An enticing tour of Tennessee courses // by CHRIS LANG
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COURSES
“ THE GREENEST STATE IN THE LAND OF THE
FREE AND THE HOME OF THE GRAND OLE ’ OPRY IS CALLING ME BACK TO MY SMOKY MOUNTAIN HOME ” Country music legend Dolly Parton spoke lovingly of her home state in the Grammy-nominated hit “ Tennessee Homesick Blues ” nearly 40 years ago . The Volunteer State is known for plenty of things : The Country Music Hall of Fame , the stirring sound of Rocky Top blaring on Saturdays at Knoxville ’ s Neyland Stadium , Dollywood , Elvis Presley , and more . Golf ? It sort of flies under the radar , despite the presence of a FedEx Cup playoff event in Memphis .
Still , there are plenty of hidden gems to unearth on a Tennessee golf trip . From resort golf in Nashville to one of the nation ’ s chic nine-hole courses down south , buckle in for this exploration of Tennessee golf , focused on the eastern portion of the state , starting west of Chattanooga .
PART I : SEWANEE AND SWEETENS COVE
Nine-hole layouts are an increasingly acceptable — if not downright appealing — part of the golf landscape . In south central Tennessee , you ’ ll find two different nine-hole gems . Sweetens Cove has gained most of the accolades . Everyone from Golfweek to No Laying Up has praised and romanticized Sweetens ’ layout . But before heading there , it ’ s worth the jaunt west to Sewanee , home of The College of the South and a pretty terrific nine-hole course of its own .
Sewanee
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