Bears Best Atlanta Scorecard: How to Play Your Best Round in Suwanee, GA

If you’re searching for “Bears Best Atlanta scorecard”, you’re almost certainly planning a round at Bear’s Best Atlanta in Suwanee, about 30–40 minutes north of downtown Atlanta. This guide walks you through what to expect from the scorecard, yardages, hole layouts, and strategy, with practical tips tailored to Atlanta-area golfers and visitors.

Overview of Bear’s Best Atlanta

Location:
Bear’s Best Atlanta
5342 Aldeburgh Drive
Suwanee, GA 30024
Phone (clubhouse/pro shop): typically available via the club’s main line

Bear’s Best Atlanta is a Jack Nicklaus–designed “best-of” course, with holes inspired by some of his most famous designs worldwide. For Atlanta golfers, it’s known for:

• Multiple tee options for all skill levels
• Scorecard with detailed yardages and handicaps
• GPS-equipped carts on most rounds
• A layout that’s challenging but playable if you choose the right tees

Understanding the scorecard before you tee off can save strokes—especially if you don’t play in hilly, tree-lined North Georgia conditions very often.

What’s On the Bear’s Best Atlanta Scorecard?

The Bear’s Best Atlanta scorecard generally includes:

• Hole numbers (1–18)
• Par for each hole and for each nine
• Handicap (stroke index) for each hole
• Multiple tee boxes (often: Bear/Black, Gold, Blue, White, and forward tees)
• Course rating and slope for each tee set
• Space to track:
  • Score
  • Putts
  • Fairways hit
  • Maybe a notes column for strategy

Typical Tee Options and Who They Fit

While exact yardages can vary slightly with tee placement and updates, Bear’s Best traditionally offers:

Atlanta’s summer heat, humidity, and soft fairways after rain can make the course play longer than the number on the scorecard. When in doubt, move one tee up—you’ll almost always have more fun.

Understanding Par and Handicap on the Scorecard

The Bear’s Best scorecard lists:

• Par 72 total (typically: par 36 front, par 36 back)
• Hole handicap rankings from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest)
• Separate men’s and women’s handicaps where applicable

The handicap number is especially important if:

• You’re playing match play with friends
• You’re posting scores to GHIN via the Georgia State Golf Association
• You’re in a league or outing at the course

➡️ Tip: In Atlanta’s often-soft fairway conditions, the hardest holes (low handicap numbers) usually feel even tougher if it rained recently. Plan more conservative lines on those.

Front 9 vs. Back 9: How the Scorecard Reflects the Layout

Front 9: Getting Comfortable with the Layout

The front nine at Bear’s Best Atlanta is a showcase of Nicklaus-inspired designs:

• Mix of scorable par 4s and a few demanding par 3s
• Tree-lined fairways typical of north metro Atlanta
• Greens with subtle to strong breaks, depending on hole

On the scorecard, you’ll see a variety of:

• Shorter par 4s that tempt you to hit driver
• Higher-handicap holes (easier) that are good chances for pars or birdies if you avoid big mistakes

Atlanta locals often treat the front nine as a place to:

• Focus on position off the tee rather than raw distance
• Get used to green speed, which can vary with weather—faster in dry stretches, slower after heavy rain

Back 9: Where the Stroke Index Starts to Matter

The back nine often feels more demanding:

• Typically features some of the lowest handicap (toughest) holes
• More forced carries, water, or bunkering on certain shots
• Strategic angles into firm or elevated greens

On the scorecard, notice:

• Which holes are marked handicap 1–5
• Where par 5s sit—these can be scoring holes or double-bogey traps depending on your plan

In typical Atlanta summer afternoon rounds, fatigue, heat, and humidity kick in on the back nine. That’s when:

• Choosing the right club off the tee
• Playing to safe yardages from the scorecard

becomes even more important to avoid blowup holes.

How Long Is Bear’s Best Atlanta From Each Tee?

Exact numbers can vary with updates, but the scorecard generally shows something along these lines:

• Back/Bear/Black tees: Around 6,900–7,100 yards
• Gold tees: Roughly 6,500–6,700 yards
• Blue tees: Around 6,100–6,300 yards
• White tees: Approximately 5,600–5,900 yards
• Forward/Red tees: Often 5,000–5,300 yards

Atlanta players often underestimate how far the course plays when:

• It’s wet from afternoon thunderstorms
• It’s cooler in the winter and the ball doesn’t carry as far
• There’s no roll because of soft fairways

👉 Practical choice for most ATL weekend golfers:
If your typical home course “men’s tees” are around 6,200 yards, the Blue or similar middle tee at Bear’s Best usually provides the same comfort level.

