What are the Worst Golf Courses in Each State? (Georgia)

Here’s a round-up of what many golfers consider the worst golf courses in Georgia — not for their design or scenery necessarily, but for their maintenance, playability, value, or just how disappointing the experience is. As always with reviews, take everything with a grain of sand (in the bunkers, perhaps).

Georgia’s Golfing Disappointments: The Three Courses You Might Want to Skip

1. Lake Spivey Golf Club (Jonesboro, GA)

“Completely a mess … every green was trashed … tee boxes weren’t even marked half the time.” That from one recent review after paying ~ $60. (GolfPass)

What’s gone wrong:

Greens & tee boxes in disrepair. Golfer after golfer reports greens with holes, overgrown weeds, crabgrass, muddy patches. Tee boxes aren’t just bare — some aren’t even marked properly. (GolfPass)

Value vs cost mismatch. Players feel what they pay far exceeds the quality delivered. For $60 or more, there's an expectation for service, turf, and overall condition — which many say Lake Spivey no longer meets. (GolfPass)

Lost potential. The layout isn’t inherently bad; it’s just that deferred maintenance has taken over. What could once be a pleasant round feels more like a chore.

Verdict: Unless you hear they've done a major restoration (green‐renovations, better upkeep of fairways, tee boxes, etc.), this one is tough to recommend to anyone except perhaps those curious about seeing “how bad it can get.”

2. Candler Park Golf Course (Atlanta, GA)

“This course shouldn’t even be allowed to operate. It’s literally the worst course I have ever seen.” Strong words from a frequent player. (GolfPass)

What’s troubling:

Neglected maintenance. Reviews describe dirt tee boxes, fairways that are “all dirt,” greens overrun with weeds and dirt patches. Slanted, bare or improperly dressed tee boxes, putting surfaces that are patchy. (GolfPass)

Decline over time. Multiple visitors say that compared to even a year or two ago, things have degraded steeply. What might have had character now seems worn out, neglected, past its prime. (GolfPass)

Poor playing experience. Because many surfaces are uneven, greens bumpy or inconsistent, the typical golfer finds frustration in simple putts or approach shots. That’s a red flag.

Verdict: If you’re in Atlanta and looking for good golf, skip this unless you want to play it for nostalgia or extremely low cost — but be prepared to battle the condition of the course as much as the holes themselves.

3. Bacon Park Golf Course (Savannah, GA)

“No joke, this course should not even be considered a golf course … greens the worst I have ever seen in my 30 years of playing.” That from a vacationing golfer. (Tripadvisor)

What’s especially bad:

Greens are nearly unplayable. Bare spots, bumps, inconsistent roll. Many greens apparently so poor that putts are unpredictable — more luck than skill becomes involved. (Tripadvisor)

Cart paths & fairways in disrepair. Potholes, large damaged areas, fairways that might border on overuse or under-care. Paths for carts are especially panned — making not just the game, but simply moving around the course tedious and frustrating. (Tripadvisor)

Value shock. The reviewer notes paying ~$47 and feeling the experience was unworthy even of a much lower fee. For many players, that’s where the disappointment hits hardest — you expect a minimum baseline of course condition for what you pay. (Tripadvisor)

Verdict: Unless the management steps up and does significant work on greens, irrigation, cart paths, this one stays on the “avoid if possible” list.

Final Thoughts

All three of these courses suffer primarily from maintenance issues — overgrown weeds, poor greens, bad tee boxes — more than anything to do with design. A well-designed course can still shine even if modest; a poorly maintained one quickly becomes frustrating.

If you’re traveling in Georgia and looking to play, some tips:

- Check recent reviews (within last few months) especially for greens and fairway conditions.

- Call ahead and ask about recent aeration, overseeding, or whether certain tees/holes are out of service.

- Or better yet, find public course forums or local golf groups — they often have up-to-date inside info.