Look, I'll be honest with you… Tennessee wasn't exactly on my golf bucket list until I actually played there. Now I'm that annoying friend who won't shut up about how you need to book a trip to experience everything from Sweetens Cove's quirky 9-hole brilliance to mountain courses where you can see for 50 miles on a clear day.
The courses you'll kick yourself for missing
Let me start with the heavy hitters, the ones that'll have you texting photos to your golf buddies back home with captions like "you won't believe this place exists."
Sweetens Cove changes everything you think you know
This little 9-hole course in South Pittsburg has achieved something remarkable… it's gotten tour pros, celebrities, and architecture nerds to drive to the middle of nowhere Tennessee just to play golf that costs $25-65 to walk. Built for just $1 million by Rob Collins and Tad King (who basically lived on-site for 700+ days hand-shaping greens), Sweetens Cove ranks #21 nationally according to Golfweek.
The course plays 3,301 yards but feels like a completely different planet. There's a bunker actually called the "Devil's Asshole" (yes, really), dual flags on each green, and you check in at what can generously be called a metal shed. Peyton Manning and other high-profile investors own it now, but they've wisely kept the minimalist vibe. Bring your own food, forget about amenities, and prepare for pure golf that'll scramble your brain in the best way possible.
Fair warning: annual passes sell out within hours each fall, and daily tee times can be tough to snag. It's about 25 minutes from Chattanooga, and while a cart is available, walking is the way to go here.
The Course at Sewanee delivers mountain golf perfection
Gil Hanse took a 1915 layout and turned it into what Golf.com calls the 9th best 9-hole course in America. At 3,068 yards playing to a par 36, this isn't about length… it's about those moments when you reach "The Edge" on holes 3 and 5 and realize you can see 50 miles across the Cumberland Plateau.
What really gets me about Sewanee is the value. We're talking $15-41 green fees for a course with bent grass greens (super rare in Tennessee) and architecture that would cost $150+ in most places. The dual tees create 18 distinct holes if you want to go around twice, which you probably will. Book a room at The Sewanee Inn and make a proper trip of it, especially in April through October when the mountain temperatures give you a break from Tennessee's humidity.
Located 45 minutes from Chattanooga, this place makes you wonder why every golf course isn't built on top of a mountain. Oh right, because most mountains don't come with views this ridiculous.
TPC Southwind brings the Tour experience
Okay, so TPC Southwind is private and you'll need a member hookup, but I had to mention it because this is where the pros battle it out during the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Ron Prichard's 1988 design stretches 7,244 yards with water lurking on 11 holes, making it the 9th toughest course on Tour.
The famous island green 11th hole gives you that "what have I gotten myself into" feeling similar to TPC Sawgrass's 17th. If you can wrangle an invite, you'll play on Champion Bermuda greens and Zoysia fairways that are maintained at Tour-level standards. The course sits 30 minutes from Memphis International Airport on what used to be a dairy farm, though the only thing getting milked now is your golf ball when you try to cut the corner on the dogleg 16th.
Public courses that deliver way more than their price suggests
Not everyone has a member friend at the fancy clubs, and honestly? Some of Tennessee's best golf experiences come with green fees that won't require a second mortgage.
East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg Golf Course earned the title of "Best Municipal Golf Course" in all 50 states from Golf Digest, and once you play the 12th hole "Sky Hi," you'll understand why. This 194-yard par 3 features a 200-foot elevation drop that'll have you reaching for your phone camera before your 7-iron.
The William Langford design (touched up by Bob Cupp in 2007) runs 6,281 yards through the Smoky Mountains, charging just $50-75 depending on the season. Yes, they enforce a strict 15-minute pace of play, but when you're getting views like this at muni prices, you won't complain. It's 45 minutes from Knoxville's airport, making it an easy addition to any East Tennessee golf trip.
For those seeking a more traditional test, Three Ridges Golf Course near Knoxville brings championship golf to the masses. The 7,035-yard layout features:
- Bentgrass greens (fancy!)
