We have spent a lot of time golfing in Tennessee and through our travels have found great golf courses available in Tennessee. Here is our ranking of public or semi-private golf courses in Tennessee:

1. Toqua Golf Course – Blessed with a great location, golfers can expect to use all the clubs in their bag at Toqua. The front nine have some tight holes that you might want to drive an iron off the tee, while the back nine have some of the best views of the lake on holes 14 and 15. There isn’t much undulation on the greens, but the Challenging approach shots provide enough difficulty to make this our no. 1 race in Tennessee. Toqua can be long from the tips with a par 4 like the 9th hole which will require you to make a big drive off the tee for a chance to hit the green in 2 shots. The par 3 hole number 3 from the tips stretches over 200 yards over part of the lake to a large green that can be difficult to match if the flag is on the right back of the green.
2. River course of the Seville golf club – Sevierville now has 36 holes of golf, and while there have been some changes to the course, we only see a single course that challenges golfers on every hole from tee to green. Aptly named, the River Course features water on 80% of its holes with raised greens that drop steeply into the water. Holes 3 through 5 are located on an island in the middle of the river, and many shots require precise iron play through the hazards. Holes 11 through 14 are similar to its sister Highlands Course, where the 13th hole is a 185-yard shot to a pullout green that can be difficult to hold if the flag is out front.
3. Heatherhurst Brae – One of the more intimidating tee holes with an approach shot over water to a green halfway surrounded by water. Heatherhurst is unique with Zoysia grass that is a joy to hit and 3 second long that can play long even off white tees. This course has it all, from elevation changes with beautiful mountain scenery to holes with water features, like the long par 5 number 10. Heatherhurst is stunning from start to finish with challenging greens, beautiful fairways and great views of the Cumberland Plateau. .
4. River Islands Golf Club – Probably the most exclusive golf courses in Tennessee. Hole 3 is an intimidating par 3 hole that has golfers hitting a diagonal to a green through one of 3 forks in the French Broad River. At this point you are on one of the river islands and don’t hit dry ground again until the 17th hole. Like Heatherhurst, River Islands has Zoysia grass carpeted fairways which are great to play but be prepared because you need to hit well from tee to green to get good results on this course. River Islands is a true links style course that begins and ends at the clubhouse with some small greens that can be difficult to keep on your approach shot. This course is a must if visiting the Knoxville – Pigeon Forge area of ​​Tennessee.
5. Rarity Pointe Golf Course – In our opinion, one of the most difficult courses in Tennessee with dramatic elevation changes on several holes, including hole no. 2 par 4. The par 5 on the 3rd hole has raised tees that will lead you to a multi-level fairway with a lot of undulations. Rarity also has several long par 3s that are protected by bunkers with beautifully contoured greens. The course is always in great shape and the fairways are forgiving but require a great long iron game.
6. Hermitage Golf Course President’s Reserve – Hermitage President’s Reserve offers challenges to all levels of golfers with holes that rest close to the Cumberland River and natural wetlands. One of the best golf courses in Nashville, President’s Reserve has a tremendous layout that will have you using all your clubs in the bag during the round. Recognized as one of the top 10 golf courses in Tennessee by Golf Digest.
7. Bear Trace in Harrison Bay – One of the best dirt tracks we have seen. Chickamauga Lake runs the length of the course allowing 12 holes to touch the water. Bear Trace has some heavily wooded areas, and while the water can be seen from many of the holes, it doesn’t really come into play on many holes. Fantastic views and great conditions will find you coming back here for many rounds.
8. Kahite Golf Course – Links style course with a unique par 6 on the 9th hole. Fairly open course, but can offer some challenge with its length from the tips, as well as elevated greens that are well protected with 90 bunkers throughout the course. Kahite is always in great shape, the tees are perfect and one of the best layouts you will find in East Tennessee.
9. totora golf course – Nestled in the shadow of picturesque Bays Mountain, Cattails’ gently undulating terrain and memorable layout features a wide variety of holes including a moderate amount of sand bunkers, six beautiful lakes and large putting surfaces. The par 71 golf course offers several risk-reward par 5s on the back nine, and features many scenic holes that will challenge golfers of all skill levels. The course’s name is appropriate given the number of reed plants that reside along several water holes on the front and back nine.
10. Gaylord Springs Golf Course – Gaylord Springs is a par 72 Scottish golf course bordering the River Cumberland with picturesque limestone cliffs. This is a challenging course that has hosted Champions Tour events and has received much praise for a superior quality course. The course’s signature hole is hole 4 which is home to a century-old spring house, and there are plenty of water challenges on several of its holes. Tree-lined fairways and risk-reward holes will provide an enjoyable game at this 220-acre venue.

To complete our list, we weighted golf course design 70% and condition 30% to rank each golf course.