
Arrowhead Pointe Golf Club – Much More Than You’d Expect.
Few private or resort courses have the geographical characteristics golf course designer Bob Walker was given when he designed Arrowhead Pointe. In fact, Walker has said that basically the state handed him 400-acres of land within the Richard B. Russell State Park in Elberton, GA and said, “put the course wherever you need to.” And Walker did just that.
This 6,861-yard masterpiece sits on a peninsula on Richard B. Russell Lake and offers some of the best water views and scenic vistas anywhere in the South. Better yet, there are no lakefront homes or even private docks to spoil the view as you make your way around the course.
From the back tees, Arrowhead Pointe plays 6,861 yards with a course rating of 72.5 and a slope of 134. Most men will find that the white tees at 5,971 (68.9/119) will give them a challenge and let them enjoy the scenery. If they need more, there’s a fourth set of tees that play 6,458 (70.7/129). Ladies typically play from 5,221 yards (70.4/122). The bottom line is that there is a yardage that is suitable for everyone; just be sure to pick the one that best suits your game and you’re sure to have a good time.
The Georgia State Park system boasts eight high quality golf courses, and while Arrowhead Pointe may not be the most difficult, it has by far the most breathtaking views. Water does come into play on at least 8 holes and thankfully most of what you see does not come into play. When it does, there are no overly long carries over it; hit your ball in the water and odds are that it’s your fault.
In addition to the water hazards, you’ll find some significant elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, a myriad of doglegs – both left and right – and strategically place bunkers, primarily on the peripheries of the fairways. Well-groomed fairways lead to TifEagle Bermuda greens with subtle undulations and very few straight putts. This is one course that seems to have it all.
The front nine has several interesting holes, most notably the par 5’s. Number 1 is a fairly straightforward hole that plays uphill and considerably longer than the stated yardage. Only the longest of hitters will get on in two; for the rest of us, the landing area is very generous off the tee. A layup down the right side will take the fairway bunker on the left out of play and set up an easy approach. Three good shots and you can tame this hole.
Even Head Golf Professional Barry Johnston says that the par 5, 5th hole is best played as a three-shot par 5. The best way to make birdie is to hit your approach shot close. There’s bunkers in play on both your tee shot and layup shot and the green complex is fronted and flanked by sand as well. The green slopes gently from back to front. Played correctly, this hole can let you put up a low number.
Both par 3’s on the outward nine play uphill and require an extra club or two to compensate. Another similarity: both feature green complexes that are well guarded by bunkers. The toughest hole on the front side is the par 4 6th, a 412 yarder that plays slightly uphill. Favoring the left side off the tee gives the best angle into a long, multi-tiered green. Number 6 provides the first view of the lake and gives you a taste of what’s to come.
The back nine features not only a number of challenging holes, it has some of the most incredible views in all of the state. It all starts on Number 12, a 368-yard par 4 (White Tees) which offers a great view of Lake Richard B. Russell and continues on Number 13, where a finger of the lake juts out and must be carried on this medium length par 3. The lake really steals the show on number 14 (361 yards from the White Tees), where it frames both sides of the fairway, giving the illusion that the hole plays a lot narrower than it really is. Carry the fairway bunker on the left and you’ll have a clear shot uphill to a long, narrow multi-tiered green well protected by bunkers. A front/back pin placement can be a 3 or 4...
   Read moreVery good course situated on the lake. Lots of pine trees throughout the course, makes it feel like a course in Myrtle beach. The clubhouse is a little underwhelming for a place rated so highly. I docked 2 stars for the following 2 reasons: the greens had been aerated in some odd pattern that were like longer scrapes, not standard hole punches. I’m no greens keeper but I’ve never seen greens aerated so late in the year (played here June 8th). I mean I guess aerate whenever you want but disclose that to paying players. Second and bigger reason is because carts must be in by 7:00 and there is zero leeway on this. We were finishing up hole 15 around 6:45 and they sent someone out to get us and tell us to bring it on in. When I called to make the tee time of 3:30, carts having to be in by 7:00 was not disclosed to me. Everyone knows a round of 18 with 4 players takes 4 hours or a little more. A cutoff time of 7:00 seems a bit ridiculous in the summer when the sun doesn’t go down until 8:30 but either way, if that’s your policy it should be disclosed to golfers when they make their tee time and you should probably not allow people to book a round of 18 past 2:30. I’m guessing this is a common problem because we were not the only party that was forced to quit our...
   Read moreUpdate: Returned in late August to walk 18 and the course continues to impress! Lush fairways, thick lose your ball rough, and greens that hold. Pace of play was slow today without a ranger, but everything else was perfect! FYI course length for walking is ~7 miles.
Phenomenal golf course in the middle of nowhere! Even in a severe drought, the course was green and well attended. Fairways are lined with trees making every tee shot echo, wide fairways are generous and sloping, most greens are protected by traps with white sand. Back nine crosses the lake several times creating challenging tee shots for golfers, while amazing you with great views. Ground crew is doing a great job trying to keep up with the falling leaves, but be prepared to lose a few balls if you miss the fairway. A well equipped pro shop and grill make will make your visit a delightful day. I walked 18 traveling 6.5 miles over gently sloping hills. They have gps enabled carts if you prefer to ride. I’ll return to this course with my friends and family and might even consider staying in a cottage to allow for multiple...
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