<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-06-26</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024126</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(GTA)</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001467224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Clifford Tracy Simmons</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GOLF TRUST OF AMERICA, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10 N. ADGER'S WHARF</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16667</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>A person is deemed the beneficial owner of shares of stock that he has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of options.  Sixty days prior to the vesting date of this tranche of options would be 11/19/08; therefore, this deemed change in beneficial ownership would occur prior to 12/31/08.

On the Original Form 5 filed on 6/26/09, the reporting person was incorrectly listed as a director, the codes in column 4 have been corrected from &quot;J&quot; to &quot;A&quot; and column 5(D) should have been blank.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tracy S. Clifford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
