Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay redesigned the course in 1986, but the Ross feel still remains. This course hosts one of  the most competitive collegiate tournaments in the country.  You can find the top teams from across the nation here for a 2-day, 54-hole event held usually just before the Masters each year.

Three Oaks Golf Club
This is a friendly track built in 1997 and designed by Roy Sturkey. Overall, the course is moderately hilly with no major elevation changes. The greens are average in size and hold some tricky breaks. When the course was built, the existing landscape was cleared with the exception of some large trees and wetlands. Newly planted trees define the fairway. Once the trees have matured, this will be a lush course. One of the more challenging holes is #13, a 247-yard par 3 that requires a tee shot over a humongous swamp.

Hickory Knob State Golf Resort
Located in McCormick, South Carolina this state park features many activities and the golf course is at the top of the list. Tom Jackson designed this track in 1982 and was built on rolling terrain and features many pine tree lining the fairways. Another challenge is the lake and other water hazards. They come into play on nine holes. The most difficult hole is #2, a 522-yard par 5 requiring an uphill approach to a well-bunkered green.