Legacy Golf Links is a course I've played on and off for 15+ years. What makes this course appealing:
1. It's a short executive course (par 58) where you can finish 18 holes in under 3 hours.
2. The regular weekend rate the last time I played was $25 - a relative bargain.
3. The course isn't located too far from town. It's only about a 20-25 minute drive from Midtown Atlanta.
4. There's a large practice facility and it's open at night.
If you're just getting started with the game of golf, Legacy is the perfect place to begin. The pro shop offers a variety of lessons from different instructors. The driving range is big (about 50 stations) and popular. You hit off grass as opposed to mats. This is great except the driving range sees so much use, it's sometimes hard to find patches of grass to hit off of. You just have to get lucky.
There's a practice putting green by the first tee and there are two chipping areas on either side of the clubhouse. There is no bunker practice area, however. The driving range, chipping areas, and practice putting green are all generally in good condition. The grass in the chipping areas is more like rough grass, but it's better than nothing. Technically, you can bring your own balls to practice chipping and putting for free.
At the range, a small bucket of balls costs $6, medium $9.50, and large $12. The range balls (Wilson Premium) are decent.
As for the course itself, it was designed by former PGA Tour pro and three-time major winner Larry Nelson. There are three sets of tees (black, white, red) and the course measures 2,954 yards from the tips. It currently does not appear to have a rating/slope, though I'm sure at one point it did because I've entered scores from this course to calculate my handicap index. There are 14 par 3s and 4 par 4s. The longest par 4 measures only 326 yards.
For the reasons stated above, this is a great course for beginners. It's got a little bit of everything too -- undulating greens, elevation changes, bunkers, woods, and water hazards.
The greens are Champion Bermudagrass and they are in fantastic shape. They are the best thing about the course. The tee boxes are in good shape too. In contrast, the fairways on the par 4s leave a lot to be desired with swaths of dead grass and patches of dirt leaving you plenty of dried out, tight lie opportunities. At least they have their priorities in order.
Some of my favorite holes are right at the beginning: Nos. 2 and 3. No. 2 is a downhill par 3 with a big green guarded by a bunker on the front right. It's fun to watch your high-arching wedge shot plop down on this green. You have to be accurate with your tee shot on No. 3 because the green is an island green. This is one of the most beautiful holes on the course because of the water. For the same reason, No. 10 is another one of my favorite holes.
No. 10 is a par 4 with water down the right side. If playing from the white tees, this hole measures only 190 yards. It's fun to try and drive the green. With eagle and birdie opportunities abound, this hole will make you feel like a pro. Most of the other holes are pretty straightforward and not the most scenic nor memorable.
The clubhouse is small and simple. The pro shop is stocked with essentials and there is a bar and grill which looks like it was updated in the last 5 years or so. It's got nice and relatively new furniture and a lot of TVs. Not a bad post-round hangout spot.
Service is fine.
In June 2016, the Marietta Daily Journal reported Legacy may be converted into "AllStar Golf," a golf entertainment and restaurant/bar facility similar to Topgolf. In the proposal, Legacy would be reduced to a 9-hole course. The plan was to open the new facility by the third quarter of 2017. At this rate, I don't think that's going to happen. For more on this story, click here: http://www.mdjonline.com/news/driving-range-entertainment-venue-eyed-for-smyrna-area/article_d367ee86-3da2-11e6-a4ca-4b69d93fd369.html. read more