Chestatee Golf Club Review

The latest golf club to join the Georgia Golf Trail is the Chestatee Golf Club. Located in Dawsonville, Georgia, the Chestatee GC (777 Dogwood Way, Dawsonville; www.chestategolfclub.com; 706-216-7386) is situated among the north Georgia mountains and sits along the shore of Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the most beautiful lakes in the southeastern U.S. While Chestatee is surrounded by the north Georgia mountains, the club is less than a 30-minute drive north of the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta.

The Chestatee GC is a semi-private club and is the first planned golf community along Lake Lanier. The homes are inspired by turn-of-the-20th Century architectural styles found in the South and along the East Coast.

At Chestatee, golfers enjoy access to a beautiful and very well-maintained 18-hole championship golf course, which features some well-designed holes influenced by water and the mountain-like terrain. Designed by award-winning golf course architect Denis Griffiths, the Chestatee Golf Club is one of the South's most picturesque golfing destinations.

This 18-hole, par-71 golf course has been given a 4 ½ star rating in Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." With access to five different tees, Chestatee plays as short as 4,947 yards from the red tees and as far as 6,877 yards from the black tees. At 6,065 yards, the white tees are an attractive option for most players, especially if you like short par fours, as there are five of them on the card.

"The Chestatee Golf Club is a peaceful place in a par-loving piece of paradise," said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, Georgia Golf Trail.

Three of the more intriguing holes at Chestatee GC are the 1st, 8th, and 17th. The tee shot on the 1st - a left-to-right dogleg par five -- is struck from an elevated tee to a spacious landing area. A solid drive will give some players a chance to reach the green in two, which brings eagle into the equation. The par-four 8th plays more than 400 yards from four of the five tees, so pars are a cherished commodity at the 8th. The 'Signature Hole' at Chestatee is the par-three 17th hole. From the tee, the 17th provides golfers with a spectacular view of the Chestatee River.

According to head pro Todd Gilgrist, Chestatee is a joy to play and every round finishes on a high note.

"Chestatee is a great mixture of holes that never is boring," stated Gilgrist, "I love standing in the 18th fairway and looking uphill to the multi-tiered green and seeing the clubhouse and the American flag in the distance."

Keeping the Chestatee GC in great shape takes a commitment to excellence by the superintendent and his crew.

"I feel that you must have the ability to adapt to whatever Mother Nature throws at us is most crucial," said Jeff Losee, superintendent, Chestatee Golf Club. "No spring, summer, fall, or winter are ever exactly the same. The weather in Georgia can vary so greatly, from tropical storm systems from the Gulf (of Mexico) to extreme heat and drought conditions, sometimes within a month of each other. I also must say that I've been extremely lucky to have had a great crew of employees that take pride in the job they do and, without their hard work, our course conditions would not be what they are today."

While the Chestatee Golf Club provides golfers with a place to play golf, there are also places for visitors to sleep and eat. Overnight guests can sleep at the Nightfire Lodge and can dine at the Heron Grille. Besides golf, there are also facilities for swimming, tennis, hiking, and biking.

One of the appealing aspects of playing the Chestatee Golf Club is that there are other Georgia Golf Trail courses in the greater north Georgia mountains for you to play, as well. Some of those other north Georgia courses and resorts to visit include Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa, Innsbruck Resort and Golf Club, Sky Valley Country Club, Old Toccoa Farm, Amicola Falls State Park Lodge, and the Unicoi State Park Lodge.

For complete information about playing the Chestatee Golf Club and Georgia Golf Trail travel packages, please call 1-833-877-6988 or access GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com.