The five best golf courses near Augusta, GA are Forest Hills Golf Club, The River Golf Club, Aiken Golf Club, Bartram Trail Golf Club, and Mount Vintage Golf Club — all within 30 miles of the city and open to the public or semi-private visitors.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what makes each course worth your time, what you'll pay, and which one suits your game best.
Forest Hills Golf Club — The Area's Top Public Course
If there's one course that every serious golfer should play near Augusta, it's Forest Hills.
Every major golf authority — Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, GolfPass, and the PGA of America — ranks it the top public course in the area, and Augusta Magazine has voted it “Best Public Golf Course” multiple times. That kind of consensus doesn't happen by accident.
The history here runs deep. Donald Ross designed the course in 1926, and Bobby Jones won the 1930 Southeastern Open on these very fairways — the victory that kicked off his legendary Grand Slam season.
Today it serves as Augusta University's home course, where the men's golf team won back-to-back NCAA Division I championships in 2010 and 2011. Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III both competed in college events here.
Thirteen of Ross's original holes are still intact, restored during a 2004 renovation by the Arnold Palmer Company after an earlier redesign had altered the layout.
What you get is a genuine Ross experience — bowl-shaped greens, rolling terrain, wide fairways framed by Georgia pines, and a course that rewards smart shot-shaping over raw distance.
Water only comes into play on two holes, both par 3s on the back nine, which keeps the round strategic without feeling punishing.
The numbers:
- Par 72 | Up to 7,140 yards | Five tee sets
- Course rating 74.3 / Slope 137 (back tees)
- Green fees: $45–$85 outside Masters week; ~$200 during Masters week
For a Donald Ross design with this much history, that price range is hard to beat anywhere in the country.
📍 1500 Comfort Road, Augusta, GA 30909 | (706) 733-0001 | theforesthillsgolfcourse.com
The River Golf Club — Premium Experience on the Savannah
When Golf Digest named The River Golf Club a top-5 new course in the country upon its 1998 opening, it set expectations high. More than two decades later, the course still delivers.
Sitting along the banks of the Savannah River in North Augusta, SC — directly across from downtown Augusta — it's one of the most visually striking layouts you'll find in the region.
What makes the setting even more interesting is what came before it.
Jim Fazio built the course on a former abandoned railroad yard, and remnants of old tracks and trestles are still visible throughout the round, adding a layer of character you won't find anywhere else.
The course has since hosted a U.S. Open qualifier and several mini-tour events, which speaks to the quality of the design and conditioning.
This is the most demanding course on this list. Water comes into play on 14 of 18 holes, so shot management matters on nearly every tee box.
Mini-Verde Ultradwarf Bermuda greens are kept in excellent shape and roll true, rewarding players who find the right sections of the fairway.
The course rating of 72.2 with a slope of 130 reflects a layout that's challenging without being unfair.
Pricing and access:
- Standard green fees: ~$100
- Masters week packages: $175–$275 (includes cart, breakfast, lunch, range balls, and yardage book)
- Multiple membership tiers available — Junior, Senior, Individual, Family, Out-of-Town, and National — all with unlimited green fees and no minimums
The Masters week package in particular is worth calling out. For the price, you're getting a full country-club-caliber day that's hard to replicate elsewhere at that rate.
📍 307 Riverside Blvd, North Augusta, SC 29841 | (803) 202-0110 | rivergolfclub.com
Aiken Golf Club — A Hidden Gem with Deep History
Golf Magazine once called Aiken Golf Club “the most charming course in the United States,” and that description has stuck for good reason.
Golfweek ranks it among the top 12 playable courses in South Carolina, GolfPass users rate it a near-perfect 4.96 out of 5.0, and the Golf Channel's Morning Drive named it a top course to play during Masters week.
For a semi-private club charging $30–$55 a round, that's a remarkable reputation.
The history starts in 1912, when the course opened as Highland Park Golf Club — one of the oldest layouts in the Southeast.
John Inglis, a professional who had worked closely alongside Donald Ross, expanded it to 18 holes in 1915.
The design shows that influence clearly: small, elevated greens that demand precision, sandy waste bunkers that trace the lines of old Southern Railway tracks, and 120 feet of elevation change packed into just 38 acres of maintained turf.
At under 5,800 yards from the tips, this course doesn't ask for length — it asks for creativity.
A major renovation between 1996 and 2000 brought the course back to its natural character.
Owner Jim McNair Jr., encouraged by Bill Coore of Coore & Crenshaw fame, removed nearly 10,000 trees, installed new irrigation, and reworked every green.
The result is a more open, windswept layout that plays much closer to its original vision.
A few other details worth knowing:
- Aiken was the first course in America to install forward tees for women, introduced at the suggestion of May Dunn, the country's first female golf professional
- Notable past players include Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Julius Boros, and Fred Astaire
- Golfweek ranks it the highest-rated non-coastal course in South Carolina
The numbers:
- Green fees: $30–$55 outside Masters week; $175 during Masters week
- Par 70 | 4,700–5,775 yards | Four tee sets
- Course rating 69.0 / Slope 125 (Tournament tees)
Few courses anywhere in the country offer this combination of age, design pedigree, and walkable charm at this price.
📍 555 Highland Park Drive, Aiken, SC 29801 | (803) 649-6029 | aikengolfclub.net
Bartram Trail and Mount Vintage — Two More Worth Your Time
Bartram Trail Golf Club — Evans, GA
Bartram Trail is the only public golf course in Columbia County, and Rick Robbins made the most of the land when he designed it in 2005.
The layout is unconventional by design — five par 3s, five par 5s, and eight par 4s — which creates a variety of holes that keeps the round consistently interesting from start to finish.
