Ball Ground, Georgia
Hawks Ridge is the Atlanta area’s premier high-end private course—a Bob Cupp original carved from rolling, wooded terrain. It pairs championship challenge with the kind of exclusivity and conditioning that makes every round feel like an occasion.
After your round, step into the Hogan Room for an insider’s tour of unique memorabilia from golf’s legends.
Bob Cupp’s Hawks Ridge is a master class in modern championship design—sculpted over 550 wooded acres that move with the rolling North Georgia hills. Cupp’s routing delivers bold risk/reward stretches, canted fairways, and a flow that never lets up, mixing long, heroic holes with strategic short par 4s and some of the region’s most dramatic par 5s. While the founders aimed for an ‘Augusta for the 21st century,’ the end result is uniquely its own: brawny, exclusive, meticulously groomed, and pulsing with tournament energy.
Cupp’s subtle but strategic bunkering, paired with bold use of the existing hills, makes every round a different challenge for players of all levels.
A long uphill par 4 that demands a perfectly placed drive and a muscular approach into a well-protected green. The tall trees and shaping frame the fairway, making precision and nerve a must from start to finish.
Hug the inside of the dogleg to shorten the approach, but avoid flirting with bunkers that pinch both landing and layup zones.
Miss right off the tee and you'll find deep sand; miss left and you stare at a hilltop punch-out.
Immaculate fairways and fast, true greens maintained to private-club standards.
Expect attentive on-course service and a brisk member pace, but no guarantee of lightning rounds.
Ultra-exclusive and serious—every round feels like a major-qualifying day.
Traditional private-club attire required; collared shirts and slacks expected.
Several par 3s and tough par 4s require confident, precise long shots.
The greens demand touch and imagination—practice chipping to varied pin positions.
Expect hilly terrain and long green-to-tee walks, so prep your legs and footwear.
Varying elevation means wind will swirl and impact club selection on key holes.
Mike Nixon and Joe Jillson secure hillside site for club
Bob Cupp hired after national architect search
Hawks Ridge Golf Club officially opens for member play
Debuts in Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest list (No. 81)
First U.S. Open final qualifying hosted
Escalante Golf acquires club; Tripp Davis begins master planning
Childhood friends Mike Nixon and Joe Jillson set out to find the perfect land to realize their dream of a truly world-class, private club. After searching far and wide, they discovered the rolling wooded hills north of Atlanta—and their vision became Hawks Ridge.
The founders sought nothing less than an 'Augusta National for the 21st century,' enlisting Bob Cupp to craft a course that would demand both power and precision. From the dramatic opener to a big-stage finish, the Augusta inspiration runs deep at Hawks Ridge.
Hawks Ridge’s high shot values have made it a prized U.S. Open final qualifying site, grinding the nerves of major hopefuls since 2007. For pros and top amateurs, these 18 holes are the ultimate litmus test north of Atlanta.
Hawks Ridge was created after its founders searched nationwide for the perfect piece of land.
The course opened with a mission to capture Augusta National’s modern equivalent for a new era.
Its par-5 7th plays a monstrous 614 yards from the back tees—one of Georgia's longest.
Repeatedly chosen as a U.S. Open final qualifying course, esteemed by pros and top amateurs alike.
550 acres of rolling Georgia hills make it among the state’s largest single-site clubs.
A Nicklaus-designed composite of his most famous holes—public-access and perfect for variety seekers.
Waterside resort golf with strong strategic holes and pleasant scenery near Lake Lanier.
Playable, affordable, and well-kept Tom Fazio design convenient to northern suburbs.
Resort-style course with fun shot values, great for a group stay-and-play.
Elite modern private club—one of Atlanta’s best, if you can arrange access.
Alpharetta or Cumming for best access to top public and private courses in North Georgia.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Hawktree Golf Club asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Hawks Ridge Golf Club.
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Peninsula Golf & Country Club's own setting.
Why it matches: Sunriver Resort Crosswater Course is a natural next stop after Hawks Ridge Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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Oregon's riverside championship test in high-desert scenery
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