With its rolling green hills and laid-back vibe, Nashville is a golf-lover’s paradise.
Golf is a game that many use as a way to de-stress. Others enjoy how challenging the game is. Whether you’re looking for a place to “swing” out your frustrations or want to try your hand at a difficult game, these Nashville courses have something to offer everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never picked up a golf club or if you are the next Annika Sörenstam; hit up these courses for the best game of golf in town.
Not only does Gaylord Springs offer a challenging game of golf, it is surrounded by limestone bluffs and wetlands from the Cumberland River, providing a scenic backdrop for players. The course, designed by US Open and PGA Champion Larry Nelson, has a par-72 layout with 18 holes and features a driving range, two chipping greens, and two putting greens. Whether you want to warm up for your next game or hone your mediocre golf skills, this course has what you need to enjoy a leisurely day with friends or a place to train for a tournament.
Named for Theodore “Ted” Rhodes, a celebrated black golf professional in Nashville, this course was built in 1953 and originally only featured nine holes. In 1992, it was redesigned and an additional nine holes were added. The walkable course is surrounded by water, incorporating lakes and bunkers into the design to make the game more enjoyable. Some players might even spot wildlife like turtles or beavers who live nearby. In addition to offering tee times and leisurely games, the course is home to the Duffers Golf Association, which includes a group of men who gather for golf and fellowship.
This nine hole golf course opened in 2000 as a venue for junior golfers. It’s the home of The First Tee of Tennessee, which focuses on giving young people an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values like honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship through the game of golf. In addition to the par-3 course, there’s a driving range, putting green, and a 7,500-square-foot (697-square-meter) Learning Center. While the course was primarily designed for youth players, adults are also welcome to join in on the fun.
Located just a few miles from the Grand Ole Opry, this golf course was originally built in 1973 and was redesigned in 1991. In 2016, the greens got upgraded to Ultradwarf Bermuda, making this course a favorite among golfers in Nashville. In addition to a challenging 18-hole course, the eighth hole gives players a lovely view of the Nashville skyline. Novices and amateurs alike will enjoy playing on this scenic course.
This East Nashville golf course, which opened in 1924, was the city’s first municipal golf course. Golfers of any skill level will enjoy playing at the course, which is situated against rolling hills, highlighting a picturesque outdoor landscape. New Bermuda dwarf greens were planted in 2006, making this course more pleasurable to play on than before. The course has also hosted the longest-running golf tournament in Tennessee, the Schooldays Junior Golf Tournament.
Originally built in 1942, this 27-hole golf course and practice facility is just minutes from downtown Nashville. With tree-lined fairways and sand bunkers, the course challenges veteran golfers while also providing beginners with a place to hone their golf skills. In 2012, a driving range opened on the course, which features 27 hitting stations on a two-level tee. PGA Professionals are available for individual or group lessons at the range. There are also five golf associations that use McCabe as their home course, including two groups for women.
With panoramic views of Nashville’s rolling hills, this golf course offers a scenic backdrop for players to enjoy. Each of the greens on the course were specifically designed for the hole in play, so no two putting surfaces are the same. The par-72 course, designed by Bob von Hagge and Bruce Devlin, features four sets of tees that provide between 5,121 yards (ideal for women players) and 7,440 yards. A driving range also offers an upper and lower hitting area and chipping green for pre-round practices.
Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens make up this golf course in Mount Juliet. Highlights of the course include 18 holes, a newly developed driving range and a renovated putting green. The log cabin clubhouse has a Golf Pro Shop, full of merchandise and a bar and grill to enjoy a meal and a drink on the wraparound deck before or after a game. The clubhouse also offers club repair and custom club fittings, as well as a locker room with showers.
