We were delighted to discover the Mary Calder Golf Course, an historical gem tucked right next to an industrial paper mill—literally! You drive past smokestacks and tanker cars before turning in at the last second, which makes for one of the most unusual settings we’ve ever experienced on a golf course. But once you’re on the first tee, it’s oddly charming. We couldn’t help but look up who Mary Calder was and found out she was the wife of Alexander “Aleck” Calder, president of the Union Bag & Paper Company (now part of International Paper). Union Bag & Paper was founded in 1936 and the golf course was founded in 1937 for management and workers—imagine finishing your shift and walking straight over to play a round. How cool! The course itself is well-suited for beginners or anyone who just wants a relaxed, no-pressure game. Wide fairways, approachable greens, and a layout that rewards straight shots make it great for building confidence. Even in winter, the greens were in decent shape, and I actually managed to play bogey golf from the front tees—that doesn’t often happen for me! Nature lovers will appreciate a few sightings here—deer, cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, eastern meadowlarks, and Carolina wrens—but this isn’t exactly a quiet, meditative setting. Gas powered carts, nearby highways, and the faint (or strong, depending on which way the wind is blowing) unmistakable aroma of the paper plant remind you of the industrial nature of this course. The staff gets an A+ for friendliness and hospitality. No tee time needed, no crowds, and a super laid-back atmosphere—we practically had the place to ourselves. Bottom line: Mary Calder may not be fancy or serene, but it’s a surprisingly fun, welcoming, and historical spot to play. We’d happily return.

All the bad reviews paid

Great place to golf if you're looking for something more low key. Greens are fast, fairways are wide open, and the price is spot on. Mid morning seems to be pretty busy. My son and I played 9 holes 2x this week while we were in town for spring break. We would gladly come back again.

The course isn't super flashy, but the efficiency makes up for it! Each green basically leads into the next tee box and each tee is clearly marked which is nice when you've never been somewhere before. The cart paths will give you whiplash, but the fairways are decent and the greens are some of the best I've seen around. Id say 4/10 on a difficulty scale, but there were challenging parts throughout. This is the perfect course for single players or players that want a quick round--efficient and priced decently. The range wasnt available today, but such a bonus for any course. Steve was kind and helpful and added to the overall great experience.

Paul and Steve are super friendly and helpful. The course is in great shape, greens are bit bumpy but for the price it’s fantastic. A hidden gem in the Savannah area.