Jennings Mill Country Club (Private)

1500 Chambers Court, Bogart
706-548-3266; www.jenningsmillclub.com

STAFF: Larry James is the Golf Professional; Kirk McKinney is the Superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: Jennings Mill is a par 72 with five sets of tees: Black (7,004 yards); Gold (6,589); Blue (6,274); White (5,790) and Red (5,106).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 74.2/138 (Black); 72.9/135 (Gold); 71.6/131 (Blue); 68.8/125 (White); 71.4/127 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Among the state’s stronger layouts, Jennings Mill gave the top players on the Nationwide Tour a decent test last year and will again host the Athens Regional Foundation Classic this month. The addition of a few new back tees has stretched the course to a fraction over 7,000 yards, but other than a stout quartet of par 4s, length is not a serious concern for tour players. Atlanta-based golf course architect Bob Cupp, one of the most highly-regarded designers in the country, has created a diverse test of golf with an interesting mixture of holes. They include one of the state’s more intriguing short par 4s (No. 3) and a somewhat quirky par 5 that plays as the ninth hole for the members and the 18th for the tournament. The tournament 18th has a risk/reward element, but its island fairway makes it more of a three-shot hole for all but the most adventurous players.

The remaining three par 5s are all reachable in two by the Nationwide players, with the narrow, watery 16th offering the hope of an eagle with the chance of a double bogey. The par 3s are hazard free and not especially lengthy, with the tournament 17th an example of how a 153-yard hole can test your game without any serious trouble in play. The shape and contour of the putting surfaces provide a good portion of Jennings Mill’s challenge, with the greens on the small side and several featuring a healthy amount of hope. Although they are not nearly as intimidating for the Nationwide Tour pros as they are for the members, the demanding handful of par 4s are still a stiff test for the tournament participants, with four in the 470-480 range. A few of them also feature relatively narrow fairways, but for the most part, Jennings Mill is on the generous side off the tee, with a few holes requiring a greater degree of accuracy.