Nashville Help

[golfgoob]

I will be in Nashville in May and going to try to squeeze in 2 rounds. I will most likely be staying in the Franklin area so I'm looking in that area. Anything that is between I24 and I40 west would be great. I have found Forrest Crossing and Greystone. Thanks for any info.

[Oppie]

I would definitely recommend Greystone, but it is going to be about 30 minutes from downtown Nashville. I live in the area and it is by far my favorite course and if you don't mind the drive then definitely put it on the list. I haven't played Forrest Crossing in a while, but the last time I did it was in great shape and is a pretty good layout.

[bj3113]

Greystone is a nice course. I would try to get on the Legends Club which is Vanderbilt's home course. It is very nice and is in Franklin. They have two courses there, both are good.

[golfgoob]

I believe both courses at Legends are both private now. Please keep the suggestions coming.

[hublee]

Cannot go wrong with the Hermitage courses. I have played there a few times and they were nice considering it has always been in winter time.

[golfgoob]

I'm saving the Hermitage courses for another trip plus they are on the wrong side of town I'm looking for.

[volrus]

Don't go to Forrest Crossing, there really isn't much I like about that course. If you're staying at the Marriott in Cool Springs I think you can play Vanderbilt Legends. Unfortunately in the Franklin area there aren't any great public courses. They are all private (VLC, Governors Club, Nashville Golf and Athletic Club). If you don't mind driving south from Franklin about 20 miles you could play Kings Creek in Spring Hill. It's all dormant right now but still in decent condition. It's a Palmer design but unfortunately no club house, just a temporary building but a fun layout. Your best choice as you have already discovered is Greystone, but it's about a 45 minute drive from Franklin. You can be at the Hermitage Courses or Gaylord Springs in less time than that. Good luck!

[golfgoob]

Thanks for the info Volrus. Kings Creek looks nice. Keep the course advice coming.

[lightgrip]

Very much agree with the comments about Greystone. It is great! Very well kept and a challenge without being unfair. Definitely worth the drive. I would agree with skipping Forrest Crossing. I just never have enjoyed that course. You might want to look into Saddle Creek in Lewisburg. That would be a bit of a drive, but it used to be very nice. Maybe someone else can give you more details on it since it has been a few years since I played it. If you do not want to drive far, Harpeth Hills is a decent muni in Nashville and not far from Franklin.

[865golf]

Although it's a little bit of a drive, I've always enjoyed Henry Horton State Park golf course. Don't know what kind of shape it's in this time of year, but the state park courses tend to be well maintained throughout the year.

[suwdawg]

[quote name='hublee' date='25 February 2010 - 05:12 PM' timestamp='1267135955' post='2277106']
Cannot go wrong with the Hermitage courses. I have played there a few times and they were nice considering it has always been in winter time.
[/quote]

Yeah I played them a few times on trips always enjoyed them.

[Mitch_Cumstein]

Excellent thread. Heading to Nashville on business over the next few months.

[golfgoob]

The only course I played was Greystone. Its a great course and worth the drive from Nashville and only $36 during the week is a steal. If you are going to be on the east side of town, look into Riverwatch in Smithville. Its a ways from Nashville but better than Greystone IMO.

[mvanslam]

I know your trip has come & gone...

...but for future reference, another really nice track in the Nashville Area is Windtree in Mount Juliet. Very well maintained and a nice layout including some elevated Tees.

Mount Juliet is east of Nashville...but I find that Nashville itself is relatively small. If it's in the Metro area it's not likely much of a drive.

Now...if you don't mind ponying up a few chips, the Gaylord Springs Course (Opryland Hotels Course) is an awesome choice. Probably my favorite in middle TN. Unfortunately they got hit extremely hard by the flood back in the first weekend in May. They just recently reopened and are claiming it's as good or better than new. I cannot attest to that. But if it in fact is...you will like this course.

Good luck!

[volrus]

[quote name='mvanslam' timestamp='1280192591' post='2600933']
I know your trip has come & gone...

...but for future reference, another really nice track in the Nashville Area is Windtree in Mount Juliet. Very well maintained and a nice layout including some elevated Tees.

Mount Juliet is east of Nashville...but I find that Nashville itself is relatively small. If it's in the Metro area it's not likely much of a drive.

Now...if you don't mind ponying up a few chips, the Gaylord Springs Course (Opryland Hotels Course) is an awesome choice. Probably my favorite in middle TN. Unfortunately they got hit extremely hard by the flood back in the first weekend in May. They just recently reopened and are claiming it's as good or better than new. I cannot attest to that. But if it in fact is...you will like this course.

Good luck!
[/quote]


Also, no first hand proof, but I've heard that Greystone recently lost most of their greens on the front side.

[Oppie]

I played Greystone 2 weeks ago and they indeed lost most of their greens. I am a member at Gaylord and played for the first time this past Sunday there. Teeboxes and Fairways are Perfect, but the greens are not very good at all. The flood water stayed on them for 6 days and therefore there is bacteria that has set in the roots. They are having to do a series of aerifications to get it out so only time will tell.

