The Best Private Golf Clubs Near Savannah

Where Savannah's serious golfers actually hold a membership, from an 18th-century club to a six-course Skidaway Island community

What are the best private golf clubs near Savannah?

Savannah's strongest private golf clubs are The Savannah Golf Club, founded in 1794 and one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States; The Landings Club on Skidaway Island, with six 18-hole courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, and Willard Byrd; The Ford Field & River Club, a Pete Dye design on Henry Ford's former winter estate in Richmond Hill; Savannah Quarters Country Club, featuring a Greg Norman signature design; and Savannah Country Club (formerly Wilmington Island Club), dating back to 1927.

By Liza DiMarco | July 22, 2026

Savannah's public courses (we cover the top three here) get most of the visitor attention, but the private club scene is where a lot of the area's serious golfers actually spend their time — and it's a genuinely deep bench for a city this size. Here's an honest look at the clubs worth knowing, whether you're relocating and looking for a membership or just curious what's out there.

The Savannah Golf Club — Founded 1794

One of the oldest golf clubs in the entire country, The Savannah Golf Club traces its founding back to 1794, decades before golf had any real foothold in the United States. It's also the closest club on this list to the Historic District — about 2 miles away, roughly a 5 to 10 minute drive. This is a private, classic-style course — tree-lined fairways, well-manicured greens, and a genuinely serene, old-school atmosphere that prioritizes tradition over flash. For members who care as much about the history and culture of the game as the course conditions, this is the club with the deepest roots in the region.

The Landings Club — Six Courses on Skidaway Island

The Landings Club, part of the larger Landings community on Skidaway Island (which we cover in more depth in our luxury neighborhoods guide), sits about 12 miles from the Historic District — roughly a 20 to 25 minute drive. Membership offers access to six full 18-hole championship courses: Marshwood (an Arnold Palmer design and the community's original course), Deer Creek, Oak Ridge, Palmetto, Magnolia, and Terrapin Point (a Willard Byrd design, formerly known as the Plantation course). All six carry Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification, and the variety across six distinct designers means members genuinely get a different golf experience course to course rather than six versions of the same layout.

Beyond the golf itself, membership includes access to a golf performance center, tennis and pickleball facilities, multiple clubhouses, and dining — this is less a single golf club and more a full resort-style golf and athletic community. The club also hosts the Club Car Championship, a Korn Ferry Tour event, along with the Together for a Cure charity tournament.

The Ford Field & River Club — A Pete Dye Design With Real History

About 20 miles south of downtown Savannah in Richmond Hill — roughly a 30 minute drive — The Ford Field & River Club sits on the former winter estate of Henry Ford, spread across roughly 1,800 acres along the Ogeechee River. The Pete Dye-designed course is widely regarded as one of the best in Georgia, though it tends to fly under the radar compared to more heavily marketed clubs — a mix of dramatic marsh carries, ancient live oaks, and old-South plantation character. This is a genuinely exclusive club, and one that golf-focused buyers considering a slightly longer commute from Savannah proper should have on their radar.

Savannah Quarters Country Club — A Greg Norman Design

Located in a master-planned community in Pooler, about 15 miles from the Historic District (roughly a 20 to 25 minute drive), Savannah Quarters Country Club centers on an 18-hole Greg Norman signature design. The surrounding community itself is upscale and well-landscaped, and the club serves as a genuine neighborhood anchor for residents in addition to functioning as a standalone golf club.

Savannah Country Club — Formerly Wilmington Island Club

Originally established in 1927 as the Wilmington Island Club and Savannah Inn & Country Club, this course sits about 10 miles from the Historic District, roughly a 20 minute drive. It was renamed Savannah Country Club under newer ownership but retains its historic roots and consistently strong water views from nearly every hole. It's a well-regarded, player-friendly layout that balances a genuine challenge with an approachable course for members across skill levels.

Southbridge Savannah Golf Club — Worth Knowing, With a Caveat

Southbridge is a Rees Jones design, about 9 miles from the Historic District (roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive), and it's structured differently than the other clubs on this list — it's semi-private, taking both public tee times and offering a membership program, closer in spirit to a public course than to a true equity club. Current membership terms have included a waived initiation fee, which is unusual for a truly exclusive club.

In fairness, it's worth being direct about this one: Southbridge's architecture is well-regarded, but recent guest reviews have raised real, repeated concerns about green conditions and course maintenance. If Southbridge is on your radar, it's worth checking current conditions and recent reviews before making it a priority, since reputation on the course-quality front has been inconsistent in the recent past.

Prefer Public Golf?

