The Frog Golf Club Review

There are many public-access golf courses in the U.S. that have creative names such as Osprey Point (Florida), Threetops at Treetops (Michigan), The Schoolmaster (Alabama), and Covered Bridge (Indiana), but one Georgia golf course is actually named after an amphibian. It's called The Frog. Located in Villa Rica, Georgia, just off I-20, The Frog (golfthefrog.com; 770-459-4400) is less than a 45-minute drive from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The Frog is relatively young opening in 1998 and designed by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Fazio.

This golf course is relatively young as it opened in 1998. It was designed by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Fazio. While The Frog - a par-72 layout -- is a young course, it doesn't have the look of a young golf course and it may well be one of Fazio's most attractive creations. Frankly, brilliant is an accurate way to describe Fazio's work at The Frog. Surrounded by thousands of mature, loblolly pine trees, this parkland-style golf course reminds visitors of what it must be like to visit another well-known Georgia golf course which is dominated by loblolly pines - Augusta National Golf Club. That's a strong and accurate comparison. The Frog is an 18-hole championship public-access golf course which deserves that 'championship' label as it has hosted many notable golf events such as the Georgia Open, CEO Jaguar Tour, and the John Smoltz Celebrity Players Tournament.

At The Frog, walking is allowed and encouraged, as the distances from greens to tees are minimal.

Not surprisingly, The Frog is one of the 20+ golf courses on the Georgia Golf Trail.

"The Frog is a great example of the first-class golf courses that we have on the Georgia Golf Trail," said Doug Hollandsworth, Founder, The Georgia Golf Trail. "The Frog is a wonderful destination, which will bring you back time and time again."
The Frog offers five sets of tees...the Green tees are 5,336 yards and the Black tees measure 7,018 yards.

The Frog's opening nine holes are played in the rolling hills. On the back nine, you transition to a nearby valley. In many respects, The Frog has the 'hills-and-valley' layout characteristics of two other terrific southeastern U.S. layouts -- the Maggie Valley Club & Resort in Maggie Valley, North Carolina and the Country Club of Salisbury in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Today, The Frog features bent grass greens, expansive bunkering, and a handful of strategically placed lakes, ponds, and creeks that add to the intrigue of playing The Frog. The Frog is fun, fair, and, at times, stern, but not overtaxing.

At The Frog, there are five sets of tees - Green, White, Blue, Gold, and Black. The Green tees are 5,336 yards and the Black tees measure 7,018 yards. While the course has many tees, general manager/director of golf Buster Inman encourages golfers to play The Frog with a creative mindset.

"I think it's a great idea to play this golf course from a variety of tees," admitted Inman. "For me, I play 15 of the holes from the Gold tees and three holes from the Blue tees -- 10, 12, and 17. That's the Buster 18. Here, you can create your own golf course."

It's also worth noting that The Frog has attained status as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. In fact, expect to see wild turkeys and deer grazing in the rough, especially late in the day. It's so peaceful and quiet at The Frog that you hear crickets chirping, squirrels scampering, and bugs buzzing. The sounds of rustling leaves are also ever-present, especially in the fall.

After visiting The Frog, it's easy to see that Inman's staff is working diligently to keep this well-manicured course in tip-top shape throughout the year.
The Frog has attained status as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Above is the clubhouse for The Frog.

"When you have 100 acres of grass to cut on a regular basis, sometimes daily, plus bunkers and ponds to monitor, it takes a team effort to keep a golf course in great condition," added Inman. "This effort starts with a dedicated superintendent. Matt Findley takes on this enormous task and does a great job. It's not just about using the correct herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers, it's about building a team that takes pride in its work. From the mechanic that keeps us going every day to the course setup individual to all the others who cut grass and rake traps, we all have to work together to maintain our golf course in great condition."

At The Frog, you rarely see airplanes overhead and there are no roads in the area where you can hear passing cars. If this course was ever renamed, an appropriate title might be Serenity.

As for the origin of this course's name, Inman says that when the course owners first surveyed the property from the air, it looked like the shape of a frog. As you would expect, a metal frog statue appears near the first tee -- a great photo opportunity for all visiting golfers.

Suffice it to say leaving The Frog will never be easy, but it will be a joy making a return trip. Ribbit!

For complete details on travel packages to The Frog and other destinations on the Georgia Golf Trail, please call 1-833-877-6988 or go online to GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com.