- 63 bunkers (less fancy when you're in them)
- Mountain views throughout
- $49-56 rates with cart included
- Host site for Knox County Amateur
This Ault, Clark & Associates design sits 30 minutes from McGhee Tyson Airport and consistently ranks as East Tennessee's best public course. Pro tip: the bentgrass greens run significantly faster than the Bermuda you'll find at most Tennessee courses, so leave the ram-it-home putting stroke at home.
Nashville area gems worth the drive
Hermitage Golf Course's President's Reserve course might be the best $74-90 you'll spend on golf in Tennessee. Denis Griffiths designed this 7,200-yard beast through 300 acres of Cumberland River wetlands, creating the kind of course that makes you simultaneously curse and admire the architect.
The signature hole comes early… a 628-yard par-5 second hole with a forced carry over water that'll test your breakfast choices. The Tillinghast-inspired bunkers are deep enough to require a ladder (kidding, but barely), and the conditions rival private clubs charging three times as much. Book one of their eight on-site cottages for $130-155 per night, each with two bedrooms and golf course views. You can book online 60 days out or call 14 days ahead.
Gaylord Springs Golf Links brings Scottish links golf to Music City, assuming Scotland had limestone bluffs and 90-degree summers. Larry Nelson's design along the Cumberland River puts water in play on 10 holes, but the firm, fast conditions when the wind blows create the real challenge. At $80-100 (cart and range included), you're paying for the experience of a 43,000-square-foot antebellum clubhouse and the closest airport access of any course in Nashville… literally 10 minutes from baggage claim to first tee.
For the budget-conscious (or those who blew their money on Broadway honky-tonks), Harpeth Hills Golf Course delivers championship challenge for under $40. This 1965 municipal course in Percy Warner Park features what locals call Nashville's most difficult greens… TifEagle Bermuda surfaces that run faster than a tourist trying to catch a pedal tavern. The course has hosted USGA Public Links regional qualifiers, and after you four-putt the third green, you'll understand why only the strong survive here.
Hidden 40 minutes west of Nashville, Greystone Golf Club showcases Mark McCumber's PGA Tour design skills. The 7,046-yard layout once hosted Tour Q-School, featuring dramatic rock formations and elevation changes that'll have you checking your yardage book twice. At $60-70, the Zoysia fairways and Crenshaw bentgrass greens deliver conditions that punch above their price point.
Memphis delivers more than just barbecue
While TPC Southwind hogs the spotlight, Mirimichi Golf Course offers public access to championship golf 15 minutes north of Memphis. This 7,479-yard Bill Bergin redesign holds both Audubon Classic Sanctuary and Golf Environmental Organization certifications… the only course with both honors, which sounds impressive even if I'm not entirely sure what it means.
Justin Timberlake used to own this place, bringing sexy back to Tennessee golf (sorry, had to). Six lakes, actual waterfalls, and 5-8 tee boxes per hole create options for every skill level. Golf Advisor ranked it #1 in Tennessee in 2016, and while rankings change faster than Nashville's skyline, the quality here remains constant.
Spring Creek Ranch Golf Club in Collierville represents Jack Nicklaus at his most thoughtful. This private club (sensing a theme in Memphis?) ranks #3 in Tennessee and #198 nationally on Golf Digest's Second 100 Greatest. Built on a former 1,000-acre cattle ranch with minimal earth movement, the course features 14 holes with water and eight par-4s stretching beyond 430 yards. The original grain silos and windmill remnants remind you this land had a life before golf, while the Audubon Conservation Reserve status means you might spot more wildlife than golf balls in the rough.
Hidden gems and value plays that'll make you look like a local
Tennessee's golf scene goes deeper than the marquee names. These under-the-radar options deliver serious golf at prices that'll leave room in your budget for hot chicken and whiskey.
