Piedmont Driving Club Golf: What Atlantans Should Know

If you live in Atlanta and are curious about Piedmont Driving Club golf, you’re usually wondering one of three things:

• What is the golf experience like there?
• How do membership and access work?
• How does it compare to other golf options in and around the city?

This guide walks through those points in plain language, with a focus on what matters to Atlanta residents and visitors who are serious about golf or exploring private-club life.

Overview: Piedmont Driving Club and Its Golf Facilities

Piedmont Driving Club (PDC) is one of Atlanta’s oldest and most private social and golf clubs. It operates:

• A historic in-town club near Midtown and Piedmont Park
• An 18-hole championship golf course and related facilities in southwest Atlanta

For golf, what most players are talking about is the club’s golf campus in southwest Atlanta, commonly referred to simply as the “golf course” or “golf club.”

Location basics

• Golf course area: Southwest Atlanta, generally accessed via the I‑285 and I‑85 corridors
• In-town / social club: Near Piedmont Park and Midtown, convenient to neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Ansley Park, Buckhead, and Old Fourth Ward

Because it’s a private, members-only club, the golf course and practice facilities are not open to public play. Access is typically limited to:

• Members
• Guests of members
• Players participating in invitation-only events or tournaments

The Golf Course: What to Expect

While everyday details like yardage and rating may change over time with renovations or setup, golfers in Atlanta generally describe the Piedmont Driving Club course as:

• Traditional, walkable, and well-maintained
• Challenging but fair, with a mix of shot-making demands
• Quiet and low-traffic compared to public courses

Course style and layout

The course is designed in the classic parkland style, with:

• Tree-lined fairways
• Strategically placed bunkers
• Well-protected greens
• A mix of shorter, tactical holes and longer, more demanding ones

It’s the kind of layout that rewards:

• Course management over brute distance
• Accurate iron play
• A solid short game around fast, smooth greens

Practice facilities

Members who are serious about improving their game often point to the practice setup as a key draw. While specifics can change, you can commonly expect:

• Driving range: Multiple teeing areas, often with grass hitting zones
• Short-game area: Space for chipping, pitching, and bunker practice
• Putting greens: Surfaces that generally roll similarly to on-course greens

For an Atlanta golfer juggling work and family life, having all practice options in one place can be a major advantage over public facilities that may be more crowded or have limited short-game space.

Membership and Access: How It Typically Works

There is no public daily-fee access to the Piedmont Driving Club golf course. To play regularly, you need to be:

• A member, or
• A guest invited by a member

Private club model

Piedmont Driving Club follows a traditional private club model common among older Atlanta clubs. In practice, that often means:

• Invitation or sponsorship by existing members
• A formal application and review process
• Initiation fees and ongoing dues, which vary by membership category
• A focus on long-term, community-style membership, not short-term or pay-as-you-go access

Because the club is private, it typically does not publish detailed membership costs or requirements openly. People in Atlanta usually learn about specifics by:

• Speaking with an existing member who can sponsor them
• Contacting the club’s membership office directly by phone
• Being invited as a guest and then gathering information in person

Who the Club’s Golf Experience Best Suits

For Atlanta-area golfers, Piedmont Driving Club tends to appeal most to people who want:

• A quiet, private golf environment with predictable tee-time access
• A highly maintained course with classic design elements
• A full social club experience, not just golf (dining, events, fitness, etc.)
• A location that balances in-town convenience with a spacious golf campus

It may be especially attractive if you:

• Live or work in Midtown, Buckhead, or in-town neighborhoods and want a club tightly connected to city life
• Travel a lot and value flexibility and quick in-and-out rounds
• Prefer clubs with a long-standing history and established traditions

How Piedmont Driving Club Golf Compares to Other Atlanta Options

Atlanta golfers have a mix of public, semi-private, and private courses to choose from. Piedmont Driving Club is firmly in the upper-tier private club category.

Below is a simplified comparison to help you see where it fits in the local golf landscape.

Quick comparison: PDC vs. other Atlanta golf options

For many Atlanta golfers, the choice comes down to:

• How often you play
• How much you value privacy and pace
• Whether you want a full club lifestyle or just a good course for occasional rounds

Getting There and Navigating Around Atlanta

If you’re invited to play as a guest or are considering membership, practical questions usually include how the golf course fits into your daily Atlanta routine.

Driving considerations

• From Midtown/Intown: Expect an easy route using major connectors; travel time depends heavily on rush-hour traffic patterns along I‑75/85 and I‑285.
• From Buckhead: Plan for additional commute time due to cross-town traffic, especially during weekday afternoons.
• From the Airport area: The southwest location can be convenient if you travel frequently and want to play or practice on the way to or from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Because Atlanta traffic can be unpredictable, many members plan:

• Early morning tee times to avoid heavy congestion
• Late-afternoon practice sessions tied to their commute home

How to Learn More or Take Next Steps

Since Piedmont Driving Club is private, detailed information is typically handled directly by the club.

Common next steps for interested Atlantans

1. Talk to a current member
   Many Atlantans first encounter the club through a business contact, neighbor, or family friend who is already a member.

2. Schedule a guest round (if invited)
   Playing as a guest is often the most realistic way to understand:

   • Course layout and difficulty
   • Pace of play
   • Practice facilities
   • Atmosphere in the clubhouse and around the property

3. Contact the club’s main office
   You can usually request:

   • General information about membership categories
   • Details about what is included with golf membership
   • Information about any requirements for sponsorship or references

If you prefer to compare before reaching out, many Atlanta golfers also look at other private clubs (for example, in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Marietta, or along the I‑285 corridor) plus premium public facilities in the metro area to understand how course quality, commute time, and cost structure align with their priorities.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Golfers

• Piedmont Driving Club golf is fully private, with access limited to members and their guests.
• The golf course is known for strong conditioning, a classic layout, and a calm, member-focused atmosphere.
• It best suits Atlanta residents who want regular play, strong practice facilities, and a full-service club lifestyle rather than occasional pay-per-round golf.
• To explore it, you’ll typically need a connection to a current member or direct contact with the club’s membership office.

For someone living in or frequently visiting Atlanta who values high-quality, private golf close to the city’s core, Piedmont Driving Club is one of the more prominent options to consider.