Longtime golf writer Stan Awtrey lists five popular Georgia golf courses that closed for financial reasons.
1. Griffin Country Club
The club opened in 1967, but reported a 40-45 percent reduction in memberships from 2008-12 and closed Jan. 1. The Willard Byrd design was notable for its 18th hole, a par 3, and hosted a Georgia PGA event, the Griffin Classic, from 1992-2009. One year professional Jeff Hull won with a hole-in-one on the final hole.
2. The Lion Golf Club, Bremen
The Arthur Davis design opened in 2001 and had a slope rating of 142 from the back tees, with several elevated tees. The course was not helped by its location, about an hour west of Atlanta. It was too far for most metro Atlanta golfers to drive and didn’t have enough local traffic to keep it solvent.
3. Metropolitan Golf Club, Lithonia
Originally built in 1968 and operated as Fairington Golf Club, the course was an excellent Robert Trent Jones design, with tight fairways and intriguing greens. This course was popular until the day it closed and now is the site of an apartment complex.
4. Hidden Hills Country Club, Lithonia
This 18-hole Joe Lee design, which opened in 1974, was at one time the centerpiece of the suburban development. The course, which maxed out at 6,700 yards, went bankrupt five times in 10 years before going under for good in 2005.
5. Southerness Golf Club, Stockbridge
The 18-hole Scottish links-style course was designed by Clyde Johnston and opened in 1991. It was a fun course, with three popular finishing holes. But the course was difficult to find. It also closed because the land was worth more than the golf course.
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