Nashville's golf scene is like the city's music industry – there's something for everyone, from garage bands to Grammy winners. With over 60 courses scattered within 30 miles of downtown, you can find everything from $34 municipal rounds that won't require a second mortgage to exclusive private clubs where the initiation fee could buy you a decent pickup truck.
Finding your golf comfort zone (without the comfort zone prices)
Let's start with the good news for those of us who occasionally send balls into neighboring zip codes. Nashville understands that not everyone needs to play where the pros play, and the city's municipal courses prove it.
McCabe Golf Course might be the most forgiving place in Nashville outside of a honky-tonk at 2 AM. With 27 holes spread across three nine-hole layouts and a slope rating hovering around 114, it's basically golf's equivalent of training wheels – but in a good way. The 27-station driving range features two levels, so you can shank balls from multiple elevations. Three PGA professionals work here, presumably with the patience of saints, ready to fix whatever that thing is you're doing with your backswing.
Ted Rhodes Golf Course takes a different approach with its links-style layout and large, approachable greens. Think of it as the course that teaches you golf strategy without punishing you for not knowing any. At the standard municipal rate of $34 on weekdays and $44 on weekends, it's cheaper than most Nashville bar tabs and significantly better for your liver.
For those ready to graduate from the municipal system without breaking the bank, The Legacy Golf Course offers a Raymond Floyd design that genuinely accommodates all skill levels. At 42 dollars weekdays and $49 on weekends, it's like finding a designer shirt at Target prices. Plus, it's Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certified, so you can feel good about losing balls in environmentally responsible rough.
The municipal system's best-kept secrets
Nashville operates seven municipal courses, all charging identical rates that would make city councils everywhere jealous. Every course costs $34 for weekday rounds and $44 for weekend play, with an optional $8 cart fee for those who prefer riding to walking. Seniors aged 60 and up get an extra $10 off Monday through Thursday, bringing their total to just $32 with a cart – less than what most courses charge for a bucket of range balls.
The crown jewel of this system is Harpeth Hills Golf Course at 2424 Old Hickory Boulevard. Since getting TifEagle ultra-dwarf Bermuda greens in 2017, it's become the course that punches way above its weight class. The domed greens demand precision, but at these prices, you can afford to come back and practice. It's been a USGA qualifying site since 1991, which is golf's way of saying "yeah, this place is legit."
Two Rivers Golf Course offers something you can't put a price on – Nashville skyline views from the eighth hole. Well, actually you can put a price on it: $34-44. Meanwhile, Shelby Golf Course, the granddaddy of Nashville municipal golf (opened in 1924), challenges players with elevation changes that'll have you questioning whether golf carts should come with altimeters.
Moving up to the middle tier (where your golf dreams meet reality)
Once you've conquered the municipal courses or just want to treat yourself to something fancier, Nashville's mid-range options deliver serious value. These are the courses where you start seeing things like "championship layout" in the description but without the championship prices.
GreyStone Golf Club, about 45 minutes northwest of Nashville, is what happens when a Mark McCumber design hosts PGA Tour qualifying events but forgets to charge PGA Tour prices. At $50-70, it's the golf equivalent of finding a Michelin-rated restaurant that still has lunch specials. The course is challenging enough to host professional qualifying but forgiving enough that you won't need therapy afterward.
Twelve Stones Golf Club brings drama to your round with elevation changes that make San Francisco look flat. Their twilight specials start at $25 weekdays, which is basically the price of a movie ticket – except here, you're the star of your own comedy/tragedy.
The sweet spot courses worth the splurge
When you're ready to spend a little more for a lot more course, Nashville's premium public options deliver experiences that'll make you forget about the credit card bill. At least temporarily.
Gaylord Springs Golf Links sits at the top of this category, and for good reason. Larry Nelson's Scottish links design looks like it was airlifted from Scotland and dropped along the Cumberland River. At $95-107, it's not cheap, but it's a Golf Digest "Best Place to Play" that actually lives up to the hype. The fourth hole features a century-old springhouse that's probably seen worse golf shots than yours.
The course underwent a $1.3 million bunker renovation in 2020, adding revetted-face bunkers that look gorgeous in photos and terrifying in person. Located just 10 minutes from the airport, it's perfect for squeezing in a round before your flight – assuming you don't spend too much time in those new bunkers.
Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory runs two distinct 18-hole layouts that many consider Tennessee's best public golf. The President's Reserve stretches to 7,157 yards with a 74.4 rating, numbers that sound scarier than they play thanks to wide Zoysia fairways. At 74 to 90 dollars, it's priced like a nice dinner out, except the memories last longer and you get more exercise.
The General's Retreat, Hermitage's other course, hosted the LPGA Sara Lee Classic for over a decade. At $65-82, it's slightly cheaper than its sibling but no less impressive. Both courses share practice facilities and something unusual – eight luxury cottages for stay-and-play packages, perfect for golf trips where "I'll just play one round" turns into a three-day bender.
Where the other half plays (and pays)
Nashville's private clubs range from "maybe if I skip lunch for a year" to "I should have gone to law school." But knowing about them helps put those municipal fees in perspective.
Belle Meade Country Club is Nashville's golf aristocracy, founded in 1901 with a Donald Ross design that's been tweaked by both Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Rees Jones. It's like a golf course with a PhD in landscape architecture. The club doesn't advertise its fees, which in private club speak means "if you have to ask, you're probably not our demographic."
