If you love the idea of a private club lifestyle in Milton but are torn between The Manor and White Columns, you’re not alone. Both offer championship golf, active racquets programs, resort-style amenities, and beautiful estate homes. The right choice comes down to how you play, how you live, and which setting feels like home. In this guide, you’ll get a clear, side-by-side look at golf, racquets, homes, location, and budget so you can move forward with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Quick snapshot: two Milton clubs
Both options are private, full-service country clubs in Milton with easy access to Alpharetta and Crabapple. The Manor Golf & Country Club sits around 15952 Manor Club Drive and centers on a Tom Watson–designed course with an expansive amenity campus. White Columns Country Club, at 300 Clubhouse Drive, features a Tom Fazio–designed course and a classic clubhouse experience.
In June 2025, both clubs joined the Arcis Golf portfolio, a shift that can influence membership platforms and future capital investments. You can read the acquisition details in the Arcis announcement on Business Wire. Arcis Golf announced the additions.
Golf: Watson vs. Fazio
The Manor course
If you prioritize championship yardage and conditioning, The Manor delivers a Tom Watson design at approximately 7,177 yards, par 72. The club highlights robust practice facilities, structured leagues, and instructional programming. You can explore course details and philosophy on the club’s site. See The Manor’s golf profile.
White Columns course
White Columns features a Tom Fazio routing that plays roughly 7,000 to a little over 7,100 yards from the back tees, par 72. The club publishes hole-by-hole data and emphasizes a traditional, walkable feel with a strong clubhouse hub. Review the course information and scorecard on the official club page. Explore White Columns’ course page.
Racquets, pools, fitness, dining
The Manor racquets edge
The Manor markets a large racquets campus with a published count of 16 tennis courts across multiple surfaces, including indoor options, and dedicated pickleball. For players who care about year-round availability and peak-hour access, this scale can be a difference-maker. Learn more about The Manor’s amenities on the club’s site. View The Manor’s amenities.
White Columns clubhouse vibe
White Columns also supports a multi-court tennis operation with clay and hard courts and dedicated pickleball, plus a social calendar built around a central clubhouse experience. If you love a classic club hub and a Fazio layout as your home course, White Columns is compelling. You can reference current facilities and programs on the club website. See White Columns facilities.
Both clubs offer resort-style pools, year-round fitness, and multiple dining venues with junior camps and family events. If your family’s schedule depends on specific court times or seasonal programs, ask each club for the latest calendar and reservation policies during your tour.
Homes, lots, and price bands
The Manor estates
The Manor is known for custom luxury estates on large lots, with many homesites starting at about 1 acre and select parcels extending several acres. Architecture often blends traditional brick, modern farmhouse elements, and high-end custom details. Recent neighborhood snapshots show a higher median price point here, reflecting newer construction, estate scale, and privacy.
White Columns homes
White Columns features stately single-family homes on generous lots, frequently around three-quarters to roughly one-and-a-half acres in the established golf sections. Styles lean traditional, and many properties enjoy direct fairway settings. Market snapshots indicate a lower neighborhood median than The Manor, appealing to buyers who want a high-end club address with strong value.
Gated and security notes
The Manor presents as a guard-gated community with 24-hour security, part of its resort-style profile. At White Columns, some sections are gated while others are not, and security varies by sub-area. Always verify a specific property’s gate access, patrols, and HOA policies before you decide. For The Manor’s overall community presentation, see the club site. Review The Manor overview.
Location and commute
Both clubs sit in Milton with quick access to Downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, and Crabapple village. If you want an upscale country feel close to shopping and dining, both locations score well on convenience. The Manor’s site highlights proximity to these destinations. See The Manor location context.
For commuters heading into Atlanta’s core, the Milton area to Buckhead is commonly around 25 to 30 miles and approximately 35 to 45 minutes in non-peak conditions. Drive times vary with traffic, so it is wise to test your actual route at your typical departure hour. You can view a representative distance snapshot here. Check a sample Milton to Buckhead distance.
Which club fits you?
If you’re trying to choose quickly, start with your top priorities:
- Golf first: If course architecture and a specific playing vibe matter most, choose by designer and layout. The Manor’s Tom Watson course offers length and a modern championship feel. White Columns’ Tom Fazio routing delivers a classic, clubhouse-centric experience. Tour both at similar times to compare pace, practice access, and member groups.
- Racquets lifestyle: If you need abundant courts, multiple surfaces, and indoor options, The Manor’s published 16-court complex is a standout. White Columns also provides tennis and pickleball with an active calendar; compare peak-hour access and reservation rules during your visit.
- Estate scale and privacy: The Manor often suits buyers seeking larger acreage, newer custom builds, and a higher-price estate environment. White Columns suits those who want an established, traditional golf neighborhood with generous lots and a lower neighborhood median than The Manor.
- Family and social life: Both clubs run junior camps, clinics, and family events. If you love a central clubhouse scene, put White Columns on your shortlist. If you want a resort-forward campus, The Manor may fit better.
- Budget and resale mindset: Recent neighborhood snapshots often place The Manor’s median above White Columns. Use that as a starting framework, then confirm current pricing and absorption trends with up-to-date local market data.
Buyer visit checklist
Before you make a decision, verify the details that matter to your household. Bring this list on your tours:
- Membership structure and costs: Ask for the current membership brochure with initiation and monthly dues by category. Clubs often update terms and waitlists regularly. Contact The Manor for membership info.
- Homeowner obligations vs. club membership: Confirm whether club membership is optional for homeowners and whether any transfer or initiation policies apply to resales in that section.
- Court access and programs: Ask about court counts, surfaces, peak-hour reservation rules, pickleball times, and junior program schedules.
- HOA and property specifics: Verify HOA fees, covenants and architectural review requirements, and any design or renovation guidelines that may affect your plans.
- Utilities and land use: Confirm sewer vs. septic, easements, and property-tax history for the specific parcel.
- Schools and routes: Use official Fulton County sources for school assignments. If school commute matters, test the school-run drive from the home.
- Commute test: Do a live morning and evening drive to your workplace and any frequent routes to understand real-world timing. Preview a distance example.
Work with a local advisor
Choosing between The Manor and White Columns is about fit. The best way to decide is to walk the courses, see the clubhouses at peak times, and tour homes that match your lifestyle and budget. Our team knows both communities intimately and can arrange private tours, current membership details, and on- and off-market options that align with your goals. If you want a discreet, data-informed path to your next home in Milton, connect with Jenny Doyle & Co. to schedule a private consultation.
FAQs
What are the main differences between The Manor and White Columns?
- The Manor features a Tom Watson course, a large racquets complex with indoor options, and a guard-gated presentation; White Columns centers on a Tom Fazio course, a classic clubhouse hub, and a mix of gated and non-gated sections.
How do memberships work at these clubs?
- Both offer categories like golf, racquets or sports, and social; initiation fees and dues change, so request the current membership brochure and waitlist details directly from the club.
Are the neighborhoods fully gated?
- The Manor is presented as guard-gated with 24-hour security; White Columns includes gated and non-gated sections, so confirm gate status and security for your specific property.
What are typical home prices in each community?
- Recent neighborhood snapshots often place The Manor’s median around the multi-million mark with a higher median than White Columns; White Columns typically shows a lower median while remaining firmly high-end.
How long is the commute to Buckhead from Milton?
- Non-peak drives commonly run about 35 to 45 minutes depending on the exact start and end points; always test your route at your normal departure time for accuracy.
