Providence Golf Club (Semi-Private)

656 Providence Club Drive, Monroe; 770-207-4332

STAFF: Dave Ayers is the PGA Head Professional; Ande McKenzie is the Superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: Providence is a par 72 with four sets of tees – Gold (6,576 yards); Blue (6,159); White (5,727) and Red (5,048).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 70.7/128 (Gold); 68.9/122 (Blue); 66.5/117 (White); 68.1/115 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Originally part of the new-defunct Eagle Greens family of courses, Providence GC has had new ownership for the past two years, and has maintained its status as one of the most enjoyable courses on metro Atlanta’s east side. The course is located about five miles off 316 between Monroe and Winder, and is easily accessible for golfers in the Gwinnett-to-Athens corridor. As evidenced by the absence of serious length and the modest Course Rating/Slope numbers, Providence Club is not an overly demanding layout, but is by no means a pushover, with sufficient challenge to keep lower handicappers from going too low. The greens, which have a decent amount of undulation, provide much of the challenge, with some trees that were left in spots where they can wield considerable influence also a vital factor. Providence is reasonably open in nature, and with all but a handful of holes in the short-to-medium range, the possibility is there to post a score that will bring a smile to your face. First, however, you have to get through a strong opening quartet of holes, beginning with a short par 5 that includes a hazard down the right side that is not easily discernible. The hole is followed by two of the longest par 4s on the course, with a slightly quirky par 3 in between. The par-3 third includes two trees just in front of the tees that can greatly impact how you play the hole, which has a wide, shallow green fronted by a pond, with some pin positions that can be hard to find because of the trees and their relation to the tee boxes. Water down the left side of the 4^th invites you to cut off as much of it as you dare and is also in play on the second shot, making it a very tough hole if you don’t hit it solidly off the tee. Things ease up a bit after that tee to green, although the rolling putting surfaces continue to present plenty of challenge. The downhill, water-guarded par-3 7^th is one the area’s most scenic holes, with the short, uphill, par-5 9^th a potential birdie hole if you handle the wild putting surface. The back nine features several short, vulnerable par 4s, but a strong par-4, par-5 finish will make you earn a potentially excellent score.