The Course at Sewanee

me05501 · October 31, 2018

Many of us have read the rave reviews of Sweeten's Cove in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. Fewer are aware of another remarkable nine-holer located within thirty minutes of its more famous counterpart: the Course at Sewanee.

Located on the gorgeous campus of the University of the South (Sewanee), the course used to be a scruffy muni-style deal that no one would go out of his way to play. In 2013 a renovation was completed by Gil Hanse and company, and it's really something special now.

The course consists of nine challenging holes with multiple sets of tees to allow for quite a bit of variety during an 18 hole round. A handful of holes are meant to be played as four- or five-pars during each nine hole loop.

The course plays plenty long (longer than the yardage on the card in my opinion). You'll want your driver working, especially if it's windy like it was on the late-October day when we played.

The fairways and collection areas are very closely mown but also very playable. I haven't played in Scotland but I'm guessing that's the feel they're going for at Sewanee. Some greens offer the chance to bump the ball on while others require a shot to carry on. Every hole is unique.

The bent grass greens are large and undulating, lightning quick but very true. Putts seemed to slow down predictably yet roll out quite a bit more than expected. Downhillers are scary.

The fact that the course is right on the edge of the mountain is simply a bonus. There are some subtle elevation changes but it doesn't play like a mountain course. There are two long par threes where the greens are framed by a view into the valley below, and it makes for a spectacular backdrop.

Finally, the course has the full complement of extras, like a nice range/teaching center, a large putting green and another green for short-game and greenside bunker practice. There's a small pro shop and bar/grill with a patio to enjoy the weather. And actual bathrooms to boot!

My buddy and I have both played Sweeten's Cove several times, and it's super enjoyable. I'll play there again any day. But we both agreed that the Course at Sewanee is every bit its equal, if not the better of the two. There's more variety, the greens are more to our liking, and it's definitely more scenic.

If you come all the way to this area to play Sweeten's and don't play Sewanee too you're making a mistake IMO. Note that in the summer it will be 5-6 degrees cooler on the mountain. From there you can easily drop down the back side of the mountain into Winchester and play the Bear Trace at Tim's Ford, another under-appreciated course.

Here are some pics:

Sorry for the orientation. The scorecard indicates the variety available to anyone who goes around twice. We only had time for nine holes, so we played the back tees wherever they were available.

My buddy and I standing behind the green of 5/14, with a view into the valley behind us. The second pic is from the same spot looking back toward the tee. You can see that my friend hit a great tee shot...190 yards to two feet!

There's a similar vista behind 3/12 green (pictured from the tee). The gusty wind across the mountain top added to the challenge of our round.

I believe this was taken from 3/12 tee, looking back down across 2/10 green and upper fairway. That hole has a challenging tee shot setting up a second across a low creek. If you don't reach the green there's an upper fairway offering a short approach shot.

This is the tee shot view on the "Bishop's Nose" short par four 8/17. Obviously inspired by the Principal's Nose, there's a knarly knob of bunkers and native grasses smack in the middle of the fairway. You can barely see it from the tee, but the waste areas surrounding the tee boxes are a reminder of the danger. Luckily we both avoided the trouble.

The green is framed by the recently-renovated Sewanee Inn. Well, that and a whole bunch of bunkers.

me05501 · October 31, 2018

http://www.thecourseatsewanee.com/index.htm

BrianMcG · October 31, 2018

I'll have to check that out. Thanks.

tjblue · October 31, 2018

Played sweetens this July and visited Sewanee for a look. I wish I'd have played Sewanee instead. Sewanee looked to be in excellent condition (fairways at sweeten's was weed infested) and the rolling topography really made for an interesting course. Sewanee is also on Golfnow and can be had for half the price. Live and learn.

me05501 · October 31, 2018

Played sweetens this July and visited Sewanee for a look. I wish I'd have played Sewanee instead. Sewanee looked to be in excellent condition (fairways at sweeten's was weed infested) and the rolling topography really made for an interesting course. Sewanee is also on Golfnow and can be had for half the price. Live and learn.

Conditions at Sweeten's tend to be more variable, since there's one guy doing pretty much all the work. I think he's trying to be responsible with the chemical use and is willing to let some conditions exist that a private club wouldn't. But I've also played there on days when the greens needed to be cut and weren't. It's a "love it for what it is" situation IMO.

smashdn · October 31, 2018

Spot on assessment in my opinion. I was driving to Atlanta for work and attempted to play Sweetens both on the way down and on the way back and both times it was closed due to being so wet. Sewanee on the other hand was dry and actually pretty firm with the exception of the low drain area on No 1.

Despite it being "on a mountain" it is very walkable. Unless heat or health cause you the need of a cart I would walk it if possible. The course just flows well.

The only hole that left me really scratching my head was No 4. I found it awkward but that might have been by virtue of it being my first play on the course. I really didn't know where to land my tee ball for the approach into the green. I want to say I took a 6I off the tee to clear the bunkers but that wasn't the best spot either.

I recommend folks to play a morning nine at Sweetens and then hit Sewanee in the afternoon. Guy in the pro shop said it was most often an 8* cooler difference on top of the mountain compared to down in the valley.

ETA - They have a very good looking and comfortable course t-shirt in the pro shop. The course has an outstanding logo in my opinion.

me05501 · October 31, 2018

Yes #4 is a classic short par four. You'd best hit the fairway and the green to make par. I'm not a huge fan of short holes because they tend not to give you enough attractive options. I think that's the idea. :)

tjblue · October 31, 2018

Played sweetens this July and visited Sewanee for a look. I wish I'd have played Sewanee instead. Sewanee looked to be in excellent condition (fairways at sweeten's was weed infested) and the rolling topography really made for an interesting course. Sewanee is also on Golfnow and can be had for half the price. Live and learn.

Conditions at Sweeten's tend to be more variable, since there's one guy doing pretty much all the work. I think he's trying to be responsible with the chemical use and is willing to let some conditions exist that a private club wouldn't. But I've also played there on days when the greens needed to be cut and weren't. It's a "love it for what it is" situation IMO.

Most muni's wouldn't accept the conditions of those fairways. I enjoyed the course and the greens were very entertaining but 45$ for 9 and a cart was way to high for those conditions. After seeing Sewanee I knew I picked the wrong place to play.