Steel Canyon GC Review

An Atlanta Golf Course Review

Reviewed on 08/26/2025

Steel Canyon Golf Club

Public

$36-$49

25mins north of Atlanta

Steel Canyon is infamous in the Atlanta golf community and for good reason. While I can appreciate the sustainability aspect of building a golf course over a landfill, it doesn't mean it provides an ideal golfing experience.

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The best thing about Steel Canyon is the range. It's the only range with TopTracer technology other than Paragon. Considering the amount of beginners Steel Canyon attracts, having a range that can tell players their approximate distances is incredibly helpful. Ball prices are also pretty good, considering the extra perk of having TopTracer:

• 40 balls – $9

• 70 balls – $14

• 110 balls – $19

They also have a putting green, chipping area and practice bunker.

The tree on #5

If you like a lot of quirk, you might enjoy the Steel Canyon layout. In my opinion, it crosses the line from quirk to annoying on many of the holes. Hole 5 there's a tree in the way depending on the hole location, hole 8 you're hitting through a tunnel of trees, lookout for power lines on 10 & 11, and the green on 15 is actually impossible. I also don't love that there are 6 par 3s around 140-155yds. That said, there are a few elevated holes that offer some decent views.

Good luck getting clean contact on this tee box

Conditions are.... inconsistent. While the tee boxes are relatively even, the grass is sometimes nonexistent and other times up to your ankle. This is a huge issue in my opinion. Tee boxes are the one thing in golf that shouldn't make the game harder, but not at Steel Canyon. This is largely due to the tee boxes not being large enough when they built the course, and not having the space to expand them. Considering that reality, I personally think they should replace many of the tee boxes with matts. At least there would be some level of consistency.

Slow & Bumpy Greens

The greens range from average speed to slow and bumpy. Many of them have dead spots along the edges filled with white sand. Speaking of the sand... the bunkers are rough. Lining is often sticking out of the top and while some bunkers have plenty of sand, others are struggling.

On the par 4s (and the short par 5), the fairways were pretty decent overall. No complaints. However, the rough on the first two holes is way too long. We lost 2 balls that should have been just off the fairway.

Other than the conditions, the biggest issue I have with Steel Canyon is that it is a course that attracts beginner players, but the course was originally designed to be a "hard par 61". Leadership has attempted to make it easier by filling in dozens of bunkers, but it's still not an easy layout for a new player. This can be discouraging, which is the exact opposite of what you'd want. It also can make for VERY slow rounds. Usually a par 61, you're expecting it to go a lot faster than a full course, but it's a full 4+hr round on most occasions. Thankfully, they book rounds every 11 minutes (compared to 9mins at Chastain) so that does help with the pace.

As an executive course in the $36-$49 price range, the natural comps would be Fox Creek and Legacy Golf Links. When comparing Steel Canyon to those, there is a significant drop off in course quality, yet the pricing is the same, if not a touch more expensive on average.

If I take in the full picture of Steel Canyon, I think it's JUST worth the low-end $36, but no more. And I would never recommend spending the $49 weekend tee time. BTW - you won't find the $36 on Golf Now. Use their website's Chronogolf booking tool to save a couple bucks.

Can you have fun at Steel Canyon? Of course! Lean into the quirk and don't take the round seriously. Maybe play a scramble or other game with your crew. But if you're going there to play semi-serious golf I don't think you'll enjoy it. You're much better off playing at Fox Creek/Legacy or playing one of the par 72 muni courses where you'll pay the same with slightly better conditions.

In general, I would not recommend Steel Canyon because there are better options around the same price. That said, if you're just looking for low key round and you can snag a hot deal or pay the $36, then I would say it's worth that... but just barely.

ATL Golfs Podcast on Steel Canyon

Course videos:

Front 9