If a full private membership isn't what you're after, Savannah also has strong public options within easy reach of downtown. Our guide to Savannah's public golf courses covers The Club at Savannah Harbor, Bacon Park Golf Course, and Crosswinds Golf Club — all bookable without a membership at all.

Membership Access: Who Can Actually Join

Membership rules vary more than people expect, and a few of these clubs are tied directly to owning property in a specific community — worth knowing before you assume any club is open to you.

• The Ford Field & River Club has historically required Resident Membership for anyone who owns property in the Ford Plantation community — and conversely, all property owners there are required to become Resident Members. The club has since introduced a limited National Membership for non-property owners who want access to the club without buying into the community, but availability is limited and this remains, at its core, a residence-first club.
• The Landings Club is also a private, sponsored club — prospective members need sponsorship from a current member, and full residents of The Landings community make up the bulk of the membership. That said, the club does offer a limited number of Full Club and Athletic memberships to non-property owners, as well as a National Membership for applicants who live more than 75 miles from The Landings (with the tradeoff that National Members can't also own property in the community). In short: not strictly residents-only, but residency is the primary path in, and non-resident spots are limited.
• The Savannah Golf Club is a traditional private club with sponsor-based membership, not tied to any specific residential community — membership here is a function of sponsorship and club approval rather than where you live.
• Savannah Quarters Country Club functions as a community anchor for its surrounding master-planned neighborhood, though membership structures at clubs like this typically include options for both residents and outside members — worth confirming current terms directly with the club.
• Savannah Country Club (formerly Wilmington Island Club) is not tied to a specific residential community in the way The Landings or Ford Plantation are, making it generally more accessible to members who don't live in a particular development.

The practical takeaway: if a specific club is part of your decision, it's worth understanding early whether membership requires buying property in that community first, since that can significantly narrow — or completely determine — your home search.

Quick Comparison

What to Know Before Pursuing a Membership

• Initiation fees and dues vary significantly by club and membership category, and most private clubs in the area don't publish pricing openly — expect a conversation with the membership director rather than a posted rate sheet.
• Waitlists are real at the more established clubs. The Savannah Golf Club and The Ford Field & River Club, in particular, are the kind of clubs where membership availability can take real patience.
• Location matters for day-to-day use. The Landings and Savannah Country Club are both reasonably close to downtown, while The Ford is a genuine 30-minute drive — worth weighing against how often you'd actually use the club if convenience matters to your lifestyle.
• Some clubs are tied directly to real estate. The Landings, in particular, is most naturally paired with owning property within the community itself, so a golf membership search here often overlaps directly with a home search.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the oldest golf club near Savannah?

The Savannah Golf Club, founded in 1794, is one of the oldest golf clubs in the entire United States.

How many golf courses does The Landings Club have?

Six 18-hole championship courses, designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio, Arthur Hills, and Willard Byrd, all located within The Landings community on Skidaway Island.

Is The Ford Field & River Club far from downtown Savannah?

Yes, relatively — it's about 30 minutes south of downtown in Richmond Hill, farther than the other clubs on this list, though many members consider the Pete Dye course and the historic setting worth the drive.

Do I need to live in The Landings to join The Landings Club?

Membership options vary, but The Landings Club is most closely tied to the surrounding residential community on Skidaway Island, and many members are also property owners within The Landings itself.

Are Savannah's private golf clubs difficult to get into?

Some are. The more established clubs, particularly The Savannah Golf Club and The Ford Field & River Club, can have real waitlists, so it's worth starting the membership conversation well before you expect to need it.

Do I have to live in the community to join clubs like The Landings or Ford Plantation?

Not always, but residency is the primary path at both. The Ford Field & River Club has historically required property owners to become members and vice versa, though it now offers a limited National Membership for non-owners. The Landings Club similarly weights membership toward residents but offers a limited number of non-owner and National memberships as well.

If golf club access is part of what you're weighing alongside a Savannah home search, that's a conversation worth having early — some of the strongest clubs are tied closely to specific neighborhoods, which can shape where it makes sense to buy.

Liza DiMarco | Compass Savannah

About Liza DiMarco Marketing Specialist

Liza is a dedicated, passionate, and market-savvy professional who puts her clients' satisfaction before all else. Her attention to detail, superior people skills, and broad knowledge of the real estate industry as a whole, along with her pure determination to indulge her clients with first-class service sets Liza apart from the rest of the Real Estate Agents.

Liza is the Savannah and coastal Georgia Network Partner in The Private Client Network — an invitation-only collective of 300+ top-producing Compass advisors across 80+ luxury markets nationwide. For clients buying or selling across state lines, it means one trusted relationship that follows them anywhere.