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Public · 18 holes

Aiken Golf Club

Donald Ross 1912 design on Aiken's sand hills: walkable, short, and cheap to play

Aiken, SC

555 Highland Park Dr SW, Aiken, SC 29801

About this course

Aiken Golf Club is a public, daily-fee 18-hole course in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, that opened as an 11-hole layout in 1912 for the Highland Park Hotel. Golf professional John Inglis, who had worked with Donald Ross in Elmsford, New York, completed the course to 18 holes after arriving in 1915. The club has long cited a Ross connection, but independent historians call that link unconfirmed and credit Inglis as the builder. The McNair family bought the course in 1959, and Jim McNair Jr. reshaped it in the late 1980s into today's short, hilly, walkable par-70 layout with small greens.

Type

Parkland

Region

Southeast

Holes

18

Par

70

Yardage

5,734

Established

1912

Course rating

68.7

Slope

118

LooperScore

87.1

Your score

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Highlights

  • Donald Ross 1912 design
  • Public daily-fee access
  • Restored by the McNair family
  • Minutes from Augusta National
  • Easy walk on sand-hill terrain
  • Modest green fees

Design & architects

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Nearby courses

Courses within 150 miles of Aiken Golf Club, by true distance.

Semi-private27 holes

Houndslake Country Club

Aiken, SC · 2.5 mi away

Houndslake Country Club is a semi-private club in Aiken with 27 holes designed by Joe Lee in 1974. The three nines, Azalea, Dogwood and Laurel, each measure a little over 3,300 yards and play to a par of 36, winding through a 300-acre property thick with azaleas and dogwoods. The Dogwood nine has hosted the South Carolina Golf Association Amateur Championship twice, along with US Amateur qualifiers, and the club welcomes guest play.

Public9 holes · Short

The Chalk Mine

Aiken, SC · 3.2 mi away

The Chalk Mine is a walking-only, nine-hole par-three course, range, and practice facility built in partnership between USC Aiken and First Tee Aiken. Thoughtfully routed through a former chalk mine and designed by Jim McNair Jr., the course blends rustic character with strategic shot-making. Firm greens, forced carries, and dual flag locations reward precision and creativity. Green fees start at just $20, with discounts for USC Aiken students, juniors, and First Tee participants. All proceeds directly benefit First Tee Aiken and the USC Aiken golf program.

Short Course
Public18 holes

Midland Valley Country Club

Graniteville, SC · 5.4 mi away

Midland Valley Golf Club is a semi-private course located in Graniteville, South Carolina, between Aiken and Augusta, Georgia. Architect Ellis Maples designed the course, which was built in 1960 and 1961 and remains a long standing fixture of the local golf community. The par 72 layout covers about 6,870 yards, with tree lined, walkable fairways set among towering pines and significant changes in terrain. Large, undulating Bermuda greens demand attention to uphill, downhill and sidehill lies throughout the round. New ownership took over in January 2024 and has been renovating turf, bunkers and green surfaces while updating the pro shop and clubhouse, including a new on site restaurant called Horse Creek Tavern that opened in 2024. The course is open year round and is frequently played by visitors during Masters week because of its proximity to Augusta.

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