[Jameson465]

yeah greystone lost 11 greens last thursday night

[volrus]

[quote name='Jameson465' timestamp='1280286487' post='2603414']
yeah greystone lost 11 greens last thursday night
[/quote]

I don't really understand how these courses lose their greens these days. Don't get me wrong, I understand they are bent grass and we have had very hot weather around here so far this summer but most courses in TN have bent and all it requires is a ton of watering. Sure, if you let them go more than about 3 hours in the heat they will burn up but surely the greens keepers know that so how does it happen?

[tbuford]

[quote name='volrus' timestamp='1280374147' post='2605465']
[quote name='Jameson465' timestamp='1280286487' post='2603414']
yeah greystone lost 11 greens last thursday night
[/quote]

I don't really understand how these courses lose their greens these days. Don't get me wrong, I understand they are bent grass and we have had very hot weather around here so far this summer but most courses in TN have bent and all it requires is a ton of watering. Sure, if you let them go more than about 3 hours in the heat they will burn up but surely the greens keepers know that so how does it happen?
[/quote]

[size="2"]Its not like watering your yard when it begins to turn brown.....actually....a "ton" of water is the kiss of death. Bent grass does require to be cooled but too much water will cause the root systems to gravitate to the surface of the green (they don't have to seek out the moisture, its all on the surface...so they aren't as deep as they need to be)....you have to borderline "starve" them for water....this in itself it a tricky task when the heat index is over a 100* and the temps in the mid 90*'s with pure sun....too much water in this heat (and pure sunlight) will actually raise the surface temp of the green (the water on the surface acts like the windows in your car). Proper aerification practices will increase airflow and H2o to the root systems and help with the build up of bacteria and algae on the green surfaces but those are done in the spring and fall when the bent is thriving and can recover quickly (unless a more agressive step is needed). You will see many courses use fans around their greens in areas where airflow is restricted....this helps with the problem of too much surface moisture and cools the greens as well. Some courses use a softening agent when irrigating their greens. It actually shrinks the water molecules and allows it to penetrate the surface more efficiently. Unfortunately, at this point most courses are at the hands of mother nature...and she is being brutal right now. There is a lot of talk right now regarding Champion Bermuda....the only draw back is the potential loss of revenue when the temps are in the 30's - low 40's (they need to be covered)...or even a long winter which would cause them to come out of dormacy later into the "peak" golf season. Some area courses have it and have experienced great success. The temps aren't going down and it not even August yet...its going to be a long summer![/size]

[Jameson465]

you are excatly right about the water our imcompetent greenskeeper killed our greens with over watering this year

[volrus]

[quote name='tbuford' timestamp='1280375970' post='2605542']
[quote name='volrus' timestamp='1280374147' post='2605465']
[quote name='Jameson465' timestamp='1280286487' post='2603414']
yeah greystone lost 11 greens last thursday night
[/quote]

I don't really understand how these courses lose their greens these days. Don't get me wrong, I understand they are bent grass and we have had very hot weather around here so far this summer but most courses in TN have bent and all it requires is a ton of watering. Sure, if you let them go more than about 3 hours in the heat they will burn up but surely the greens keepers know that so how does it happen?
[/quote]

[size="2"]Its not like watering your yard when it begins to turn brown.....actually....a "ton" of water is the kiss of death. Bent grass does require to be cooled but too much water will cause the root systems to gravitate to the surface of the green (they don't have to seek out the moisture, its all on the surface...so they aren't as deep as they need to be)....you have to borderline "starve" them for water....this in itself it a tricky task when the heat index is over a 100* and the temps in the mid 90*'s with pure sun....too much water in this heat (and pure sunlight) will actually raise the surface temp of the green (the water on the surface acts like the windows in your car). Proper aerification practices will increase airflow and H2o to the root systems and help with the build up of bacteria and algae on the green surfaces but those are done in the spring and fall when the bent is thriving and can recover quickly (unless a more agressive step is needed). You will see many courses use fans around their greens in areas where airflow is restricted....this helps with the problem of too much surface moisture and cools the greens as well. Some courses use a softening agent when irrigating their greens. It actually shrinks the water molecules and allows it to penetrate the surface more efficiently. Unfortunately, at this point most courses are at the hands of mother nature...and she is being brutal right now. There is a lot of talk right now regarding Champion Bermuda....the only draw back is the potential loss of revenue when the temps are in the 30's - low 40's (they need to be covered)...or even a long winter which would cause them to come out of dormacy later into the "peak" golf season. Some area courses have it and have experienced great success. The temps aren't going down and it not even August yet...its going to be a long summer![/size]
[/quote]

Wow, great information! This explains things much better. So far our greens at Kings Creek have remained in very good shape considering the heat we've had. They've got a few places here and there but for the most part they are in great condition. I used to work at a smal muni course with bent grass and I don't think we ever lost them which is amazing considering I was the one doing the watering most of the time!

As for Champion Bermuda, I love that stuff. It seems you can get it rolling about as fast as you want (see Brentwood Country Club) and not have to worry about it. The other nice thing is that they are so thick you can hardly make a mark on them which also keeps them looking good. I know they have to paint them green in the winter, but I didn't realize they actually have to close the course to keep them covered on occassion.