Decision tool
Golf-optional ownership checker
Owning a home at Chestatee and playing its golf course are two different things. The covenants say a lot gives no golf rights, and the course, marina and sewer have a separate owner from the association. Tick what matters to you and this checker shows who sets each rule, the office to ask, and where to confirm in writing.
The word “golf community” suggests the course is part of the deal. At Chestatee the sources say it is not: the association manages the amenities and covenants, while the course, the marina and the sewer system have a separate owner. This checker turns that into a table you can sort by your own interests. A flag means we could not settle the point from a primary source, so you should ask in writing.
| Topic | Who sets it | What the sources say | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing the golf course | The course owner and Chestatee Golf Club, not the association | Under the covenants the golf course is not association common property, and owning a lot or association membership gives no right to use it; use rights are set by the course owner. The club calls itself a public golf course on GA-400 in Dawsonville, set along the shoreline of Lake Sidney Lanier. src src | Confirm with the club |
| Whether you must join the club to buy or live here | Not stated in any primary source we found | We found no primary source that says membership is required or that it is not. The covenants give lot owners no golf rights. Ask the club what, if anything, it offers owners, and ask for it in writing. | Confirm with the club and the association |
| Clubhouse dining and the practice facility | Chestatee Golf Club | The club has a clubhouse and dining facility. The club lists a driving range, practice green, bunker and a pro shop with club fitting. The clubhouse restaurant and bar is called the Heron Grille. src src src | Confirm with the club |
| Golf balls, carts and course equipment near your lot | The covenants (association-enforced documents) | The covenants warn owners of golf-ball, cart and maintenance-equipment risks near the course and reserve golf easements across community land. src | Set in the documents |
| The pool, the Lodge and your amenity card | The association | New owners receive one amenity access card for the Lodge and pool area after e-signing the covenant acknowledgement. The Lodge, Pavilion, Square, pool, tennis, pickleball, basketball and bocce are not open to the public; use is limited to owners, family and accompanied guests. src src | Set in the documents |
| Tennis, pickleball, basketball, bocce, croquet and trails | The association | Association common properties include the Lodge, Pavilion, Pool, Tot Lot, Tennis/Pickleball, Basketball, Bocce ball courts, Croquet Field, Bandstand and The Square. There are five tennis courts: courts 1-4 near the Lodge and court 5 at the entrance to the Waterfront section. src src | Set in the documents |
| Renting the Lodge or the Pavilion for an event | The association, through HMS | Owners can rent the Lodge and the Pavilion through the HMS portal under Amenity Reservations. src | Set in the documents |
| A boat slip | The slip owner and the marina side; the association is not the marina manager | The covenants say owning a lot or association membership alone gives no right to use or own any boatslip; rights are granted by the slip owner on its terms. The marina is not managed by the HOA; the welcome letter refers marina questions to the golf club domain contact. src src | Confirm with the slip owner and the association |
| Marina parking | The association parking policy | Overnight parking (11 pm-6 am) is prohibited in marina parking lots. The community waterfront has marina docks labeled A through G, with parking at Waterfront Park Lane (Docks A-D), River Sound Lane (Docks E and F) and River Overlook Road (Dock G). src src | Set in the documents |
| A private dock at your lot | The covenants, then the Corps of Engineers | The covenants bar private docks and boat access to Lake Lanier except docks and boatslips originally installed by or for the Declarant. Private and community docks may be permitted only in Limited Development Areas, which are 47% of the shoreline. src src | Confirm with the association and the Corps |
| Drawing lake water for a lawn or garden | The covenants | Owners may not draw water from Lake Lanier for lawns, gardens or any other purpose. src | Set in the documents |
| Short-term rentals | An amendment to the covenants | Short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO and similar) are expressly prohibited by an amendment to the covenants, whether or not the owner lives in the home. src | Set in the documents |
| Exterior changes, fences, decks and sheds | The association first (Modification Request), then Dawson County permits | Exterior changes need a Modification Request filed through the HMS portal; complex questions go to cmrc@chestateepoa.com. Building permits are required for all construction including new houses, additions, fences, walls, retaining walls and accessory buildings; separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical and pool/spa permits apply. src src | Set in the documents |
