Atlanta Athletic Club: Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball in Johns Creek for Atlanta-Area Players

The Atlanta Athletic Club (AAC) is one of the most recognizable private sports clubs in the Atlanta metro area, especially if you’re into golf, tennis, or pickleball. While it’s located in Johns Creek, it primarily serves families and athletes from across the greater Atlanta area, including Buckhead, Midtown, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and beyond.

If you live in Atlanta or you’re moving here and want a serious racquet or golf home base, this guide walks through what the club is known for, what you can expect by sport, and how it fits into the broader sports and recreation landscape around Atlanta.

Where the Atlanta Athletic Club Is and Who It Serves

Location:

• Atlanta Athletic Club
  1930 Bobby Jones Drive
  Johns Creek, GA 30097
  Main phone (main switchboard, commonly listed): (770) 448-2166

Even though the club isn’t inside the City of Atlanta limits, it is firmly part of the Atlanta metro’s sports scene. Many members commute from Intown neighborhoods and northside suburbs via Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Medlock Bridge Road (GA-141), or State Bridge Road.

For an Atlanta resident, it’s especially convenient if you live or work:

• In north Atlanta (Brookhaven, Chamblee, Perimeter area)
• Along GA-400 (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta)
• In Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Duluth, or Johns Creek

Overview: What the Atlanta Athletic Club Offers

AAC is a private, membership-based club that’s best known for:

• Championship-level golf (multiple 18-hole courses and a par-3 course)
• A large tennis program on hard and clay courts
• Rapidly growing pickleball offerings
• A broader set of amenities (aquatics, fitness, dining, and junior programs)

Membership policies and pricing are managed directly by the club and can change, so anyone in Atlanta considering joining should contact the club’s membership office for current categories, waitlists, and fees.

Golf at Atlanta Athletic Club

For golfers in the Atlanta area, the Atlanta Athletic Club is regarded as one of the more prestigious and historically significant private golf venues.

Courses and Layout

AAC typically features:

• Two championship 18-hole courses
  Often known for:
  • Challenging layouts with water, bunkering, and tree-lined fairways
  • Hosting major professional and amateur events over the years
• A par-3 course or short-game/teaching facilities
  Useful for:
  • Beginners easing into the game
  • Busy Atlantans looking to practice in a shorter time window
  • Junior golfers developing their skills

For Atlanta golfers used to public tracks around the city (like those in the City of Atlanta or DeKalb and Cobb county courses), the AAC offers:

• More structured pace of play
• Regular course maintenance and conditioning
• A broader instruction and coaching ecosystem

Practice and Instruction

Members and their families often have access to:

• Driving range and practice tees
• Short-game areas (bunkers, chipping greens, putting greens)
• Individual and group lessons with teaching professionals

For an Atlanta family with junior golfers or someone working in Midtown or Buckhead who wants to get serious about their game, this can serve as a consistent year-round training base—especially when paired with indoor training or simulator work during winter or rainy weeks.

Tournaments and Competitive Golf

The Atlanta Athletic Club is known for:

• Member tournaments and leagues
• Competitive events for men, women, and juniors
• Activities that support different skill levels, from recreational to highly competitive

For Atlantans who like to travel for golf, representing an Atlanta-based club with a national reputation can also be a draw.

Tennis at Atlanta Athletic Club

If you play ALTA, USTA, or just enjoy social doubles, AAC is considered a major tennis hub in the north metro area.

Courts and Play Environment

The club generally offers a mix of:

• Outdoor hard courts
• Clay courts (often sought after during Atlanta’s hot summers for being easier on joints)
• Lighted courts for evening play, which is especially helpful during the long Atlanta workday

For residents familiar with public courts in Piedmont Park, Blackburn Park, Sandy Springs Tennis Center, or DeKalb/Cobb facilities, AAC provides a more controlled environment with:

• Restricted access (members and guests)
• Scheduled court reservations
• Integrated coaching and league support

Programs and Leagues

Common offerings may include:

• Adult clinics (beginner through advanced)
• Cardio tennis and drill-based workouts
• Junior development programs for different ages and levels
• Team support for:
  • ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) leagues
  • USTA leagues and tournaments

For tennis players living inside the Perimeter, joining AAC often means:

• Traveling north for matches and practices
• Accessing a consistent group of partners and teams
• Having a regular tennis “home base” instead of hopping between public courts

Pickleball at Atlanta Athletic Club

Pickleball has grown rapidly around Atlanta, and the Atlanta Athletic Club has been part of that trend.

