Golf in Athens

Designed by Dallas native and 10-time PGA Tour tournament winner Don January, Pinnacle Golf & Boat Club’s 18-hole course winds through the shadows of old oak trees and on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake. Narrow fairways tunnel through dense tree lines, penalizing golfers who lack control off of the tee and familiarity with horticultural vernacular. Cool breezes foretell the presence of multiple water hazards, which further challenge shot-making decisions on 10 holes. After rounds, the Clubhouse restaurant—which is open to members and golfers only—awaits from its perch overlooking the lake to vanquish appetites roused after sampling flavorful fringe on the 18th green.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,349 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 132 from the farthest tees:m]]

Supreme Golf makes maintaining an oft-pricey golf addiction a bit easier on the wallet by granting golfers discounts at golf courses and golf schools, as well as cutting the price of books, golf clubs, and nutritional supplements. Golfers can enjoy relaxing, discounted rounds at area courses in cities across the country including such area courses as Bear Creek Golf Club in Dallas, Gateway National Golf Links in St. Louis and St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in Atlanta, soaking in the sights and badgering local pros for analysis of the annual caddie draft.

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Experienced golfing professionals and computers who’ve sworn allegiance to argyle socks fill each of GolfTEC's locations with more expert swings than a playground at recess. Motion sensors and high-speed cameras monitor your swing and break down your form on a high-definition video display. GolfTEC’s PGA specialists point out your flaws and strengths, and coach you on how to permanently improve your game from tee to green. Sensors chirp with approval when you’ve executed a perfect stroke or cracked an especially witty golfing joke.

Commended for its preservation of the natural Texas landscape, Twin Creeks Golf Club features an 18-hole course that seamlessly integrates native trees and two flowing creeks into a pristine, 6,840-yard layout. All of the picturesque par 72’s difficulties are brought to bear on the par 4 13th hole, where a strong headwind may nudge rightward drives into a rippling creek and an immense green makes any two-putt a tricky proposition. Golf carts glide across the immaculate meadows, occasionally spinning their wheels and wailing their reverse alert in distress as passengers approach the hidden lake of the 17th hole, called the “Devil’s Elbow.” Golfers can calibrate their swings at the course's practice center, which includes a driving range, bunker, chipping area, and putting green, an ideal spot to covertly test any remote-controlled balls. After a day spent making sand angels in every bunker, guests can recess to the rustic confines of the Elkhorn Bar & Grill, where Southwestern fare sates diners resting at patio tables or under the 50-inch flat-screen TV located indoors.

Course architect Tripp Davis drew inspiration from both classic Scottish links and California’s famous Monterey Peninsula courses when crafting Stewart Peninsula Golf Course, an 18-hole layout touched on all sides by the waters of Lake Lewisville. Much like the conditions found at Stewart Peninsula’s high-profile muses, ever-shifting winds play a large factor in course play, challenging golfers who struggle to keep balls low or prefer to steer their carts with massive sails. The course also features two terraced par 5s—holes 9 and 18—that recall seaside holes at Harbour Town and Pebble Beach and end both 9s in dramatic fashion. Before taking to the first tee, clubbers can head to the driving range, where warm-up sessions will help prevent them from losing their balls in the abyss of Lake Lewisville or the neighboring ruptures in the fabric of space time.