| Flood zone for your lot | FEMA maps and Dawson County GIS; no flood zone is printed here for any address | FEMA's Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) lets anyone look up the effective flood map for an address. Georgia's DFIRM flood map viewer (map.georgiadfirm.com) is linked from Dawson County GIS. src src | Confirm with FEMA and the county |
| Sewer billing and service | The Developer Office, which is separate from the association | Sewer billing and service questions go to the Developer Office, 706-216-7577 ext. 222. src | Set in the documents |
| Who supplies drinking water | Not confirmed by us | We could not confirm which utility supplies drinking water to Chestatee homes. Ask the association, the county and the seller’s latest water bill. | Confirm with the association and Dawson County |
| Street parking, RVs, trailers and golf carts | The association parking policy | The association parking policy prohibits parking on all Chestatee streets and roads and sets limits on RVs, trailers and commercial vehicles. The parking policy says personal transportation vehicles (golf carts) are permitted. src src | Set in the documents |
| Who maintains each road | Not settled by any source we read; Dawson County lists a road project on two streets | Dawson County listed a TSPLOST project for deep patching, overlay and striping on Night Fire Drive and Dogwood Way (1.75 miles combined). src | Confirm with the association and Dawson County |
| Property taxes | Dawson County Tax Commissioner and Tax Assessor | The Dawson County Tax Assessor's Office, 706-344-3590, handles valuations, returns and exemptions and runs its own site (dawsonassessors.com) with property search. Exemption applications and returns are due by April 1 for that tax year; exemption applications must be done in person. src src | Set in the documents |
| Dues, fees and assessments | The association | We publish no dues or fee figure and do not promise one. Ask the association for the current amount, what it covers and any assessment, in writing. | Confirm with the association |
| Animal complaints | Dawson County Animal Control | Animal control complaints are reported to Dawson County Animal Control, 706-265-7387, animalcontrol@dawsoncountysheriff.org. src | Set in the documents |
No dues figures. We publish no dues, fees or assessments, because we could not confirm current amounts from a primary source and they change. Ask the association, through its management company, for the current figure and what it covers.
Common questions
Is the Chestatee golf course public or private?
The club calls itself a public golf course on GA-400 in Dawsonville, set along the shoreline of Lake Sidney Lanier.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
Does owning a Chestatee lot give me the right to play the course?
Under the covenants the golf course is not association common property, and owning a lot or association membership gives no right to use it; use rights are set by the course owner.
Source: Chestatee Community Association, Inc. (via Homeowner Management Services Inc.), Welcome Book updated 2026-04-06 (public PDF download linked from hms-inc.net/chestatee). Checked 2026-10-20.
How many holes is the course, and what is its par?
The course is an 18-hole, par 71 championship layout.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
Who designed the course?
Golf architect Denis Griffiths designed the course, per the club.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
How long is the course from the back tees?
From the back (Black) tees the course plays 6,877 yards, par 71, per the club scorecard.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), About the Course. Checked 2026-10-20.
How many sets of tees are there?
The course offers five sets of tees.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), About the Course. Checked 2026-10-20.
Where is Chestatee Golf Club?
Chestatee Golf Club is at 777 Dogwood Way, Dawsonville, GA 30534.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
What is the club’s phone number?
Chestatee Golf Club phone is (706) 216-7336.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
Is there a driving range and a pro shop?
The club lists a driving range, practice green, bunker and a pro shop with club fitting.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
Is there a restaurant at the club?
The clubhouse restaurant and bar is called the Heron Grille.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), Chestatee Golf Club home page. Checked 2026-10-20.
What is the signature hole?
The signature par-3 17th hole looks over the Chestatee River before it meets Lake Lanier.
Source: Chestatee Golf Club (chestateegolfclub.com), About the Course. Checked 2026-10-20.
Is there a risk from golf balls near my lot?
The covenants warn owners of golf-ball, cart and maintenance-equipment risks near the course and reserve golf easements across community land.
Source: Chestatee Community Association, Inc. (via Homeowner Management Services Inc.), Welcome Book updated 2026-04-06 (public PDF download linked from hms-inc.net/chestatee). Checked 2026-10-20.
More detail: the golf course guide, who runs what and our article on why a nearby course is not an included one.
Last checked 2026-10-20. Written by the Chestatee on Lake Lanier Editorial Team. Rules, dates and contacts change: confirm with the office we link before you rely on anything here.