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Callaway Gardens

Callaway Gardens is near the Georgian Piedmont 75 miles southwest of Atlanta in the town of Pine Mountain. Callaway Gardens is a public, educational, horticultural and charitable organization, owned and operated by the non-profit Ida Callaway Foundation. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Callaway Gardens Resort, operates the recreational, lodging and retail facilities. Callaway Gardens was created by Georgia industrialist Cason Callaway and his wife Virginia Hand Callaway.

For almost 50 years, guests have enjoyed the rich natural heritage of the gardens' 14,000 acres that comprises four golf courses, swimming and angling lakes, miles of jogging, hiking and bike trails, roads that meander through tall pines and fertile gardens and plants. Throughout the resort, streams run through the woods. In the spring the azaleas bloom and the fall features chrysanthemum shows.

I played golf with a man from Washington, D.C., who was visiting Callaway Gardens for the fourth time with his family. He told me the Summer Kids Recreation Program is second to none, giving his children plenty of amusements and educational opportunities while his wife played tennis and he played golf. "If you ask most parents about summer children's programs, they would probably tell you that many of them don't work. Well, here, it does. We love it." He added, "I call the Summer Program here a guilt-free vacation because I can do what I want and not have that interfere with what my family wants."

Callaway Gardens' four golf courses include Mountain View, Lake View, Gardens View and the 9-hole course Sky View.

Mountain View is the signature course and the home of the Buick Challenge, a regular PGA Tour event. Mountain View stretches from 5900 to 7057 yards and plays to a par 72 for men. (73.9/136). Designed by Dick Wilson and later modified by Joe Lee, the course is one of the most enjoyable courses I have ever played. It rambles through the woodlands and over hill crests in a quiet atmosphere totally removed from development of any kind. Holes #12 - #16 are absolutely terrific, especially the 539-yard 15th from an elevated tee box to a fairway that skirts a magnificent small lake. At two points between the tee box and elevated green, the lake pokes its fingers into the fairway. With trees lining the left side, both distance and precision are required on this breathtaking hole.

The 6000-yard Lake View course meanders around two lakes and through woodlands and offers wide fairways. It also has an island tee box and nine water holes. It was designed by J.B. McGovern and Dick Wilson. Gardens View is 6392 yards from the back and offers fairly wide open holes with little trouble. It is also a Joe Lee design. At 2096 yards from the championship tees and only 1822 yards from the forward tees, Sky View is ideal for an afternoon outing with the family.

The lakes offer swimming and boating, angling and water skiing. You can rent boats and bicycles. Next to the beach is a circus operated by Florida State University. In the circus, FSU students train on various acts and give kids a chance to do the trapeze and other skills (using ample safety precautions).

In addition to two-bedroom cabins for families and groups, there is the Callaway Gardens Inn, a 200 room motel-like lodging that includes two fine restaurants, gift shops, an outdoor swimming pool and meeting rooms. It is within a short distance of all of the resort’s amenities. Not far from the Inn is The Gardens Restaurant, a fine eatery that overlooks a lake and the fairways of the Lake View course. I enjoyed an outstanding filet mignon dinner one night, while a musician played light guitar music.

For reservations and information, call 1-800-CALLAWAY.
Photos courtesy of Callaway Gardens.