Northwest Atlanta

Accommodations:

Residence Inn by Marriott

Location:

Cobblestone
Designed by Ken Dye, and opened in 1993, the course quickly became the top dog.  Nine of the eighteen holes play along beautiful Lake Acworth.  This past year, Golf Digest ranked it 15^th best course in Georgia and other publications tout its prowess.  Cobblestone keeps getting better and better.  The degree of difficulty is very high from the back tees, but with 4 sets, everyone can have a fun, but challenging round.  Besides the water hazards to avoid, the course was built on rolling terrain, so you can expect many uneven lies.  The fairways and narrow and tree lined and the fast greens are well bunkered.  What a great time!  My favorite is so long is ought to be a Par 6 at 570 yard, the 9^th is everything you want in a golf hole.  You will definitely want a bit of refreshment at the turn.

Woodmont Golf Club
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., this track is getting rave reviews. A "must play" on everyone's list. This classical style layout is his only course in the state and he used natural contours, lakes and streams. The front nine is more open and shorter while the back nine is tougher and finishes with three strong holes. On 16, you crisscross a creek, 17 requires two shots over water and 18 makes you play real smart to finish well. Any golfer who has not yet played Woodmont Golf and Country Club is missing one of the best golf experiences Atlanta has to offer.  Named the Best New Course by Georgia Golf News, the 18-hole, par 72 course is masterfully designed along Woodmont's rolling wooded terrain with its creeks and lakes.  Considered one of the top five semi-private clubs in Georgia, Woodmont is maintained to a standard of the finest private clubs.

Towne Lake Hills
This very scenic and spectacular course was designed by Arthur Hills and you will be very impressed with its playability. Even though the fairways are tree-lined, they still provide generous landing areas. In addition, the greens are large and undulating. The terrain is hilly and streams come into play on seven holes. Hole #13 is outstanding ... a 457-yard, par 4, requiring a shot out of a tree-lined shoot to a downhill green that is guarded by bunkers on both sides.
 

BridgeMill
This is a player-friendly course, even though Desmond Muirhead and Larry Mize collaborated on creating over 7,000 yards of challenges. Over 250 acres allow for wide corridors on each hole and does not give you that tight feeling. There is another kind of feeling when you stand on the tee of #16. It is the prettiest little par 3 and if you're crazy enough to play it from the tips, then you're 199 yards away from landing on this island green. Just for relief, the designers gave us a bunker that virtually rings the green, so you either land on the green, in sand or in the water.

Bentwater Golf Club
Try your hand at this 2000 creation by Mike Dasher, formerly with Arthur Hill, and I think you will like it. The course has matured into a great golf course. You will be faced with left and right doglegs, blind tee shots, creeks, marshes and lakes for a fun challenge. If you hate sand bunkers, then you will be happy here with only 29 and I still hit in two of them. Both nines begin with a par 5 and you need to bust your drives. #1 is 603 and #10 is 590 yards. Let it rip. The three finishing holes will be either a great way to end or maybe not.  16 is is 189-yard par 3, 17 is uphill all the way and 18 could distract with the view and the pond in front of the green could catch a couple of balls.
 

Bradshaw Farms
Located 40 minutes from downtown, this track was built in 1995 by Grant Wensley and Bill Kubly.  No big name architects or tour pro's, but they did a great job. I played in an event here this August and it was in pretty darn good shape. 2007 looks great for this course with over seeded fairways and quality bent grass greens.  I love elevated tees and hitting down onto a large target area.  You start both nines with that same shot, but don't even think this is an easy course.  With slope rating of 138 from the championship tees and 131 from the golds, you will have your challenge.  Another nine was added in the fall of 2001 and once again you start with an elevated tee shot to ample landing area.  The new nine runs you through and around the creek, therefore, think about your landing areas and distances.

Eagle Watch Golf Club
The grand daddy of the housing development courses in the area was built in 1989. Some of the objections concerning these courses exist here, like white stakes popping up just when you slice or hook the ball. Bummer. Now the great part is the designer was Arnold Palmer and the King came through. The course is cut out of a forest and built on rolling hills. Lakes were created to cause a little more havoc as well as your share of doglegs. #18 is a par 5 and one of the best finishing holes in the area.