Chateau Elan Golf Review

If you want to play golf in the land of chateaus and castles, you don't have to visit Great Britain or continental Europe. Instead, fly to Atlanta and head northeast of the Georgia capital along I-85, where you'll find the community of Braselton, the home of the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort (100 Rue Charlemagne, Braselton, Georgia; chateauelan.com; 678-425-0900; reservations@chateauelan.com). It's a four-diamond AAA rated resort. On the premises of the resort are some jaw-dropping golf opportunities at the Chateau Elan Golf Club (678-425-6050; proshop@chateauelan.com). The fun, social options at Chateau Elan are equally appealing.

"Chateau Elan Resort and Golf Club has a long-standing tradition for being the home of the best 36 holes of golf in Georgia," says Doug Hollandsworth, founder, Georgia Golf Trail. "We are very proud to have them as a member of The Georgia Golf Trail and we look forward to working with them even more in 2017."

Chateau Elan, with its powerful and eye-catching 16th Century French-style architecture, is an ideal destination for a weekend getaway with your golf buddies or your significant other. Whether that special person in life likes golf or not, Chateau Elan is an ideal destination for some R & R, as it's the home of life's simple and elegant pleasures - golf, tennis, hiking, biking, dining, wine tasting, and a world-class spa. You will spend the night at either the Chateau Elan Inn or the Villas of Chateau Elan. On the golf side, golfers get access to a pair of wonderful golf courses which are part of The Georgia Golf Trail -- the par-71 Chateau course (opened in 1989) and the par-72 Woodlands course (opened in 1996).

Since its opening, the Chateau course has been ranked as one of the best courses in Georgia. During your journey from the first tee to the 18th green, you will see 87 bunkers, water in play on 10 holes, four sets of tees, three lakes, and two meandering streams. Plus, the Chateau course is home to a number of fish, foul, mammals, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians. And, the newly renovated TifEagle greens give you great consistency on the putting surfaces at the Chateau course.

The Woodlands course has been hosting golfers for more than 20 years. The reviews from critics are very favorable. According to Golf Digest, the Woodlands is "truly outstanding," while the Zagat Survey reports that the Woodlands is a "must play." While the Woodlands will require you to play your best in order to record a low score, it's a course that remains very pleasing to the eye, regardless of how well you are hitting your driver.

At Chateau Elan, it's absolutely essential that visiting golfers feel welcome from the moment they arrive until they head home.

"Our goal is to ensure golfers are treated better here than at their own private clubs," says Elizabeth Clarkson, head golf professional at Chateau Elan.

There are many things to do at Chateau Elan besides play golf: play tennis at the Stan Smith Tennis Center, eat the world-class cuisine at one of seven dining options, try (and buy) the wine, attend a cooking school, and enjoy the 33,000-square-foot European Spa Mansion, where couples treatments are a popular option. While the term 'playing nine and drinking wine' was not invented at Chateau Elan, the concept is certainly put into practice nearly every day. The wine at Chateau Elan is world-class as this winery has received more than 230 wine awards, making it the most award-winning winery on the East coast.

If you are looking to combine a business opportunity with wine and golf, Chateau Elan has a 40,000-square foot conference center featuring 12 conference rooms, four ballrooms, one boardroom, and a tiered auditorium with stage and fixed seating.

Simply stated, Chateau Elan is one place you must visit on The Georgia Golf Trail. Don't miss it.