Sweetens Cove |
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The Course at Sewanee is the home course of the Sewanee Tigers and available for public play at a reasonable rate . Gil Hanse renovated the layout in 2013 , leaving the original hole routing in place but rebuilding every other aspect of the course , including all nine green complexes , challenging new bunkers and a distinct set of alternate tees .
Have the driver handy for the difficult one-two punch of two opening par-5 holes . And have your creative juices flowing for the short par-4 4th hole — measuring just 264 yards from the back .
Once you ’ ve conquered Sewanee , it ’ s just a quick half-hour drive down Interstate 24 to reach Sweetens Cove , the
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top-ranked course on Golfweek ’ s courses you can play in Tennessee . The allure of Sweetens Cove is simple . Picturesque tee shots to wide fairways lead to large , fair , undulating greens with more potential hole locations than you can imagine . Every hole is a different adventure waiting to unfold .
If you ’ re looking for a luxury experience , head elsewhere . There ’ s no food on course and Sweetens Cove ’ s website suggests a stop at Waffle House beforehand and to bring some Subway with you for lunch between nines . And of the on-course experience , the club dryly writes : “ Wear whatever you want and bring your dog if you want to . We like to
Stonehenge
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say we have no rules , but we really just have one : don ’ t infringe upon other people ’ s enjoyment of the course . Keep up and be a good friend .”
For accommodations , downtown Chattanooga — about 30 minutes away — is the choice . You ’ ll have a chance to settle in after your day and sample bourbon from the Sweetens Cove Spirits Company .
PART II : FAIRFIELD GLADE
About 90 minutes north of Chattanooga , just off Interstate 40 between Knoxville and Nashville , Crossville has earned the title of “ The Golf Capital of Tennessee .” And in large part , that distinction is earned because of Fairfield Glade , a resort featuring five golf courses . Stonehenge , the resort ’ s signature course , ranks No . 3 on Golfweek ’ s Tennessee courses you can play list .
Designed by architect Joe Lee , Stonehenge gets its name from the walls of native stone found throughout the 6,549- yard , par-72 layout . Natural rock outcroppings come into play on several holes , including the signature downhill par-3 14th hole , which features a 15-foot layered stone retaining wall that runs along the left and rear of the green .
There ’ s plenty to keep you occupied at Fairfield Glade . Along with Stonehenge , check out the resort ’ s other four courses : Dorchester , Druid Hills , Heatherhurst Brae and Heatherhurst Crag . Druid Hills is Fairfield Glade ’ s original course , with
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COURSES |