Attorney Douglas Herman on Golf Courses Around Savannah, Georgia

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Douglas Herman is a Georgia attorney who represents clients in high-profile personal injury cases and is active with the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. One of attorney Douglas Herman’s favorite activities is golf, and he enjoys exploring links in the local area.

The most historic course in the region is The Savannah Golf Club, which had roots extending back to 1794 and sits on a unique site from the Revolutionary War. Established just two years after the Country Club of Charleston in neighboring South Carolina, the club was an early magnet for golfers, and took its current form in 1899. Situated only a few blocks from downtown Savannah, it inhabits naturally flat terrain approaching the coast that features distinctive mounding associated with old battles. The course also sits over Confederate fortifications from the Civil War that define various fairway layouts.

S.W. Stewart oversaw design of the first nine holes, with noted course architect Donald Ross completing the course in the 1920s. The last major change in design came when Clyde Johnson altered routing to reflect the creation of a municipal school behind what became the second hole. The green complexes and mounding make play challenging around the pin, with a significant back-to-front pitch making precision with the irons a must. A storied competitive venue, it has hosted the State Amateur Championship on seven occasions and the Women's State Amateur Championship once.

Another hub for local golf enthusiasts is The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, a community located 12 miles south of Savannah. Spanning 5,000 acres and six championship golf courses, as well as around 4,000 homes, The Landings takes up most of Skidaway Island, a landmark of Georgia’s Intracoastal Waterway. Courses are designed by luminaries such as Willard Byrd, Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio, and Arthur Hills, and are connected by walking trails that span 20 miles. These routes take in abundant nature, as the assemblage of 108 holes sits within the bird-friendly Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries.

The first course built, Marshwood, was designed collaboratively by Palmer and Frank Duane in 1974. Palmer then returned four years later to design Magnolia. Renowned architect Arthur Hills designed Palmetto in 1985, and oversaw the completion of Oakridge in 1988. A player favorite, Oakridge needles through undulating woodlands that feature lakes and streams, and are bordered by exposed seaside marsh.

In 2025, Oakridge underwent a full upgrade under the guidance of architect Bill Bergin. Among the improvements completed were state-of-the drainage along approaches and fairways, to address a persistent standing water issue. New bunkers and tee complexes have also been installed at hole 15, which has the name “the Cemetery” in honor of an historic gravesite and archeological site. The hole 13 lagoon has also been expanded and reshaped to provide a more challenging player experience.

The most celebrated course at The Landings is Deer Creek, which was built by Tom Fazio in 2001 and is a popular stop for professional players as they prepare for Augusta National. One of the hallmark events held here each year is Korn Ferry Tour’s Savannah Golf Championship. The most iconic hole at Deer Creek is the short par-four fifth, which requires that tournament golfers sail the ball over Schooner Cove in front of an often full grandstand of spectators.

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