Daniel B.
Yelp
Candler Park Golf Course provides perhaps the best value for a round of golf in the City of Atlanta: $11 for 9 holes for city residents, $13 for non-residents. And that's on the weekends. Weekdays are even cheaper. ID is required for proof of residency. The course opened in 1928 and is currently owned and operated by the city. American Golf used to manage it.
This is a 9-hole executive course, par 31, with four par 4s and five par 3s. From the tips, the course measures 1,981 yards. It's fun for golfers of all skill levels.
The course is as basic and bare bones as they come. It's walking only, no golf carts. You can rent pull/push carts for $3. I recommend them. They are great for my bad back. Tee times are not accepted. You just walk up and play. There are no ball washers on the course. The clubhouse provides minimal food and drink such as bottled water, sports drinks, candy bars, and crackers.
There is no driving range, but there is a practice putting green. The greens are surprisingly good for the money you pay. Actually, they're in great shape and a lot better than several public courses in metro Atlanta. Smooth, fast, and not patchy nor sandy (at least the times I've played them). The tee boxes could use some work. It's hard to find a patch of grass on some of them and they can be bumpy and uneven.
The fairways are in decent shape as are the bunkers. Only two holes have bunkers, the 1st and 9th. Water doesn't come into play unless you hit crazy hooks, slices, or shanks (there's a small pond surrounded by Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7)
Here's a quick hole-by-hole breakdown with yardages listed from the blue tees:
* No. 1 (288 yards, par 4) - Drive down to the fairway and play up to an elevated green.
* No. 2 (180 yards, par 3) - Err your drive to the left because hitting right means your ball will wind up in the woods or worse, the non-golf-course part of the park.
* No. 3 (150 yards, par 3) - Downhill par 3. Err to the left. Otherwise, you'll be on 4 tee.
* No. 4 (140 yards, par 3) - Straightforward hole. Beware of snakes in pond to the left.
* No. 5 (165 yards, par 3) - Another straightforward par 3. If you slice right, you might hit a car or house in the Candler Park neighborhood.
* No. 6 (345 yards, par 4) - Tee off next to the pond and over a "creek." Fairway opens up. This is a scenic hole.
* No. 7 (318 yards, par 4) - Uphill blind tee shot. Err to the right. Better to hit off No. 8 than hit or lose your ball off in the woods to the left.
* No. 8 (210 yards, par 4) - Very short par 4, which makes it fun to score on. Be aware, your second shot is downhill.
* No. 9 (185 yards, par 3) - Long uphill par 3. This is probably my least favorite hole on the course.
J.W., one of the clubhouse attendants, is super friendly.
The parking lot is small and can only fit eight cars. Just park on the street out front and be sure to hide/remove all valuables. You're in the City of Atlanta after all and I've seen a golfer's car after it's been broken into (though I hear it's not the norm in this neighborhood).
In summary, Candler Park Golf Course is fun to play if you're looking for a quick, casual, laid back round. Just remember, this is a simple 9-hole executive course, not a 7,000-yard, 18-hole, par-72 course.