Nashville - Public and Private offerings

[Tim Bert]

To those that have an extensive (even limited) knowledge of courses in the Nashville area:

Where should I turn for a game?  I'm moving to the Franklin area from Connecticut at the end of September.  I grew up in Memphis, but I've never played any golf in middle Tennessee other than Bear Trace - Ross Creek Landing.  I've been told by a few people that Nashville golf is architecturally challenged, particularly on the public side.

I'm interested in playing any courses of merit in the area, though I'd also like some input on the best options within 20 minutes of the Franklin area, so I can catch a fairly regular game without too much travel time.

I'm interested in public options, though I'd also like to hear about moderately priced (under $10k up front and less than $300/month) private options in the area if there are some good options.  I'm specifically interested in thoughts on Nashville Golf and Athletic Club if anyone has played it.

I appreciate any advice those of you familiar with the area can provide.

[DTaylor18]

Tim, Nashville golf is not out of htis world, but there are some solid places.  I enjoyed the Legends Club which is now owned by Vanderbilt.  I believe one of the courses is private and one is public.  I also enjoyed the Hermitage, which is a little further from you in Franklin.  A few of my friends liked Greystone, but it was controversial and I never played it.  Nashboro was a decent cheaper alternative as was Harpeth Hills, but neither was great.  Belle Meade is the nicest private club i went to, but i don't think there is too mcuh Ross left there.  Just my two cents.    

[Tim Bert]

Dan,

Thanks for the response.  Can you please elaborate on what you mean by Greystone being controversial?  It is actually one of the few names that someone mentioned to me as a decent option, and you seem to indicate that a few of your friends felt simlarly.  What kept you away?

[DTaylor18]

It was controversial because some really liked it and thought it was one of the area's best, while some refused to go back as they referred to it as "gimmicky" and target golf.  It probably depends on the type of course you like and your type of game.  We discovered it my last year in Nashville and I just never got a chance to get over there.

[Tim_Weiman]

Tim,

I moved to the Cool Springs area of Franklin about a year and a half ago with exactly the same questions in mind. Starting a new job and frequent commuting to Cleveland haven't left me much time for golf, but from the little effort I've made the courses I've gained some acquaintance with are:

Harpeth Hills - not great but not a bad muni for $25; singles can usually walk on during the weekends without too much trouble

Legends - 2 courses, a private and public; I've only played the public; again not great, but I'd hardly mind a game there regularly if I had the time; very nice practice facilities; believe the private membership is in the price range you are looking for

Nashville Golf - Haven't played or even seen much of the property, but it is convenient to Cool Springs and I believe is also affordable; believe the membership is much smaller than Legends

Governors Club - High end real estate project with at least one shot on the golf course I really like.....the approach on #10 which makes me feel like I'm in San Francisco

Feel free to touch base when you get in town. Work # is 615-778-2590. Personal email: tweiman@aol.com

[Larry_Rodgers]

Tim,

Take a drive north to Bowling Green. You will find Olde Stone which has been developed by Mr. Jim Scott who is a good friend of quality golf. The course will open this fall next spring, bentgrass fairways, 8" sand base to keep them firm and fast. The grow in crew is lead by Mr Curtis James who is one of the new bucks in the industry and producing great results. Kenny Perry owns a course between Bowling Green and Nashville and joined Olde Stone for the practice facility and golf course.

[Dale_McCallon]

Tim,

Nashville has recently been called an "architectural wasteland" on here by someone, but there are some nice choices.  For public golf, I really enjoy the Hermitage courses and I've heard the Legends courses are nice.  Opryland's course has some nice holes, but overall not great.

If you really want to get on an ego trip, check out Windtree in Mt Joliet.  It is a par 72 about 6200 yards.  Three of the par fives are around 440-450 yards.  Maybe you can feel like Tiger as you hit a mid to short iron second into a par 5 .

Good luck with your new job and hopefully we can get together sometime.  I really love Nashville, great golf or not.

Of course, Mr. Hendren is the true authority on the town, so I would definitely look him up if I were you.

[Brian_Gracely]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned The Bug, one mile due east of Triune, midway between the towns of Franklin and Murfreesboro approximately 15 miles south/southeast of Nashville.

If you're going to ask Hendren about a local course, that should be the one.

[Andy Troeger]

Tim,
   This isn't really what you were asking, but might interest you anyway. There are quite a few nice courses in Crossville, TN, about 90 mins east of Nashville off I-40. I've been to the area quite a few times and just love the courses there. I'll be the first to admit that some probably aren't top flight GCA, but I think they're a blast to play. Stonehenge at Fairfield Glade and Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain are the best, but I also enjoyed River Run and Deer Creek. Renegade Mountain (aka Briarwood/Cumberland Gardens) is possibly the prettiest course I've ever seen, but they were experiencing some major problems a few years ago and then did some major work on the course (it was closed the last time I was there). If its re-opened it would definitely be worth a look, I'm hoping to get back to see what they did to the place.

[Nick Pozaric]

Tim,

Take a drive north to Bowling Green. You will find Olde Stone which has been developed by Mr. Jim Scott who is a good friend of quality golf. The course will open this fall next spring, bentgrass fairways, 8" sand base to keep them firm and fast. The grow in crew is lead by Mr Curtis James who is one of the new bucks in the industry and producing great results. Kenny Perry owns a course between Bowling Green and Nashville and joined Olde Stone for the practice facility and golf course.

so Olde Stone is open to the public?  Just kidding.  I cant wait to have the opportunity to go down and see it.   I have heard nothing but good things about it so far from the people involved in the course.

