Golf in the State of Tennessee
The State of Tennessee, nicknamed the “Volunteer State”, shares borders with the Mississippi River and a host of states including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. Capital and largest city Nashville boasts 49 of the state’s 262 golf courses, Knoxville 33 and Memphis 25. Choo-Choo over to Chattanooga to play on any of its 24 courses. After finishing a round, many players likely volunteer for a taste of Jack Daniels, brewed in Lynchburg and undoubtedly offered on the 19th hole of all these courses.
Open year-round, the Paris Landing State Park Golf Course, Buchanan, welcomes players to its tree-lined fairways and stunning views of Kentucky Lake. The General’s Retreat Course at Hermitage Golf Course, Old Hickory, has been voted the best golf course in Nashville. Once owned by Justin Timberlake, the Mirimichi Golf Course, Millington, requires accurate shots to finish with a decent-looking scorecard. The owners of the Golf Club of Tennessee, Kingston Springs, have achieved their 1980s goal of building a “fine golf club in or near the city”. Open to the public, The Old Fort Golf Club, Murfreesboro, an 18-hole championship course, has hosted many PGA Tour events. Perhaps Elvis has left the building and is playing on one of these great Tennessee courses.
Mason Rudolph, born in Clarkesville, is a winner of multiple PGA events and an inductee into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame. Dr. Cary Middlecoff, born in Halls, gave up a career in dentistry to turn pro golfer and went on to win an amazing 39 PGA Tour events. After retirement, he became a successful television golf analyst. Lou Graham, born in Nashville, was on 3 Ryder Cup teams as well as the 1975 winning World Cup team. Loren Roberts, born in San Luis Obispo, California and now residing in Germantown, hosts an annual charity event benefitting a children’s medical center in Memphis. In keeping with the state’s volunteer nickname, Katherine Graham, raised in Memphis, volunteered to become chairperson of the USGA Women’s Committee in 1987 & 1988. Born in Chattanooga, Gibby Gilbert spends his spare time teaching young people the things he has learned during his 80+ years on earth.