Golf Digest gave it a 4-star rating, and GolfAdvisor ranked it among the top 20 courses in Georgia in both 2017 and 2018.
The course threads through mature hardwood and pine forests along Euchee Creek, with natural wetlands, rolling terrain, and forced carries on nine holes.
It's the kind of layout where the environment does a lot of the design work. The course earned certification as an Audubon International Wildlife Sanctuary, which reflects how naturally it fits into the surrounding landscape.
Mini-Verde Ultra Dwarf Bermuda greens deliver fast, consistent putting surfaces throughout.
The numbers:
- Green fees: $65–$80 (includes cart) | 9-hole rates: $36–$45
- Par 72 | 6,706 yards | Course rating 71.7 / Slope 137
- Military, senior, and junior discounts available
📍 470 Bartram Trail Club Drive, Evans, GA 30809 | (706) 210-4681 | bartramtrailgolfclub.org
Mount Vintage Golf Club — North Augusta, SC
Mount Vintage is the most distinctive setup on this list. Tom Jackson designed 27 holes spread across three separate nines — Chester, Vintage, and Independent — giving you three different 18-hole combinations to play.
Golf Magazine compared it to Augusta National for its stacked-stone bridges and lush tree cover, and Byron Nelson once called it “a magnificent layout.” GolfPass consistently ranks it among the top 10 to 11 courses in South Carolina.
The terrain is what sets it apart from everything else near Augusta.
Eight of nine holes on the Vintage nine feature more than 30 feet of elevation change — the most dramatic topography of any course in the area. Holes 5, 6, and 7 on that nine are locally known as the course's own “Amen Corner.”
The Independent nine takes a different approach, with water in play on eight of nine holes, headlined by a signature par-3 eighth that features a stacked-stone bridge and a cascading waterfall running from tee to green.
The course hosted the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship from 2000 to 2004, and the professional-tournament pedigree shows in how the course is maintained.
Champion G12 Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways hold up well year-round across all 27 holes.
Off the course, the clubhouse occupies a restored 1840-vintage plantation house with The Grille restaurant and a wraparound verandah. A few practical notes worth knowing:
- Children 16 and under pay their age in dollars — one of the most family-friendly pricing models in the region
- Military and first-responder rates: $55–$65 | Senior rates: $48–$58
- Five tee sets per hole accommodate a wide range of skill levels
The numbers:
- Green fees: $48–$80 (includes cart and range balls)
- 27 holes | Up to 7,107 yards | Slope 138 (back tees)
📍 375 Mount Vintage Plantation Drive, North Augusta, SC 29860 | (803) 279-5422 | mountvintagegolf.com
Honorable Mentions Worth Knowing About
The five courses above are the clear consensus picks, but a few others near Augusta deserve a mention depending on your situation and preferences.
Eisenhower Lakes Golf Club at Fort Eisenhower is a 27-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that GolfPass ranked the number one military course in the United States in 2024.
Civilians can play on a space-available basis for just $42 — an exceptional rate for a course of this caliber. Access isn't guaranteed, but if you can get on, it's worth the effort.
Goshen Plantation Golf Club in Augusta is one for players who want a serious test of length.
The Ellis Maples design stretches over 7,400 yards, making it one of the longest public layouts in the region, and green fees come in under $50.
If you're looking for a long, affordable round without much ceremony, this one fits the bill.
Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans has a more complicated story.
Originally a Rees Jones design and long considered one of the area's finest modern courses, it was renovated by Tom Fazio in 2003 before closing in 2018 after severe flooding damage.
A Bond Golf Global–led restoration is currently underway, with a reopening expected sometime in late 2025 or early 2026. It's one to watch.
Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken is in a category of its own — and also the most restricted on this list.
Alister MacKenzie redesigned it in 1932 using leftover materials from Augusta National's construction, which makes it a genuinely rare piece of golf history.
The catch is that it opens to guest play for just one week each year, during Masters week. If you're planning a trip around the tournament, it's worth looking into well in advance.
Quick Comparison — Choosing the Right Course for You
All five courses sit within 30 miles of Augusta, span price points from $30 to $275, and are worth your time — but they're not interchangeable.
Here's how to match the course to what you're actually looking for:
| Course | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills | History, design pedigree, value | $45–$85 |
| The River | Premium experience, challenging layout | $100–$275 |
| Aiken Golf Club | Charm, walkability, bargain rounds | $30–$55 |
| Bartram Trail | Modern design, variety, public access | $65–$80 |
| Mount Vintage | Dramatic terrain, families, 27 holes | $48–$80 |
If you only have time for one round, Forest Hills is the default answer — a genuine Donald Ross design with Grand Slam history at a price that's hard to argue with.
If the experience matters as much as the golf itself, The River delivers the most polished day out, particularly with a Masters week package.
Aiken is the call for anyone who wants maximum charm and walkability without spending much, while Bartram Trail is the most practical choice for a well-conditioned modern public course.
Mount Vintage stands alone for sheer variety — 27 holes, dramatic elevation, and the most family-friendly pricing model of the group.
The broader point is that the Augusta area offers a lot more accessible, high-quality golf than most visitors expect. Whatever your budget or preference, there's a course on this list that fits.
Conclusion
Whether you're building a trip around the Masters or just passing through, the Augusta area gives you five genuinely strong courses to choose from — all within easy driving distance and covering every budget.
From a 1912 walkable gem in Aiken to a 27-hole plantation-style layout in North Augusta, the variety here is hard to match in any other mid-size golf market.
Pick one, book your tee time early during Masters week, and you won't be disappointed.
