The Ross Trade
Legend has it, founding members traded land parcels and convinced Donald Ross to design their 9-holer in rural Georgia. This piece of lore lives on in the clubhouse and local storytelling.
The verdict
Genuine Small-Town Ross Classic
Washington Wilkes Country Club radiates Golden Age pedigree on a walking-friendly nine designed by Donald Ross himself. It’s a living slice of golf history for the Ross devotee, with friendly access for members, guests, or RV-park travelers. Don’t expect Augusta-style polish—here, the allure is heritage, tradition, and a relaxed, unhurried pace.
Course DNA
Difficulty
61
Scenery62
Conditioning58
Shot Variety68
Walkability86
Green Complexity72
Wow Factor74
Design Quality71
Don't miss
If in town for the Centennial Hickory Challenge, play a round with hickory-shafted clubs to experience the Ross design as it was meant to be enjoyed.
At a glance
Quick facts
Number of Holes
9 (play twice for 18)
Original Club Name
Oak Hill / Washington Golf Club
Annual Tradition
Amos Martin Invitational since 1952
Anniversary Event
Centennial Hickory Challenge (2025)
Typical Green Fee
$25–$30 for guests (cart included)
Hosting Access
RV-park and guest play available
Designer’s Year
Donald Ross, 1929
The design
The architecture
Donald Ross’s 1929 routing weaves across a gentle, old-Georgia property, folding natural slopes and smart green sites into a nine that plays far more substantial than its modest yardage suggests. The Ross DNA is present: subtly angled greens, risk-reward par 5s, and par 3s that punish indifference—not brute force. Each walk offers a bite of early-20th-century design thinking, with enough nuance in the ground to delight architecture fans and casuals alike.
Donald Ross’s legacy here is understated brilliance: subtle greens, walkable lines, and a pure club golf feel.
Defining features
- Natural, compact routing with no forced carries
- Classic Ross green contouring and placements
- Mix of reachable par 5s and stout par 4s
- Gentle elevation shifts, easily walkable
- Minimalist, time-capsule presentation
- Short par 3s that can turn tense in the wind
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 6
Ross’s Testing Turn
PAR
4
YARDAGE
402
A stout, right-in-your-face par 4 demands both length and accuracy, setting up a nerve-testing second to a classic, angled Ross green. The stretch from six on is the course’s most demanding; grit and smart club choices are vital.
Play it smart
Find the fairway off the tee, then play the approach with full awareness of pin location and subtle contours.
Where it bites
Stray left or long and face a brutal up-and-down from tricky surrounds.
Course management
Shots to think about
Tee shot on 1
Favor position—keep it simple and avoid early nerves with a smooth swing.
Approach into 3
Play to the best angle available—Ross greens reward planning, not force.
Second shot on 4
Don't get greedy—lay up if the angle or position isn’t perfect.
Chipping around 6
Keep chips below the hole; Ross contours mean it can get speedy above the pin.
Going for green in two on 8
Know your number—commit only if you love the carry and can miss safely.
Playing the 9th into wind
Club up and play for center green to avoid short-side trouble.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Simple, well-kept, and natural—a neat but not manicured walk through history.
Pace
Unhurried, rarely crowded, with nine holes often free for looping twice.
Vibe
Classic small-town Georgia hospitality—friendly, slow-paced, old-school.
Dress code
Traditional club attire expected—collared shirts, no denim or cutoffs.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Route Your Day
Plan for an easy walk—bring comfortable shoes for a double loop if you want a full 18.
02
Respect the Pace
The course typically plays fast, so a relaxed group can enjoy an under-two-hour nine.
03
Check Guest Access
If not a member, contact the club or RV park in advance—space is seldom an issue, but good form is appreciated.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1925
Founders organize Washington Golf Club/Oak Hill
- 1929
Donald Ross-designed 9-hole course opens
- 1952
First Amos Martin Invitational played
- 2025
Centennial Hickory Challenge celebrated for 100th anniversary
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Hickory Golf Revival
Every decade, Washington Wilkes hosts a Hickory Challenge where members and guests swing wood-shafted clubs in celebration of classic golf. It’s a full-swing throwback and pure fun for purists.
Fireworks and Fairways
Since the early 1950s, the Amos Martin Invitational has filled holiday weekends with regional competition, marking Washington’s Fourth of July with golf, camaraderie, and a community touch.
A Nine Where Time Pauses
On a slow summer evening, the course is nearly empty apart from chirping grasshoppers, light breeze, and the sound of old-school golf. The closing stretch has a distinctive sense of place—quiet, unhurried, and deeply Southern.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Course lore claims founding members bartered land to secure Donald Ross's design.
2
The club’s annual Hickory Challenge celebrates golf as it was played in the early 20th century.
3
The Amos Martin Invitational traces its roots to July 4th festivities dating back over seventy years.
4
A nine-holer since the 1920s, it predates many better-known Georgia courses.
5
RV park guests can tee it up on this Golden Age layout with member company.
Build the trip
For the Ross devotee, base near Augusta or Lake Oconee
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Harbor Club at Lake Oconee
Public
Lakefront scenery and forgiving fairways.
Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee
Resort
Stunning Jack Nicklaus design on the water.
Oconee Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee
Resort
Resort-class architecture and amenities.
University of Georgia Golf Course
Public
Collegiate challenge, easy access for non-members.
Bartram Trail Golf Club
Public
Solid layout and value in the Augusta region.
Augusta/Evans for high-end amenities or Washington/Thomson for the true small-town golf immersion.
Course DNA
If You Like Washington Wilkes Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match6.0
Avon Fields Golf Course
Cincinnati, OhioWalkability
Why it matches: What links these two? Moves through the round with the same walkable flow — a familiar feeling, expressed in Avon Fields Golf Course's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.4
Hyde Park Golf Club
Jacksonville, FloridaWalkability
Why it matches: If Washington Wilkes Country Club is your kind of course, Hyde Park Golf Club is worth a look because it moves through the round with the same walkable flow.
Strong DNA Match6.8
Bacon Park Golf Course
Savannah, GeorgiaWalkability
Why it matches: If Washington Wilkes Country Club is your kind of course, Bacon Park Golf Course is worth a look because it moves through the round with the same walkable flow.
Community Sentiment
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