Fox Creek Golf Club (Public)

1501 Windy Hill Road, Smyrna
770-435-1000; legacyfoxcreek.com

STAFF: Dan Rozek is the General Manager; Kurt Russell is the Superintendent

PAR/YARDAGE: Fox Creek is an executive course, playing to a par of 61 with three sets of tees: Blue (3,903 yards); White (3,491 yards); and Red (3,028). Two of the holes are in the process of changing yardages.

ABOUT THE COURSE: Fox Creek is one of two side-by-side executive courses operated by Legacy Golf Management. Fox Creek is Atlanta’s first executive course, opening in the late 1980s. The course, designed by John LaFoy, who also was the architect for Stone Mountain’s Lakemont 18, has recently renovated its greens, replacing the original surfaces with Champion Bermuda. During the process, some 10,000 square feet of greens have been reclaimed after years of encroachment by surrounding fringes. The changes in size on some of the greens are quite noticeable, but the putting surfaces at Fox Creek remain small by modern standards, in contrast to the considerably larger greens next door at the Legacy. Fox Creek’s layout is also undergoing a change, as the lengthy, par-3 fourth hole is being shortened, while the par-4 sixth is adding yardage by taking over what used to be the back tee on No. 4. Management hopes to add enough yardage to make the sixth play as a par 5, and if it does, it will be one of the most reachable par 5s in existence. That would return Fox Creek to its original par of 62, as the 15th hole was converted to a par 3 a number of years ago to prevent sliced tee shots from hitting cars on Windy Hill Road.

The seven remaining par 4s include three holes that are drivable by longer hitters, and three others that are short but legitimate two-shotters, with the new sixth a potentially strong par 4 if it its par remains the same. Most of the par 4s are relatively narrow and several include modest elevation changes, with the undersized putting surfaces requiring precision on the approach shots, even with a short iron. The par 3s are a nice mix, maxing out at around 175 yards with the shortening of the fourth hole. Water is in play on just a handful of holes and the bunkering is modest, with Fox Creek especially friendly to women, juniors and novice golfers. But it still provides an enjoyable experience for more skilled players looking for an affordable round of golf that doesn’t eat up all of the morning or most of the afternoon.