Are you looking for the best golf courses in Tennessee? Look no further! We have a list of 15 of the best Tennessee golf courses at which to hit the green.
While Tennessee may be known for blues music and the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s certainly no stranger to sports, including golf. From my experience, golfing in Tennessee can be quite pleasant, as the weather stays pretty mild, without getting too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.
There are over 200 golf courses in Tennessee, so wherever you may be visiting in the state you’ll most likely be able to find a course. Some of the best golf courses in Tennessee are private clubs, but there are some public ones as well!
So if your golf clubs are packed and ready to go, read on to discover the best places for golfing in Tennessee.
15 Best Golf Courses in Tennessee You Must Play
Hermitage Golf Course
One of the best golf courses in Tennessee that’s open to the public can be found right outside Nashville. The President’s Reserve at Hermitage Golf Course was distinguished as one of the “Top 10 in Tennessee” by Golf Digest Magazine!
Hermitage Golf Course offers 36 holes set along the Cumberland River and spans over 300 acres. The President’s Reserve was designed by Denis Griffiths and the other course, the General’s Retreat, was designed by Gary Roger Baird. Both courses are kept in good condition and are known to be a bit challenging.
For a bit of pastoral ambiance, Scottish Blackface sheep wander the property, so keep an eye out for them while you’re playing or driving your cart!
Gaylord Springs Golf Links
If golfing is on your list of things to do in Nashville, you should also check out Gaylord Springs Golf Links. Like Hermitage Golf Course, Gaylord Springs is located along the wetlands of the Cumberland River, and it’s another of the best golf courses in Nashville open to the public.
Gaylord Springs Golf Links has 18 holes, the most notable being its fourth hole, thanks to the historic springhouse for which the course is named. This par-72 links course is in the Scottish style, working with the natural shape of the limestone bluffs along the river.
Part of what makes Gaylord Springs one of the best golf courses in Tennessee is its clubhouse. After your round, check out the pro shop and dining available inside!
Golf Club of Tennessee
Located in Kingston Springs, the Golf Club of Tennessee is one of the best private courses in the state. It opened in 1991 and has continued to be one of the best golf courses in Tennessee for the past 30+ years. It even hosted the US Women’s Amateur Golf Championship in 2018.
The Golf Club of Tennessee spans over 317 acres of rolling hills. It incorporates forest, rocky ridges, and a creek. This par-71 course features Zoysia fairways, Bermuda roughs, and A1 bent grass greens. It’s a particularly aesthetically pleasing course, with things like the 200-yard 10th hole with a waterfall framing the putting space.
In addition to the clubhouse, guests can also stay a cabin complex, with a great room cabin that has a covered porch that overlooks the practice facility. If you get the chance, it’s one of the best country clubs in Tennessee to be invited to.
Belle Meade Country Club
If you’re spending more than a weekend in Nashville, and are looking for something more long-term, you may want to check out some Nashville country clubs like Belle Meade. The country clubs in Nashville have some of the best golf courses in Tennessee.
Belle Meade Country Club is one of the oldest private country clubs in Nashville. It was designed by Donald J. Ross and opened in 1901. This country club offers 18 holes with four sets of tees of varying difficulty. With tight fairways and elevation changes, the course at Belle Meade will keep you on your toes!
Membership at Belle Meade Country Club also includes the use of the clubhouse, tennis courts, pool, and wellness center. Like at many country clubs in Tennessee, there is an enforced dress code at Belle Meade.
TPC Southwind
If you are looking for the best Memphis golf courses, you’ll find TPC Southwind is high on the list. It’s one of the best private golf courses in Tennessee and is only half an hour from downtown Memphis.
TPC Southwind was designed by Ron Prichard, with consultations by PGA TOUR players Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller. It opened in 1988 and is a par-70, 7,244-yard championship layout.
One of the things that makes TPC Southwind one of the best golf courses in Tennessee is the multiple lakes and streams that challenge players. For example, the par-3 14th hole (which is continuously ranked as one of the hardest par-3 holes on the PGA Tour). The narrow green is protected by water along the whole right side and requires a long iron or wood tee.
Brainerd Golf Course
Is playing a round of golf on your list of things to do in Chattanooga? You’ll want to check out Brainerd Golf Course, which is one of the best public golf courses in Chattanooga.
This 18-hole course has a bit of an old-school feel, which makes sense because Brainerd is one of Chattanooga’s oldest golf courses. It was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1926. However, the clubhouse is newly renovated and the golf carts are new!
The greens at Brainerd Golf Course are kept in good shape, and it’s a solid, affordable option if you’re looking for public golf courses in Tennessee.
The Honors Course
Also not far away from Chattanooga is the Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN. The Honors Course is considered a bit of a hidden gem and is one of the best golf courses in Tennessee. Its goal, as the name says, is to honor the amateur golfer.
The Honors Course is a private course, but you won’t find a clubhouse or swimming pool. Players are encouraged to focus on their game and on Mother Nature without any distractions. The course was designed by Pete Dye, and his son, P.B. Dye. They used much of the natural terrain, including native grass.
The Honors Course is known for its bouncy Zoysia fairways and incredibly fast greens.
GreyStone Golf Club
Another one of the best golf courses in Tennessee that’s near Nashville is GreyStone Golf Club. Located in Dickson, GreyStone Golf Club is a favorite among middle Tennessee golf courses due to its fun layout.