Reading the Scorecard With Atlanta Conditions in Mind

1. Altitude and Air

Atlanta sits around 1,000 feet above sea level, so you’ll get:

• Slightly more carry than true sea-level courses
• But not enough to dramatically change your club selection

If you’re visiting from coastal areas or the Midwest, don’t change yardages drastically based on altitude alone.

2. Heat and Humidity

In summer rounds (June–September):

• The ball can fly a bit farther in warm air, but
• Fatigue and sweaty grips can hurt swing quality late in the round

Use the scorecard to plan:

• Water and snack breaks around easier holes
• When to back off aggressive play on tough handicap holes in the heat

3. Rain and Soft Conditions

North metro Atlanta often sees:

• Afternoon storms and soft turf in shoulder seasons
• Low spots or shaded areas that stay damp

This affects the scorecard numbers:

• A 440-yard par 4 may play effectively like 460+ with no roll
• Par 5s become three-shot holes for more players

Adapt your game plan:

• Play more position golf rather than attacking max distance
• Use the hole handicap as a guide: protect score on tough holes, attack easier ones

Using the Scorecard to Manage Your Round

Here’s how Atlanta golfers commonly use the Bear’s Best scorecard to score better:

Off the Tee

• Circle or mark shorter par 4s in your tee color to plan conservative clubs (hybrid or 3-wood off the tee can be enough)
• Note hazards and approximate carry distances (if provided or from cart GPS) on a few key holes

Approach Shots

• Use the hole handicap to decide when to:
  • Aim center of the green (on tougher holes)
  • Take on a pin near trouble (on easier, higher-handicap holes)

In typical Atlanta wind patterns:

• Expect slightly breezier afternoons, especially on higher or exposed holes
• Use the scorecard to remember which direction each hole plays; that helps when the wind shifts

Scoring and Stats

Consider using the notes area on the scorecard to track:

• Fairways hit (F for fairway, X for miss)
• Greens in regulation (checkmark for hit, dot for miss)
• Putts per hole

Over multiple Atlanta rounds at Bear’s Best, you’ll start to see patterns:

• Maybe you consistently miss right on certain tee shots
• Maybe you struggle on the lowest-handicap par 3 and can pre-plan a safer target

Tournament and Handicap Use in the Atlanta Area

Many corporate outings, charity events, and leagues in the north metro region use Bear’s Best.

If you’re entering a tournament:

• The official scorecard will be your reference for:
  • Course rating and slope for your chosen tees
  • Stroke allocation for calculating your course handicap
  • Which holes you receive or give strokes in match play

For Atlanta golfers maintaining a GHIN handicap:

• Bear’s Best Atlanta shows up in regional course lists
• Use the exact tee name and rating from the scorecard when posting your score to keep your index accurate

Tips for First-Time Visitors From In and Around Atlanta

If you’re coming from:

• Downtown or Midtown Atlanta via GA-400 or I-85
• Buckhead, Brookhaven, or Sandy Springs
• Or other suburbs like Johns Creek, Alpharetta, or Duluth

Plan ahead using both the scorecard and your travel time.

Before You Go

• Aim to arrive 30–45 minutes early to:
  • Warm up on the driving range and putting green
  • Study the front and back nine on your scorecard
• Pick tees that match your home-course yardage around Atlanta

On the Course

• Use both the printed scorecard and cart GPS (if equipped):
  • Scorecard: overall hole layout, par, handicap
  • GPS: exact distances to front/middle/back of green and major hazards
• On longer par 4s and 5s, especially into the prevailing breeze, consider these simple rules:
  • If the carry listed (or estimated) feels close to your absolute max: lay up
  • If the hole is marked a low handicap number, play for position, not hero shots

Quick Reference: What the Bear’s Best Atlanta Scorecard Helps You Do

Use the scorecard at Bear’s Best Atlanta to:

• ✅ Choose the right tees for your distance and comfort level
• ✅ Understand par and handicap for smart scoring strategy
• ✅ Track fairways, greens, and putts for long-term improvement
• ✅ Adjust for Atlanta-specific conditions like heat, humidity, and soft fairways
• ✅ Post accurate scores to your GHIN handicap through the Georgia State Golf Association

Whether you live in Atlanta or are visiting the metro area for work, tournaments, or leisure, taking a few extra minutes to study the Bear’s Best Atlanta scorecard before you tee off will make the course far more enjoyable—and likely improve your score.