Tennessee has over 300 golf courses to play and the variety on offer will suit all skill levels.
Irrespective of a preference, there are many courses that will whet the appetite.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- The Governors Club
- Sweetens Cove Golf Club
- Vanderbilt Legends Club | South
- The Bear Trace At Tims Ford | Bear Trace
- Tennessee National Golf Club | Tennessee
- Greystone Golf Club
- Stonehenge Golf Course
- The Golf Club of Bristol
- Hermitage Golf Course | President’s Reserve
- Heatherhurst Golf Course | Brae
1. The Governors Club
- Site Link
- Location: Brentwood, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,427 meters off the Tips and 5,220 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tees options available.
Signature Hole – The 518-meter par 5 3rd is my choice of signature hole.
It plays to a dogleg left fairway with water covering the left side from tee to green.
The layup 3rd is the precision shot required to make par.
An Arnold Palmer Signature design, the course rolls and twists its way through 18-holes of challenging play.
The fairways narrow in the landing areas that are protected by bunkers.
Forced carries over ponds, streams that meander through the track, and the doglegs play to raised, contoured greens.
Small waterfalls add to the beauty and the course can be enjoyed by all skill levels.
2. Sweetens Cove Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,035 meters off the Tips and 4,984 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 268-meter par 4 5th is my choice of signature hole.
A drivable risk and reward hole that plays to an elevated, undulating green.
A large bunker protects the right side and one you want to avoid.
The fun starts on the putting surface.
Set in the Sequatchie Valley, this 9-hole inland links course will challenge the skills of every golfer.
With limited rough, the course moves through grassy mounds, large bunkers with local gnarly grass surrounds, and tough greens.
The layout presents options of the style of play on every hole and risk and reward opportunities.
The highly contoured, sloping greens are a real test of putting skill.
Gotta play this one!
3. Vanderbilt Legends Club | South
- Site Link
- Location: Franklin, Tennessee.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,490 meters off the Tips and 5,132 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 367-meter par 4 12th is the signature hole.
It plays through the trees from the tee, and a fade is an ideal shot to avoid bunkers in the landing area left.
The shaped green is protected by a wrap-around bunker on the left.
This facility offers 2 championship 18-hole layouts that are very similar in design.
The South course is wide open and plays through fields and in the shadow of Roper’s Knob hillside.
The rolling, mounded fairways encourage the driver to be used throughout, but water lurks nearby.
Forced carries, meandering streams and ponds, and large greens will challenge all.
The greens are raised, undulating, with slopes, and very fast.
Precision golf will keep the scorecard respectable.
4. The Bear Trace At Tims Ford | Bear Trace
- Site Link
- Location: Winchester, Tennessee
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,182 meters off the Tips and 5,005 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 383-meter par 4 7th is the signature hole.
It plays uphill through a slight dogleg right, to a contoured green complex.
Tims Ford lake lurks behind the green for the over-club.
Set on a peninsula surrounded by Tims Ford Lake, this Jack Nicklaus-designed layout is good for all skill levels to enjoy.
As part of the Tennessee Golf Trail the gentle terrain roles through old farmlands and then into wooded pine tree sites.
The deep fairway and green bunkers should be avoided to keep a good scorecard.
The design uses Tims Ford Reservoir on several holes and so expect some solid, testing holes.
5. Tennessee National Golf Club | Tennessee
- Site Link
- Location: Loudon, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,758 meters off the Tips and 5,538 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The signature hole at the course is the 191-meter par 3 12th hole.
It plays all of its distance and the forced carry over a riverside gully, “jangles” the nerves.
Pick the right club and let it fly!
A Greg Norman design that feels like a links with the rolling terrain, forests, and water to test any golfer.
13 water features, including the beautiful Watts Bar Lake, stacked sodded bunkers, doglegs and the tall trees all protect par.
Greg was known for his attacking style of play, and he offers the same to the player on this layout.
Beware of some of the cluster-style bunkers spread throughout the course.
6. Greystone Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Dickson, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,506 meters off the Tips and 4,892 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 343-meter par 4 13th is my choice of signature hole.
It plays to a slight dogleg left.
A short risk and reward hole that is protected by a stream on the right and a fairway bunker on the left.
Take it on!