The Bear Trace Golf Trail
Four Jack Nicklaus designs at state park prices? Yes, please. The Bear Trace Trail proves championship architecture doesn't require selling a kidney:
- Cumberland Mountain: "Top Ten You Can Play in North America" per Golf Magazine
- Harrison Bay (Chattanooga): Water on 12 holes across 7,140 yards
- Tims Ford: Peninsula setting mixing links-style and wooded holes
- Chickasaw: The newest addition with dramatic elevation changes
Green fees run $21-80 including cart, which for Nicklaus designs feels like theft. The mountain locations stay playable deeper into summer thanks to elevation, and the state park settings mean you're more likely to see deer than houses.
The Legacy lives up to its name
Raymond Floyd brought his PGA Tour experience to Springfield, creating a public course that once served as a Tour qualifying site. At $18-45 (yes, you read that right), The Legacy offers tight fairways, strategic water hazards, and undulating greens through Audubon-certified landscape.
Golf Advisor ranked it Tennessee's #2 public course, and while it's 30 minutes north of Nashville in Springfield, the drive becomes part of the experience through Tennessee's rolling hills. Just don't let the low prices fool you… Floyd designed this course to identify who could play on Tour, not to boost your confidence.
Planning your Tennessee golf pilgrimage
Ready to book that trip? Here's how to maximize your Tennessee golf experience without looking like a total tourist (though let's be honest, we're all tourists somewhere).
When to show up
April through October delivers prime conditions, with spring and fall offering those magical days where the weather's perfect and the courses aren't packed. Mountain courses like Sewanee stay about 8 degrees cooler than valley locations, making them playable even in July when the rest of Tennessee feels like a sauna.
Book championship courses 2-4 weeks ahead, though Sweetens Cove operates differently… they release annual passes each fall that sell out faster than Taylor Swift tickets. For daily play there, check their website religiously or prepare for disappointment.
Building your golf itinerary
Chattanooga Base Camp (3-4 days): Start with Sweetens Cove early (seriously, get the first tee time), then head to The Course at Sewanee for an afternoon round with a view. Day two could include Black Creek Club if you can score an invite, or Bear Trace at Harrison Bay for accessible Nicklaus design. Save day three for a return to Sweetens because one round won't be enough.
Nashville Hub (3-4 days): Hermitage President's Reserve deserves a full morning, followed by an afternoon at budget-friendly Harpeth Hills. Day two, play Gaylord Springs early when it's cooler, then explore Nashville's nightlife. Finish with a trip to Greystone for a completely different challenge.
Memphis Mission (2-3 days): Mirimichi offers the most accessible championship test, while Spring Creek Ranch and TPC Southwind require connections. Fill any gaps with a drive to one of the Bear Trace courses… the western Tennessee locations are worth the journey.
Where to rest your head
The Sewanee Inn puts you steps from mountain golf greatness, while Hermitage's on-site cottages offer convenience at $130-155 per night. Gaylord Opryland Resort creates stay-and-play packages that make sense if you're flying into Nashville. For those wanting nightlife options, downtown hotels in Nashville, Memphis, or Chattanooga provide plenty of post-round entertainment.
The bottom line on value
Tennessee golf succeeds by delivering more than you'd expect for less than you'd pay elsewhere. Municipal courses under $40 maintain conditions that rival private clubs. Public courses under $100 offer championship layouts with tour-quality maintenance. Even exclusive tracks like Sweetens Cove remain accessible compared to famous courses in other destinations.
Most importantly, Tennessee's golf scene reflects its culture… genuine, welcoming, and refreshingly unpretentious. Whether you're hunting for Instagram-worthy mountain views, architecture that challenges your perception of golf, or simply great value on well-maintained courses, Tennessee delivers without the attitude you'll find in some golf destinations.
Pack your clubs, bring your appetite (for both golf and barbecue), and prepare to discover why Tennessee belongs on every golfer's travel list. Just don't blame me when you start planning your return trip before you've even finished the first one.