Court Setup and Scheduling

At many private clubs in the Atlanta area, pickleball is offered via:

• Dedicated pickleball courts, or
• Converted tennis courts (with temporary or blended lines and nets)

AAC fits into this same pattern, typically providing:

• Multi-court setups to support open play
• Organized schedules balancing tennis and pickleball demand
• Opportunities for both casual drop-in play and more structured matches

Programs and Community

Members often have access to:

• Intro clinics for those new to the sport
• Rules and strategy sessions for tennis players crossing over
• Social events where pickleball is the main activity, mixing ages and skill levels

Given Atlanta’s climate, outdoor pickleball is playable much of the year, with adjustments during peak summer heat. As with tennis, evening play under lights is popular among those commuting from the city.

How the Club Fits into Atlanta’s Sports & Recreation Scene

If you’re deciding how the Atlanta Athletic Club compares within the wider Atlanta Sports and Recreation landscape, it helps to understand what makes it distinct.

Compared to Public Facilities in Atlanta

Across Atlanta and surrounding counties, public options include:

• City of Atlanta recreation centers and park courts
• Tennis and pickleball facilities in DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Fulton counties
• Public golf courses such as Alfred “Tup” Holmes, Bobby Jones Golf Course, Chastain Park, and others

Public facilities tend to offer:

• Pay-as-you-play access
• Less predictable court and tee-time availability
• A mix of conditions and crowd levels depending on time of day and season

By contrast, the Atlanta Athletic Club offers:

• Membership-based access, narrowing the pool of users
• Often more consistent course and court conditions
• Structured programs that keep golf, tennis, and pickleball integrated into a single community environment

Who Typically Joins from Atlanta

People considering AAC often fall into one or more of these groups:

• Serious golfers who want a challenging home course and reliable practice setup
• Families looking for a long-term community with sports, swimming, and junior programs all in one place
• Racquet-sport players (especially ALTA and USTA competitors) who want a robust tennis or pickleball schedule
• Professionals in north Atlanta or the Perimeter markets seeking a place to blend networking, family time, and sports

If you live closer to south or west Atlanta, commute time is a practical factor to consider, especially during rush hour.

Membership and Access: What Atlanta Residents Should Know

Because the Atlanta Athletic Club is private, there are a few key points for prospective members from Atlanta:

Membership Categories

Clubs like AAC commonly offer categories such as:

• Full golf memberships
• Sports or racquet memberships (tennis/pickleball-focused, with limited or no golf)
• Social or house memberships (for dining, events, and some facility access)

Each category may differ by:

• Initiation fee
• Monthly dues
• Access privileges (course times, practice areas, racquet sports, pools, fitness)

The best way to understand current options is to contact the membership office directly at the club’s main number and request:

• A breakdown of membership categories
• Estimated timelines if any category has a waiting list
• Information about any residency or sponsorship requirements

Guest Policies

If you live in Atlanta and know a current member, you may experience the club first as a guest. Typical patterns at private clubs include:

• Members signing in guests for a day of golf, tennis, pickleball, or dining
• Guest fees for certain sports activities
• Limits on how often the same person can visit as a guest within a season

Policies are set by the club and can change, so it’s important for the hosting member to confirm current rules before inviting guests from Atlanta.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Residents Considering the Club

If you’re evaluating whether the Atlanta Athletic Club fits your lifestyle, consider:

1. Commute and Time of Day

• Plot your typical route from home, office, or school to 1930 Bobby Jones Drive.
• Think about:
  • Morning vs. evening traffic
  • Weekend schedules
  • How often you realistically plan to play each sport

2. Primary Sport Focus

• If your main interest is golf, look into:

  • Tee-time availability
  • Weekend versus weekday play
  • Access during major tournaments or events

• If you’re more focused on tennis or pickleball:

  • Ask about court reservation systems
  • League team availability (ALTA/USTA)
  • How often pickleball is programmed versus open play

3. Family and Junior Programs

• For families living in Atlanta, a major benefit of a club is often:
  • Junior golf clinics
  • Junior tennis development
  • Youth swim teams and summer programs

Ask the club for details about age-based programs, seasonal schedules, and how they support kids who may also be training or competing elsewhere in the city.

4. Using the Club Alongside Other Atlanta Facilities

Many Atlanta residents take a blended approach:

• Use AAC for primary golf and racquet sports
• Continue to:
  • Run or bike on the BeltLine
  • Enjoy public tennis or pickleball closer to home on busy weekdays
  • Participate in local parks and recreation leagues

Thinking of the Atlanta Athletic Club as one part of a broader Atlanta-based active lifestyle can help you realistically plan your time and investment.

Quick Snapshot: Atlanta Athletic Club for Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball

For anyone living in or relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, the Atlanta Athletic Club stands out as a major option if you want a long-term home for golf, tennis, and pickleball with a strong community vibe, especially on the city’s north side.