Savannah Golf Club delivers historic charm and strategic challenge on an authentically restored Donald Ross routing. While not a bucket-list national heavy-hitter, it’s a must-play for any golf architecture devotee passing through coastal Georgia.
Check out the preserved Confederate fortifications between the 8th and 9th holes—where centuries of history meet pure golf.
Savannah Golf Club’s design is a living showcase of Donald Ross’s strategic brilliance, elegantly rejuvenated by Gil Hanse’s devotion to historic authenticity. The routing maximizes a compact urban property, delivering variety via direction changes and a captivating mix of short and long holes. Premium turf, rebuilt greens brimming with movement, and recaptured Ross bunkering keep each round original and demanding—never penal, always cerebral. This is classic Southeastern parkland golf filtered through a lens of architectural preservation, with tangible layers of Georgia golf pedigree underfoot.
Gil Hanse’s 2018 restoration went beyond surface details, meticulously reviving Ross’s original strategic intent and classic putting surfaces.
This 491-yard par 5 tests nerves with a bold landing area and demands calculated layups if you’re out of position off the tee. It’s the first real scoring opportunity, but miss your angles and a simple birdie chance can turn into a wrestling match with the green complexes.
Choose accuracy over aggression off the tee; a well-placed second sets up a manageable wedge—force it and you’ll fight tricky rough or awkward pitches.
Greenside bunkers and subtle runoffs penalize the greedy or imprecise approach.
Expect lush fairways and consistent, fast greens thanks to a recent Hanse-led restoration; Ross contours are back in play and the turf stays healthy year-round.
Typical private-club pace—steady and unhurried, with welcomed breathing room on most days.
Traditional and understated Southern golf—historic, refined, and deeply connected to Savannah’s old-soul character.
Classic private club standards—collared shirts, proper golf attire at all times.
Ross’s restored greens demand confident chipping, pitching, and varied approach shots to save par.
Course management is everything—arrive ready to plan your way around all those strategic short par 4s and angled tee shots.
Stay out of the gnarlier rough lines—recovery shots get dicey fast on tight, old-style parkland holes.
Earliest documented golf club activity in Savannah; among the oldest club histories in America.
Formal establishment of The Savannah Golf Club and present site.
Donald Ross remodels and reimagines the course.
Hosts the Georgia Amateur, reinforcing its standing in state golf.
Major course improvements: greens, tees, and bunkers rebuilt; strategic tweaks implemented.
Gil Hanse leads a comprehensive restoration back to Ross era roots.
Savannah’s golfing roots go back to 1794, making this one of the few sites in the U.S. where fairways and history have been intertwined for centuries. The club’s early records are a fascinating window into American golf’s birth.
The modern restoration, led by Gil Hanse, didn’t just facelift the course—it revived lost green shapes and fairway lines to recapture the classic Ross DNA. Today’s layout is an intentional blend of vintage and modern playability.
From 1917 to 1994, Savannah Golf Club repeatedly welcomed Georgia’s best amateurs. Those events cemented its status as the proving ground for generations of state golf champions.
Parts of the property still bear earthworks and defenses from Civil War times, giving some stretches a ghostly historical gravity that’s unique among American clubs.
Recognized as one of the oldest documented golf clubs in America.
Features Civil War-era Confederate fortifications on the grounds.
Gil Hanse’s restoration revived several lost Donald Ross green features.
The club’s original roots date to decades before most U.S. golf even existed.
The course once survived land seizures that forced a mid-century redesign.
Host of PGA Tour events and open for public play—a must for visitors booking a coastal golf trip.
Accessible, well-maintained, and just minutes from the airport—ideal for a warm-up or bonus round.
Top-tier private club on Skidaway Island—possible via reciprocal play or member guest.
Classic design near the coast; check guest policies for access.
Historic downtown Savannah for dining, nightlife, and easy access to the area’s best golf.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Blind Brook Club's own setting.
Why it matches: Hollywood Golf Club is a natural next stop after The Savannah Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Elmwood Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to The Savannah Golf Club.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?