Echelon and Georgia Tech Club Set New Standard in Alpharetta Area Golf
categories: Golf Communities, New Construction
It has been over 24 hours since I completed my first ever round at The Georgia Tech Club (at Echelon) and I can’t stop thinking about it. The experience was like a hot date when you’re eighteen - your mind is preoccupied for days afterwards.
The Georgia Tech Club is the best pure golf course in the area.
I really like the golf course at White Columns and I played Golf Club of Georgia at Windward last month and was very impressed, but The Georgia Tech Club wins my vote hands down. Every shot is demanding; every hole a new test and the entire place is in fantastic condition. Of course, with only 158 members so far, there is very little play. We had the course to ourselves on a Saturday morning. At nine o’clock, my car was the third in the parking lot.
The Manor Golf and Country Club (Tom Watson design) is getting all the attention in these parts, but from a pure golf perspective, I don’t see how it could be any better that The Georgia Tech Club. Of course, I haven’t played The Manor course yet so I reserve the right to change my mind. Every four years I somehow get an invitation to the presidential inauguration but my invite to play golf at The Manor has not shown up yet. Where are a guy’s friends when you need them? Hint; hint.
So, until I play The Manor, the top course in the area in my opinion is without a doubt The Georgia Tech Club. The Club could absolutely host a PGA Tour event…it is that good. It was designed to be that good and a test for the Georgia Tech golf team, which Golf Digest decreed the #1 Golf School in the country.
I played from the member tees and there were TWO sets of tees further back. From the tips, the course plays 7,558 yards long and has a slope rating of 154. From the member tees, the 139 slope rating is higher than most courses from the tips.
Real Estate not doing as well as the golf course.
The real estate situation at Echelon is a completely different story. As good as the Rees Jones golf course is, the Melrose Company hasn’t had as much success yet with the residential sales side of things.
Reports are that only three families have occupied residences in the community. The MLS system says that there are 12 homes for sale and only one sold in over a year. The homes for sale range from $1.2M to $4.4M. The homes will clearly match the golf course in terms of quality; they are awesome plans built by some of the area’s best builders. The question is whether they can be sold in this market.
Most of the lots in Phase 1 do appear to be sold in the 85 lot Phase 1, but most owners/builders haven’t started construction yet. Remaining lots go for $400-550k. That is expensive dirt. A phase 2 is in the plans on 100 acres that are in Fulton County adjoining to the south.
But for now, the shiny blue of the Crenshaw bent grass on those perfect greens is the most prominent feature of Echelon. The golf clubhouse has not even broken ground although the Echelon website says it will be finished in the Spring 2007. Nary a tennis ball has been hit or a swimming pool splashed in. For the time being, the golf shop is in a trailer in the parking lot and the cart barn is a party tent.
No matter…the golf is great and if you really appreciate a great course, you’ll love it and long to return…with your clubs and maybe with your golfing REALTOR!
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