[Don Dinkmeyer]

Tim,

Take a drive north to Bowling Green. You will find Olde Stone which has been developed by Mr. Jim Scott who is a good friend of quality golf. The course will open this fall next spring, bentgrass fairways, 8" sand base to keep them firm and fast. The grow in crew is lead by Mr Curtis James who is one of the new bucks in the industry and producing great results. Kenny Perry owns a course between Bowling Green and Nashville and joined Olde Stone for the practice facility and golf course.

so Olde Stone is open to the public?  Just kidding.  I cant wait to have the opportunity to go down and see it.   I have heard nothing but good things about it so far from the people involved in the course.

My understanding is 25k in; approx 300/mo with 400 members max. That is second-hand info, though.

It is going to be heads above any facility for miles around. I can see why Kenny Perry would join, even with his course 20 miles down the road.

[Gerry B]

I recently visited Nashville and opted out of the local courses for a 2 hour drive to Lookout Mountain (raynor / banks -circa 1925) and have heard good things about Black Creek (Brian Silva's tribute to raynor in chattanooga) which  is also in the same vicnity - if you want to do 36 in a day .You lose an hour on the way down - (time zone change) but obviously gain an hour on the way back.

Both courses are featured in the courses by country section of gca. Lookout Montain(originally called Fairyland) is not Raynor's best but has some very good holes, and is worth a look IMHO.

[Mike Hendren]

Wow!  I must indeed dwell within an architectural wasteland.  A fellow asks for golf around Nashville and continually gets directed to head out of town.  

Tim,

You are in receipt of my e-mail and I look forward to getting together.  As far as local clubs, perhaps I can provide preliminary screening if you answer the following questions:

1.  Have you ever been too drunk to fish?
2.  Do you like BOTH kinds of music - country AND western?
3.  Do you wear a trucker Titleist hat like DL III? (okay - I'll give you this one - nobody down here likes to look like a dufus so the correct answer is NO.)
4.  Do you have a golf umbrella stashed in the gun-rack of your pick-up truck?
5.  Do you believe Donald Ross is the greatest golf course architect of all time being as he's basically the only Golden Age guy that bothered to build courses in the South?
6.  When C.B. is mentioned, to you immediately think the song "Convoy" or that guy who had to hold a second "inaugural" U. S. Amateur so he could be its first winner.
7.  Do you believe professional wrestling is real and Sand Hills is fake?
8.  Childs or Kavanaugh?
9.  Sarge or Matt Ward?
10.  Coke or Pepsi?

I'll be happy to submit your reponses to the respective membership committees around town.  

Come down here, buy a house, marry our women, just don't tell us how you used to do it back in Cleveland. Remember, if you don't like it down here, Delta is ready when you are.  -  The Late Lewis Grizzard

Welcome.

Mike

[Tim Bert]

Mike,

I can't help but feel the same thing as I read through these posts about golf outside of Nashville - I must be in trouble.  I certainly appreciate the information on the courses within a reasonable drive as I do enjoy getting out and about when I can.  With a two year old at home, however, I find that it isn't quite as practical as it used to be to get in the car and race off to another town for a round of golf.  As such, I'm still hopeful that there a few gems in the Nashville area that people just aren't mentioning!

Here are the responses to my membership survey - I hope I won't be black-balled at all of the local venues for these responses:

1. No, but I've often been too interested in golf to fish.
2. I've always struggled with both of those types of music, though I did manage to find my way to Tootsie's during a recent visit.
3. No - I peaked at the answer key on this one.
4. The gun rack is already full, so I find that I usually just get soaked when I'm playing golf in the rain.
5. I've found that Ross does not incorporate enough waterfalls into his course designs to be my favorite.
6. When I hear C.B, I think "10-4, good buddy."
7. I grew up in the hometown of Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Hart, so that is not a fair question.
8. Yes.
9. I'm not sure who Sarge is.  I'll take him.  
10. I thought we called everything Coke in the South - even Sprite.

PS - I have not seen an email from you, but I do believe I have your contact information from another thread.  I'll be in touch!

[Andy Troeger]

At least with my suggestions I didn't mean to knock Nashville golf, I've just never played any closer than Crossville since that's where my grandparents lived for a time. There weren't any courses in Nashville that I found out about that I thought were worth the drive that way compared to what I could play close by, but I'm not sure how hard I looked  

[Eric_Dorsey]

It's as simple as this Tim; golf in Nashville blows  

I just moved back to DFW from Franklin, where unless you can get on Belle Meade (Ross/ReesJones), or The Golf Club of TN (Fazio) - forget it.  Legends, Opryland, and Hermitage are ok and fun, but overpriced.  Governors tried, but was awful I thought.

Harpeth Hills is by far the best muni but is usually in, except the greens, terrible shape.  challenging though for sure.  Good old course that needs alot of TLC.

But, definetly check out Black Creek, Honors Course, and Look-Out Mt in Chattanooga.

[John_Cullum]

9. I'm not sure who Sarge is.  I'll take him.  

Good answer.