Top Tennessee Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top Tennessee Public Golf Courses (According to Wikipedia & Course Profiles)

1. The Honors Course
📍 Ooltewah (near Chattanooga), TN

🛠️ Designed by Pete Dye
🏆 Host of U.S. Amateur, NCAA Championships, and U.S. Senior Women’s Open
🎓 Home to elite amateur competition and exclusive architecture
💲 Private club but known to host public-access tournaments
🗒️ Wikipedia

2. Sweetens Cove Golf Club
📍 South Pittsburg, TN

🛠️ Designed by Rob Collins & Tad King
🔥 Cult classic 9-hole course with wild greens and creative architecture
🎥 Endorsed by Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick
💲 Public daily fee, walk-up friendly
🗒️ Course site

3. Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain
📍 Crossville, TN

🛠️ Designed by Jack Nicklaus
🌲 Routed through hardwood forests and limestone outcroppings
🎖️ Consistently ranked top among Tennessee’s public options
💲 State park course, very affordable
🗒️ Course site

4. The Course at Sewanee
📍 Sewanee, TN

🛠️ Redesigned by Gil Hanse (2013)
🏫 Owned by the University of the South
🌄 Rolling terrain, artistic bunkers, and academic charm
💲 Public play allowed with reservation
🗒️ Course site

5. Gaylord Springs Golf Links
📍 Nashville, TN

🛠️ Designed by Larry Nelson
🌾 Scottish-links inspired layout near the Cumberland River
🏨 Owned by Gaylord Opryland Resort
💲 Public access, resort-affiliated
🗒️ Course site

6. Hermitage Golf Course – President’s Reserve
📍 Old Hickory (near Nashville), TN

🛠️ Designed by Denis Griffiths
🦌 Routed along the Cumberland River with natural wildlife habitat
🏆 Voted one of the top public courses in Tennessee
💲 Public daily fee
🗒️ Course site

7. Bear Trace at Tims Ford
📍 Winchester, TN

🛠️ Designed by Jack Nicklaus
🌊 Plays around scenic Tims Ford Lake
🦅 Part of the Bear Trace series in Tennessee State Parks
💲 Public, great value
🗒️ Course site

8. Tennessee Centennial Golf Course
📍 Oak Ridge, TN

🛠️ Designed by Gary Roger Baird
🌄 Built on rolling hills with hardwood trees and rock ledges
🏌️‍♂️ Good challenge for public players
💲 Municipal course
🗒️ Course site

9. Stonehenge Golf Club
📍 Fairfield Glade, TN

🛠️ Designed by Joe Lee
⛰️ Routed over elevation changes, rock outcroppings, and wooded terrain
🏡 Semi-private with public tee times available
💲 Daily fee access
🗒️ Course site

10. River Islands Golf Club
📍 Kodak (outside Knoxville), TN

🛠️ Designed by Arthur Hills
🌊 Holes weave around and over the French Broad River
🏆 Challenging layout with beautiful riverfront views
💲 Daily fee course
🗒️ Course site

🧠 Why These Courses?

• 🧱 Top architecture: Dye, Nicklaus, Hanse, Hills, and cult-favorite Collins

• 🌄 Diverse landscapes: Mountains, rivers, forests, and valleys

• 🏌️‍♂️ Public-friendly: Most courses are open to all with daily fees or state park access

• 🎯 Strategic variety: From artistic 9-holers to tournament-tested layouts

• 🎸 Tennessee flavor: Close to cultural hubs like Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville