City Club Marietta

This course is located right off the Marietta Square in downtown Marietta. Formerly the Marietta Country Club, it was acquired by the City of Marietta in 1991, while the Country Club relocated to near-by Kennesaw. The course is shorter than average measuring 5,800 yards, par 71. The course is built on hilly terrain which makes up for it's lack of length. The first hole is a very difficult par four that goes drastically down-hill away from the club house. A long drive is essential to get to the bottom of the hill for a second shot to an elevated green that cannot be left short.





After the first hole the player gets a break with a very short par four and an easy par three. The first par five comes at the fourth hole. The player hits their drive alongside a very tall water tower. The drive must be far, as the hole curves to the right. The next shot has the greatest change in elevation on the entire course, making the distance to the hole considerably less. This hole demands accuracy more than any other as the fairways are guarded by thick trees. The next two holes are challenging par fours that lead too the par three seventh. The green cannot be seen from the tee as it plays up hill to a figure eight shaped green. The sloping terrain near the green cause trouble if shots are missed left or right. A side note, I was fortunate enough to have my first hole in one on this hole in October 2009.





The eighth is the hardest hole on the course, a 528 yard dog-leg left par five, and the first of five holes with water hazards. The ninth hole is my least favorite on the course. It is straight up hill which makes it impossible to hit a good drive. The yardage of 341 actually plays like 420 which make it to long to be a par 4, but to short to be a par five. I would try to level the ground to make less of a slope and move the tee boxes up. After the first nine holes is complete the player starts the back with my favorite hole in all of golf. The par four, 332 yard tenth hole is the most fun hole on the course. From the tee you have a view of the entire course, and in the distance Kennesaw Mountain. The tee shot plays down a large hill to a very large landing area. The farther to the left you hit your shot the closer to the hole you will be. Two bunkers guard the small green. This hole looks easy but the small green makes a bogie a good score.





The eleventh is another fantastic hole. The tee shot requires a forced carry over a lake. Then the short second shot is to an elevated green that is very long. The small bunkers to the right of the green rarely come in to play. The twelfth hole is the longest par three on the course at 162 yards. It is played over a lake to a green backed up by a large hill.




Thirteen is an uneventful par four followed by the par five fourteenth. As much as I hate the ninth hole, this is another bad hole. It is simply unfair. The drive is relatively straight, then you hit a blind second shot towards a lake where the hole curves sharply left to the green. On the second shot you only have a landing area of about forty yards, to far and you’re in the lake, to short and the trees block your path to the hole, making it impossible to get a good score. Fifteen and Sixteen are simple, short par fours, followed by a pretty boring short par three. The Eighteenth and final hole is a par four with a banked fairway that causes balls to roll to the right. A tree blocks your tee shot on the right side so it is good to aim to the left. The second shot is played up hill to one of the largest greens on the course.






And that’s the City Club Marietta. Surrounding neighborhoods can be a little noisy as well as traffic from the near by airport. Slow play by inexperienced golfers can be a bit of a hassle, but it is only crowed on the weekends. The course maintenance is average, what you would expect from a public course. Driving range and putting greens are average and the food is a little over priced. But, overall, the best public course in Cobb County.