Chattanooga Golf

Hey Gang,

I will be traveling to Chattanooga in July and want to play some golf while I'm visiting family. I will not have any private course hookups so please advise me on the best public courses in Chatanooga.

Contact Kip Henley (PGA Tour caddie for Brian Gay) thru twitter. Kip lives there and is always looking for some [s]easy money[/s] a game when he's home! ;-)

I have an annual conference in Chattanooga and seem to ask this same question every year. Best as I can tell, the state of public golf in Chattanooga is not great.

We have settled on playing at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay every year. As you can probably tell by the name, it's a Nicklaus design. I highly recommend it. Since it is in a state park, there are no houses surrounding it and you see tons of wildlife. Two years ago, my buddy and I teed off the 3rd hole with a doe and a fawn about 20' away from us and they didn't move an inch while we hit. The only downside is that the conditions were just a little spotty (other than the greens, which were very good). Just don't be surprised if you see some crabgrass on the tee boxes and in the fairways.

One year a local told us to try Brown Acres since it was "about the same level as Harrison Bay". Whew, I don't know what that guy was thinking. They couldn't be any more different. Brown Acres is aptly named - a muni through-and-through. Whereas Harrison Bay is situated in this serene state park setting on the banks of a reservoir surrounded by nature, Brown Acres is in da hood under the highway. I'm not kidding - I-75 literally goes right over the course. The layout there wasn't really bad, but it doesn't really offer much in the way of relaxing when you spend 4+ hours listening to the hum of 40,000 cars rolling over your head on a busy freeway.

Ths course s on top of a mountain, just south in Georgia...

Quality was good, not crowded

http://www.canyonridgegolf.com/course/?nomobile=1

Another vote for Harrison Bay, took my golfing employees there after a team meeting in October, fun and scenic course.

I can recommend both Harrison Bay and Canyon Ridge. I ran some weekend trips from Atlanta to both courses. But I will say there are some very unique holes on Canyon Ridge that you will be telling your friends about when you get home. Being born and raised in Michigan I can tell you that you will find nothing like it in Michigan.

Somebody do this guy a solid and set him up at The Honors.

Is The Honors private?

Yes probably it and Black Creek are two of the most private courses down there.

Very private and the top rated course in the state.

The honors
Black creek
Lookout mountain
Chattanooga golf club
Council fire

These are the basic premier courses in the area if you can get on. Otherwise I recommened Harrison bay as a public option.

Harrison Bay is a solid course. Nob North is one of my favorites and it isn't too far from Chattanooga.

[quote name='Mr_71' timestamp='1388697073' post='8386691']
I have an annual conference in Chattanooga and seem to ask this same question every year. Best as I can tell, the state of public golf in Chattanooga is not great.

We have settled on playing at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay every year. As you can probably tell by the name, it's a Nicklaus design. I highly recommend it. Since it is in a state park, there are no houses surrounding it and you see tons of wildlife. Two years ago, my buddy and I teed off the 3rd hole with a doe and a fawn about 20' away from us and they didn't move an inch while we hit. The only downside is that the conditions were just a little spotty (other than the greens, which were very good). Just don't be surprised if you see some crabgrass on the tee boxes and in the fairways.

One year a local told us to try Brown Acres since it was "about the same level as Harrison Bay". Whew, I don't know what that guy was thinking. They couldn't be any more different. Brown Acres is aptly named - a muni through-and-through. Whereas Harrison Bay is situated in this serene state park setting on the banks of a reservoir surrounded by nature, Brown Acres is in da hood under the highway. I'm not kidding - I-75 literally goes right over the course. The layout there wasn't really bad, but it doesn't really offer much in the way of relaxing when you spend 4+ hours listening to the hum of 40,000 cars rolling over your head on a busy freeway.
[/quote]

Brown Acres is the armpit of Chattanooga golf courses. Bear Trace is the best local option for a public course as stated above. Barnsley Gardens & Nob North are south of Chattanooga and are both nice. Barnsley Gardens is a resort course and priced accordingly but the layout is great.

[quote name='pga43' timestamp='1388638406' post='8382925']
Contact Kip Henley (PGA Tour caddie for Brian Gay) thru twitter. Kip lives there and is always looking for some [s]easy money[/s] a game when he's home! ;-)
[/quote]

Kip is from Chattanooga, but lives in Crossville.

Unless he has moved recently.

Another vote for Harrison Bay. All the golf course you need from the back tees.

If you are looking to play 2 rounds in one day and going to play Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, check out Eagle Bluff. Its not the best conditioned course or best layout but it has some unique holes. Not a destination course by any means but a fun course to play if you are close by. Is Concord golf course still around? Is Windstone still private?

Concord, goats love that place. Played it one time years ago. Quite interesting in so many ways.

Windstone is still private .

Concord...the ultimate goat track...

anyone played Chatata Valley? or Cleveland Country Club?

I have played both several times, but it has been a few years. Chatata is ok at best. Not a goat ranch, but not too far from it. Reminds me of an average muni. Cleveland Country Club is a decent course. Much better than Chatata, but several steps below Harrison Bay or Nob North IMO.

I have played both also but its been a very long time. I don't remember too much about Cleveland except a few holes that were ok and was in decent shape but that was in 1989, I think. Chatata is ok too. Played it several times when it first opened, so it wasn't in the best shape. That has been almost 20 years ago. There were a few good holes, I remember a few of the par 5s being good and the back 9 being better than the front. Both are probably not worth driving over 30 minutes to.

What is the name of the course that is in the Snow Hill area? It used to be 9 holes but I think they have expanded.

I second Barnsley Gardens

just curious because Chatata is where i usually play/practice

I played Chatata about once per week in 2006-2008 because it was the closest course to my house. Only liked a handful of the holes. One of the summers they lost several greens and put flagsticks in the fairways.

Is Floyd still the guy in the shop?

Yeah Chatata is ok and definitely better than it used to be. But for the money would rather play Nob North or Harrison Bay. Cleveland CC is nice to but a little on the pricey side for what it is as a guest. On the other hand played Champions Club at Hampton Creek the other day for the first time and it's got some quirky holes but overall pretty nice considering the time of year. I can definitely see wher it would be nice during warmer weather months.

Chris

Chatata is average at best. Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is the best in the area with Champions Club at Hampton Creek 2nd.... Champions is now private.

For public golf,

Bear Trace
Brainerd (Donald Ross)
Moccasin Bend
Nob North (south of Chattanooga, but worth the drive)

I am a member at Council Fire, if you give me a heads up, maybe we can arrange a game depending on my schedule.

[quote name='jwclubbie' timestamp='1402235233' post='9452913']
For public golf,

Bear Trace
Brainerd (Donald Ross)
Moccasin Bend
Nob North (south of Chattanooga, but worth the drive)

I am a member at Council Fire, if you give me a heads up, maybe we can arrange a game depending on my schedule.
[/quote]



@jwclubbie. Let's get a game sometime. I usually play mornings during the week at the public courses.

Bumping this topic back up. Going to be visiting there the last week of the month and looking to play on the 28th. Been thinking of going up to Bear Trace unless there's a better suggestion. Any members at the Honors on here? haha Anyone know how conditions are at Bear Trace currently?