The course has hosted more major state events and pro tour qualifiers than any other in the state.
A scenic golf course that challenges the competent golfer, but allows all skill levels to have fun.
The elevation changes and variety of holes are a feature of the track.
Rock formations, tough rough, elevated tees, uphill holes, water, and large greens create the challenge.
Avoid the strategically placed bunkers to keep the scorecard clean.
7. Stonehenge Golf Course
- Site Link
- Location: Crossville, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 5,986 meters off the Tips and 4,570 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 147-meter par 3 14th is the signature hole.
It plays steeply downhill over rocks to a triangular-shaped green.
A retaining stone wall runs down the left and back of the green.
Club selection is the true test.
The course moves through rolling and wooded terrain providing scenic views, but challenging holes.
The track plays its full distance as the fairways are relatively spongy but generous.
Natural rock outcrops come into play on several holes.
A layout where every club in the bag will be used and accuracy will be an advantage.
All skill levels will enjoy the course, whilst the accomplished golfer can play attacking golf.
8. The Golf Club of Bristol
- Site Link
- Location: Bristol, Tennessee.
- Par: 71
- Length: 5,918 meters off the Tips and 4,942 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 356-meter par 4 9th is my choice of signature hole.
It plays to an uphill dogleg off the tee.
A forced carry over water makes it a tough par 4 that requires accuracy over distance.
A challenging but fair layout for all skill levels to enjoy.
The long, narrow fairways play to fast, undulating, and tricky greens.
Mastering the putting surfaces will help keep a good card.
Risk and reward holes throw out the challenge to the bold player to attack, but “think before you hit”.
Water, trees, elevation changes, and bunkers await the stray shot.
9. Hermitage Golf Course | President’s Reserve
- Site Link
- Location: Old Hickory, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,542 meters off the Tips and 4,697 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 410-meter par 4 11th is the signature hole.
It plays across a brook off the tee to a double-dogleg fairway.
Water lurks on the left for the approach shot to the green, with 2 bunkers protecting the front.
Hermitage is home to a 36-hole facility and the President’s Reserve is deemed the tougher of the two.
Wildlife abounds throughout the layout and sheep wander through the track.
The variety of holes makes this a fun track to play, provided the correct tee box is used to match the skill level.
Fairly open off the tee, wetlands, and plenty of water are in play.
The bold golfer is challenged by the risk and reward doglegs during the round.
Play from the tips and take up the challenge.
10. Heatherhurst Golf Course | Brae
- Site Link
- Location: Crossville, Tennessee.
- Par: 72
- Length: 5,941 meters off the Tips and 4,569 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 514-meter par 5 10th is the signature hole.
It plays shorter than the card distance due to a downhill tee shot.
The interest starts at the green, where Lake Dartmoor lies on the edge.
A nervy approach shot awaits.
Two championship 18-hole layouts are on offer at this facility.
The Brae is a challenging yet fun course for all classes of players.
Undulating fairways and well-placed bunkers that pinch into the fairways are areas to avoid.
The front 9 is the more difficult and offers a superb double-dogleg to keep the adrenaline pumping.
The back 9 offers 3 par 5s, 3 par 4s, and 3 par 3s which enable the golfer to recover shots if the front played badly.
Other courses outside the top 10
1. Gaylord Springs At Gaylord Opryland Resort | Springhouse
- Site Link
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee.
PLAYER RATING
A Scottish-style-links course that meanders around the Cumberland River.
Wetlands and limestone bluffs border the superb layout and the challenge is for all skill levels.
2. Hermitage Golf Course | General’s Retreat
- Site Link
- Location: Old Hickory, Tennessee.
PLAYER RATING
The course can be played and enjoyed by all skill levels.
The true, fast greens are a challenge and the rough can be a scorecard destroyer.
Keep it on the short stuff!
3. Windriver Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Lenoir City, Tennessee.
PLAYER RATING
Tellico Lake increases the scenery of the layout, with the Great Smoky Mountains as the backdrop.
The undulating fairways and bunker-protected greens require skill to master.
Throw in the many water hazards and take up the challenge.
Final Thoughts
The consistency of quality golf courses in and around Tennessee makes for a great place to tour and play.
The variety on offer will satisfy all golfers.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