The Golf Club of Tennessee takes the pure golf approach with a Tom Fazio lower course ranked second in the state and a brand-new Gil Hanse upper course. They don't require tee times and offer caddie service, creating an Augusta National vibe without the impossible membership requirements. Though "easier than Augusta" is like saying "shorter than Everest."
The (slightly) more accessible private options
Not all private clubs require selling organs on the black market. Nashville Golf and Athletic Club in Brentwood lists initiation at $4,000 with $260 monthly dues, though they've currently paused new memberships, presumably to maintain their "exclusive but not insufferably so" status.
Richland Country Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1988, sits on historic battlefield land with stone walls and elevation changes that make every round feel epic. The 50,000 dollar initiation fee and $547 monthly dues put it firmly in "successful dentist" territory.
When to tee it up (and when to stay home)
Nashville golf has distinct seasons, and knowing them can save you money and misery. October and November are the sweet spot – October sees less than three inches of rain while November hovers around 61°F, which is basically golf weather perfection. The courses are firm, the rough is manageable, and the crowds have thinned out because everyone thinks golf season is over.
Spring might look appealing on the calendar, but May averages 5.7 inches of rain, turning courses into swamp tours. Plus, it's prime maintenance season, meaning you'll encounter more aerification holes than a Swiss cheese factory. August brings heat that'll have you questioning your life choices by the third hole.
Winter golf in Nashville is like winter weather in Nashville – completely unpredictable but usually playable. With only 2-3 inches of annual snowfall, courses stay open most days. Gaylord Springs offers 15% off-season discounts from late November through early March, making those premium fees slightly less premium.
Tournament season and you
The Simmons Bank Open returns September 11-14, 2025, at Vanderbilt Legends Club's North Course as part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. It's professional golf where you might actually recognize some names in five years. LIV Golf also makes appearances at The Grove, bringing controversy and cash in equal measure.
Booking like a boss (or at least not like a rookie)
Municipal courses keep it old school – reservations open seven days in advance by phone or in-person only. No fancy apps, no online convenience, just good old-fashioned dedication. Call early for weekend times at popular spots like Harpeth Hills, or resign yourself to playing at times usually reserved for dinner.
Premium public courses are more civilized, opening bookings 30+ days out. Weekend mornings at Hermitage and Gaylord Springs fill fast during peak season, so plan ahead or prepare to play at noon in July (not recommended unless you enjoy playing golf in a convection oven).
The best deals come through creative booking:
- Walking saves $8 at municipal courses
- Twilight rates can drop to $25 at some courses
- Winter play offers up to 15% off at premium venues
- Senior discounts at municipal courses make weekday rounds cheaper than lunch
Architects who shaped Nashville golf
Nashville's courses read like a who's who of golf architecture. Donald Ross started things at Belle Meade, though subsequent modifications by the Joneses (both Robert Sr. and Rees) mean his original vision is harder to spot than a Pro V1 in fall leaves.
Modern Nashville golf owes debts to:
- Jack Nicklaus (Richland Country Club)
- Tom Fazio (The Golf Club of Tennessee)
- Larry Nelson (Gaylord Springs)
- Raymond Floyd (The Legacy)
- Denis Griffiths (Hermitage President's Reserve)
Each brought their signature style, from Nicklaus's dramatic visuals to Nelson's links authenticity. Gil Hanse joined the party in 2024 with his new course at The Golf Club of Tennessee, proving Nashville continues attracting top design talent.
Hidden gems and local knowledge
Every Nashville golfer has their favorite under-the-radar spot. Harpeth Hills consistently ranks as the best municipal value, especially since those 2017 green improvements. GreyStone, 45 minutes northwest, rewards the drive with tour-quality conditions at public prices.
For quick rounds, VinnyLinks offers a par-3 course when you need a golf fix but not a five-hour commitment. Two Rivers' eighth hole provides the best skyline views in Nashville golf, worth the green fee alone if you're Instagram-inclined.
Practice facilities range from basic to tour-level. The Nancy Quarcelino School at Gaylord Springs features 3D Doppler tracking and V1 Pro analysis – technology that'll tell you exactly how bad your swing is in scientific detail. McCabe's 27-station range serves as the municipal system's practice headquarters, while Profectus Golf promises average distance gains exceeding 20 yards, though they don't specify in which direction.
Group golf gets special attention at several venues:
- Nashville National handles up to 144 players
- Gaylord Springs accommodates events to 1,000 people
- Franklin Bridge specializes in corporate outings
Your game, your budget, your Nashville
Nashville's golf scene mirrors the city itself – accessible, diverse, and punching above its weight class. Whether you're dropping $34 at a municipal course or $100+ at Gaylord Springs, you're getting solid value in a city that understands both music and golf are best when everyone can play.
The municipal courses remain unbeatable for regular play. At $34-44, you can play twice a week without requiring a financial advisor. Mid-range options like GreyStone and Twelve Stones deliver championship golf at prices that won't cause marital strife. Premium publics like Hermitage and Gaylord Springs justify their fees with conditions and experiences matching anywhere in the Southeast.
For the best overall value, Harpeth Hills takes the crown – a municipal course playing like a daily fee at weekly fee prices. For the ultimate Nashville golf experience, Gaylord Springs delivers Scottish links golf in Tennessee, complete with limestone bluffs and a clubhouse that'll make you consider taking up residence.
The beauty of Nashville golf? Tomorrow you could play where tour pros compete, and next week you could play a municipal course for less than a tank of gas. In a city built on three chords and the truth, the golf scene offers its own honesty – good golf doesn't have to break the bank, but if you want to break the bank, Nashville's got options for that too.