GreyStone Golf Club was designed by PGA Tour professional Mark McCumber and was built in 1998. In the past, it has hosted numerous Tennessee State Opens, and several nearby colleges use it as a home course. With undulating hills, tricky bunkers, and tall grasses, this course can be challenging for all levels.
GreyStone is open to the public, but you can also become a member which includes unlimited golf and range balls.
Gatlinburg Golf Course
If you’re looking for golf courses near Gatlinburg, you can find the Gatlinburg Golf Course near Dollywood. Despite its name, Gatlinburg Golf Course is actually in Pigeon Forge, TN, and it’s one of the best Tennessee golf courses in the area.
After you’ve filled up on pancakes in Gatlinburg, head over to Gatlinburg Golf Course for a fun day of putting. This course is open to the public and is popular amongst those visiting the Great Smoky Mountains. Because of its location, Gatlinburg Golf Course is one of the best golf courses in Tennessee for gorgeous mountain views!
However, also due to its location at the foothills of the mountains, Gatlinburg Golf Course can be a bit challenging. The natural terrain makes for difficult elevation changes, like at the 12th hole, which has a 194-foot elevation change.
Thankfully, Gatlinburg Golf Course recently renovated its irrigation and drainage system to combat water runoff.
Clarksville Country Club
Another of the best golf courses in Tennessee can be found at Clarksville Country Club. For over 100 years, this country club has fostered a golf community in the Clarksville area, with its 18-hole championship golf course and driving range.
Clarksville Country Club is set among rolling hills with dogwood tree-lined fairways and greens of Bermuda grass. The club hosts events such as Couples Golf, Summer Golf Camp, and Mens and Women MGA 9 Hole. Plus, there are days when the club is open to the public.
In addition to the golf course, Clarksville Country Club also has four dining areas, a fitness room, a pool, and two tennis courts.
Egwani Farms Golf Course
If you’re looking for the best East Tennessee golf courses, you will want to try Egwani Farms Golf Course. Egwani Farms is just a 20-minute drive away from Knoxville and is another one of the best golf courses in Tennessee open to the public.
Before the course was built in 1991, it was a working farm on the Egwani River. Today, it is family-owned and operated and was newly renovated in 2016. Updates included new cart paths for new carts with GPS, championship Bermuda greens, billy-style bunkers, and acres of new natural fescue grass.
Water comes into play a lot, with the Egwani River running alongside several holes plus two lakes to challenge players. In addition to the course, Egwani Farms also has a driving range, short-game area, and practice putting green.
Chattanooga Golf and Country Club
Another excellent golf course in Chattanooga is located at its Golf and Country Club. The Chattanooga Golf and Country Club was founded in 1896 and is one of the oldest country clubs in the South. With an impressive Tudor-style clubhouse tucked away in the Riverview neighborhood, this private club is a beautiful escape.
The golf course was designed in the 1920s by the aforementioned Donald Ross, but it was renovated in 2005 by Bill Bergen. Today it is considered one of the best golf courses in Tennessee.
The course at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club is set along the banks of the Tennessee River. There’s a run of riverside holes from the 7th to the 9th. Then the 17th hole offers a fun challenge, playing over an old logging pit.
Local guests are allowed to play with a club member once a month from April to October.
Cherokee Country Club
If you are looking for golf courses in Knoxville, perhaps you will get a chance to play at Cherokee Country Club. This private club was founded in 1907 and it continues to be one of the premier social clubs in the area.
Like many of the best golf courses in Tennessee, Cherokee Country Club’s course was also designed by Donald Ross. When it opened in 1907, it was only a 9-hole course. In 1910 it was expanded to 18 holes and has gone through several renovations over the years. However, in 2008, the course was restored as close to its original design as possible.
The 80-acre course has been used for the US Open Qualifying and Tennessee State Amateur. It’s more hilly than one might expect, with steep holes at the 2nd and 18th. Located on a ridge between a railroad track and the Tennessee River, the course is considered short, but challenging.
Williams Creek Golf Course
If golfing is on your list of things to do in Knoxville, try checking out Williams Creek Golf Course. It’s another one of the best golf courses in Tennessee for public use! Designed by Tom Fazio, this par-3 championship golf course is great for all skill levels.
Located just a mile from downtown Knoxville, Williams Creek is set among 98 acres of rolling hills with creeks and lakes. They have three sets of tee boxes, with holes that range from 85 to 245 yards.
There is a clubhouse, snack bar, and a practice area that includes a driving range, chipping green, and a practice putting green. Plus, they also have a 3-hole loop course for kids!
Spring Creek Ranch
Lastly, one of the best golf courses in Tennessee (rated #3 in fact) is located at Spring Creek Ranch in Collierville, TN. This private club is located on what used to be a ranch and it continues to embrace the natural beauty and terrain of the land.
Spring Creek Ranch is a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course with 8 sets of tees. Length and water are the two most challenging parts of the course. For example, the 496-yard 6th hole has an angled fairway around a body of water.
If you’re looking to hone your skills at Spring Creek Ranch, they have two chipping greens, three putting greens, a dual-end range, and a fairway practice bunker.
Whether you are looking to play the famous golf courses in Tennessee or just looking to have some fun with the family, we hope this list has inspired you! With so many Tennessee golf courses to choose from, we know you’ll find some to enjoy.
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