TPC Sugarloaf

Golf: top notch, tournament class golf course. Designed by Greg Norman, If it’s good enough for tiger woods and phill Michelson to play (and ahem, win on) it is hallowed ground for a regular guy like me! This is a true Georgia /​Atlanta treat. While not «agusta» it actually has better climate than agusta which can be oppressively hot and steamy in summer. Highly recommend it. There are 3 9’s so you can mix it up. Most everyone likes to play the «stables /​meadows» championship course, bit the «pines» 9 is a delight as well.
Food: The clubhouse is wonderful, beautiful setting. The staff is responsive, friendly, attentive and professional.
The food is second to none. Not «institutional» like you might expect but top notch, made to order and fresh. Rates up there with top notch restaurants.
You have a «range» of offerings too as the Golfers Grill has the expected burgers appetizers and salads, yet the dining room has fine dining, with unique special dishes, steaks and seafood.
Plus if it’s not on the menu ask anyway. They are flexible and creative.
Nice wine list by the glass or bottle, and great top shelf liquors including single malts and tequilas and other selections.
You will not be disappointed!

After attending the Cadillac Innovation Golf Clinic with Matt Kuchar and David Leadbetter at TPC Sugarloaf, I was invited to come back and play a round at this exquisite course. I’ve always been a fan of TPC Sugarloaf since attending during the days of the AT&T Classic (formerly BellSouth Classic). It’s probably the nicest course in Georgia I’ve had the opportunity of playing.
TPC Sugarloaf was designed by Greg Norman and consists of three nines, each par 36. They are: Stables, Meadows, and Pines. Stables and Meadows were constructed first (1997) and Pines came afterwards (2000). The PGA tournament played the original Stables-​Meadows configuration. When our starter, Mike, told us we’d be playing Stables-​Meadows, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to play No. 18, where I’d seen so much drama unfold over the years.
Needless to say, the course is challenging. There are all sorts of narrow passages cutting through tall pines. It puts a premium on accurate driving. The greens are some of the smallest I’ve played in the state. They are bigger than the postage stamp greens at Harbour Town. The rough is thick, but not as thick as the rough at Doral (which I think is too thick). The course is hilly and there are a lot of undulations in both the fairways and greens.
The look and feel of the course actually resembles Augusta. There’s a creek that winds through several of the holes a la Rae’s Creek. There wasn’t a whole lot of water in play until we reached the back nine (Meadows) where Rollins Ranch Lake is located. No 11 (No. 2 Meadows) is a 189-​yard par 3 over water. It’s one of the most picturesque holes on the course and one you’ll probably slow your car down to see as you make your way to the clubhouse.
TPC Sugarloaf has a ton of bunkers and many of them are deep. No. 10 (No. 1 Meadows) is littered with pot bunkers. No 13 (No. 4 Meadows) has an absolutely enormous bunker guarding the left side of the green — the tallest edge upwards of 10 feet! It’s like St. Andrews. No. 18 is a difficult par 5, ending at the clubhouse with an approach shot over water. From the tee box at 18, you can see Stone Mountain.
The course was in magnificent condition. There were a few weeds and rough patches here and there, but no course is perfect except for Augusta or a course getting prepped for a PGA Tour event. The clubhouse is grandiose and the amenities in the men’s locker room are top notch. Customer service was excellent: gate security, bag boy, golf shop, locker room attendant, starter, and beverage cart girl. My only gripe is that play got a little slow at the end. After the 4^th hole, we never saw the ranger again.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my golf experience at TPC Sugarloaf. It was memorable and I hope to play here again.

Not being a golfer, I really only use the restaurants and the meeting rooms.
However the food here is excellent and I can always confidently bring friends a business associates here.
I haven’t had a bad meal here. From burgers and sandwiches to much more elaborate entrees, I’ve not been disappointed.
The crab dip appetizer is a must-​have!

Thanks to my good friend, Louise G, I had the opportunity to play TPC Sugarloaf. This is the course where the PGA Tour’s Bell South Classic was held. It is a private club but Louise was able to get a tee time as she was a volunteer during the tournament. Luckily she invited me along! Everything about the place was 5-​star, top of line in both service and condition. From the huge, beautiful clubhouse to the driving range and putting greens. Where is that winning lottery ticket so I can become a member?
There are actually 27 holes here (three nines) and we played the same 18 as they did in the Bell South. Granted I played from the white tees at a little over 6,300 yards as opposed to the tournament tees of 7,300 yards. But then again, no one will ever mistake me for a professional golfer. The slope rating from the whites is 138 which tells you it is considered very difficult, but while it is difficult, I thought it was a very fair course. I would love to play it again as I would make some different decisions on certain holes. Sometimes playing for bogey is not a bad idea.
The Greg Norman designed course itself is a fun mix of holes. I had only played one other Norman course and didn’t really care for it so I was very glad that this is totally different than the one I had played. The greens are well guarded by bunkers or water and many are elevated so no bumping it up.
If you ever get the chance to play Sugarloaf do not turn it down.