Atlanta-area Courses (Public)

In addition to Hilton Head, we will also be staying in the Atlanta area for a few days. Any thoughts on courses? Looking on GolfLink, seems there are a ton of private courses but we will need some public offerings. Looking at Crystal Lake CC for one round.

My home town...

Assuming you're staying in town, you'll have to drive out to the 'burbs 30-60 minutes to find good golf--but at least you'd be driving opposite of traffic.

My favorite public courses (I live in the northeast suburbs, so my choices are somewhat based on geography mind you):

1. Bear's Best (Suwanee) - great track, conditions usually are real nice. Even though it's a Nicklaus "greatest hits" course, the holes flow together quite naturally.  Used to have mandatory forecaddies (who were great), but the economy sacked that two years ago.

2. The Manor (Alpharetta) - was private, but now it's now semi-private; still looks/feels very much like the posh country club course.

3. Stone Mountain - best course(s) relatively close to downtown, incredibly scenic, and always a bargain.  Lakemont is more scenic, although I think Stonemont is a better course.  You could even combine some touristy stuff that day if you wanted as the courses are officially inside Stone Mountain Park; taking the gondola (or hiking if you have the time/energy) to the top of the mountain offers really spectacular views.

Also, closer to Athens, the Georgia Club is a real nice layout...with all things Bulldogs themed of course; a few holes remind me of Augusta actually.

Check out specials on Golfnow.com and you definitely shouldn't have to spend that much, esp for rounds on weekdays!

Woodmont in Canton (north burbs) is a great track.  As Mentioned Bears Best is nice, but the best in the Swanee/Johns Creek/Duluth area is St Marlo CC (Semi-Private)