Forest Hills Golf Club fuses Donald Ross’s timeless parkland vision with Augusta’s historic golfing atmosphere. After a 2024 TifEagle greens overhaul, expect slick, undulating putting surfaces and a layout that packs both playability and strategic bite. This is a must for Ross devotees and anyone eager for a taste of local Masters lore.
The modern Forest Hills Golf Club is a fusion of Donald Ross’s classic parkland routing with enhancements from Arnold Palmer’s team and, most recently, a state-of-the-art greens renovation. Expect strategic doglegs, fairways bordered by mature Augusta pines, and an evolving test driven by undulating TifEagle Bermuda greens—freshly rebuilt for precision, speed, and authentic challenge. Water appears just enough to focus your mind on placement, while the holes ramble through rolling terrain with a natural grace that reflects Ross’s gift for routing. The 2024 greens upgrade solidifies Forest Hills as a course where architectural pedigree and playability reach new heights.
The course still flows around Donald Ross’s original 1926 vision for Augusta’s landscape, but Palmer and Seay’s 2000s work and 2024’s greens renewal keep it fresh for contemporary players.
A formidable par 4 that ranks among the area’s toughest, featuring a long, slightly bending fairway framed by mature trees and guarded by a greenside pond on the left. Accurate drives are a must to set up a manageable approach to the slick, rebuilt green.
Favor the right-center off the tee to avoid tree trouble; approach from below the hole whenever possible for uphill lag putting.
Miss left off the tee or approach and you'll flirt with water or awkward chip recoveries.
Smooth, firm TifEagle Bermuda greens and well-maintained fairways; rolling but not punishing terrain.
Efficient—rounds tend to flow unless busy collegiate schedules; wide tee variety speeds play for every skill.
Classic Augusta golf with local pride, a sense of accessible tradition, and echoes of Masters lore.
Work on medium to fast-paced putts and Bermudagrass reads before your round; don’t let the new TifEagle greens surprise you.
Approach shots often require precise distance control and deft touch to avoid slick slopes and multi-tiered surfaces.
Brush up on conservative course management: fairways and safe green targets frequently pay off more than aggressive heroics.
Augusta summers can be steamy—bring plenty of water and light clothes if walking the rolling terrain in warmer months.
Forest Hills Golf Club opens, designed by Donald Ross
Bobby Jones wins Southeastern Open here, sparking his Grand Slam year
Arnold Palmer Company alters course for Augusta University expansion
Full greens renovation: TifEagle Bermuda installed, reopening in November
In 1930, Bobby Jones won the Southeastern Open at Forest Hills, setting him on course for the only Grand Slam in golf history. The club honors this legacy with a historic marker, giving every player a taste of Jones’s legend.
Forest Hills isn’t just about legacy—it’s a living training ground for champions. Augusta University’s golf teams, who call the course home, have captured NCAA titles and produced tour professionals, making the course a perennial crucible for elite talent.
The 2024 greens overhaul brought 21st-century smoothness to Ross’s century-old backbone. Now, locals and traveling golf historians alike experience a layout where strategic interest and Augusta’s parkland beauty converge with modern green quality.
Originally conceived as ‘the finest winter golf in America,’ Forest Hills has morphed from a luxury resort playground to a vital hub for golfers of all backgrounds, blending accessibility with a deep sense of Southern history.
A historic marker at the clubhouse commemorates Bobby Jones’s game-changing 1930 victory.
The University’s championship teams have produced future tour pros like Patrick Reed.
Thirteen original Donald Ross holes remain in play after nearly a century.
Forest Hills shut down for nearly five months in 2024 for a state-of-the-art TifEagle greens renovation.
Region’s best public alternative—forested, modern, playable
Stellar multi-designer layout with exclusive Masters Week cachet
Pure local flavor and affordability—for an authentic community round
Another solid, tree-lined local pick near Forest Hills
Dip into historic sandhills golf just across the river
West Augusta—I-20/Washington Road corridor for best access to Forest Hills, food, and other prime Augusta-area courses
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: The Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood Course) is a natural next stop after Forest Hills Golf Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Biltmore Forest Country Club offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Forest Hills Golf Club.
Why it matches: Moraine Country Club is a natural next stop after Forest Hills Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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