Tag: honors course

Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top public and private courses in Tennessee

The Volunteer State proves that nine holes can be enough with Sweetens Cove and the Course at Sewanee.

Golfweek’s Best is willing to buck tradition when it comes to the top public-access layouts in Tennessee, as two of the three highest ranked layouts are just nine holes.

Sweetens Cove, which has built a loyal following online and on its untraditional tee sheet, comes in at No. 1. Located about halfway between Nashville and Atlanta in tiny South Pittsburg, the design by the firm of King-Collins offers fresh twists on classic architectural features across its nine holes. It has created massive interest in a flat floodplain between mountains, proving that golfers are more than willing to travel to find a good time.

Likewise, the Gil Hanse-redesigned Course at Sewanee is a can’t miss in Tennessee despite being just nine holes. Perched atop a mountain at the University of the South, several holes feature long views over a valley while various tees allow the nine holes to play entirely differently on subsequent loops. Sewanee comes in at No. 3 on Golfweek’s Best 2022 public-access list for Tennessee.

Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with that of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for Tennessee’s private offerings is likewise included below.

MORE: Best Modern | Best Classic | Top 200 Resort | Top 200 Residential | Top 100 Best You Can Play

(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960

Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses. 

Double duty: Honors Course puts U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur on the books

The nation’s top amateur championships are headed to a familiar venue, the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Amateurs – or perhaps we should say juniors – at the top level of the game can begin preparing for the USGA’s return to the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. The Pete Dye-designed course was the memorable site of Tiger Woods’ NCAA Championship victory in 1996. It will host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2031 U.S. Amateur.

Even though those championships are a few years away, it’s an exciting prospect for both of the nation’s top amateur events to return to the venue. The course will also host the 2021 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship on Aug. 28-Sept. 2.

The club previously hosted the 1991 U.S. Amateur, won by Mitch Voges; the 1994 Curtis Cup Match, a biennial competition between the U.S. and Great Britain and Ireland that was halved, 9-9; the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur, won by Kevin Marsh; the 2011 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, won by Terri Frohnmayer; and the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Min Woo Lee.

“Having three USGA championships at our course over the next 11 years is an incredible honor and a tremendous reflection of the hard work of our members and staff in carrying out our club’s dedication to amateur golf,” said Joe Richardson, chairman of The Honors Course. “The 2031 U.S. Amateur will have special significance as we mark the 40th anniversary of hosting the championship. We are proud and excited to welcome everyone to our home.”

The Honors Course will become the 26th course to have hosted both a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur, joining among others, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club and Merion Golf Club.

Located just outside Chattanooga, the Honors Course tops the Golfweek’s Best list of private courses in Tennessee. It comes in at No. 19 on the list of Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses.

[jwplayer 5f1beg9r-9JtFt04J]

[opinary poll=”which-of-these-pete-dye-courses-is-your-” customer=”golfweek”]

Pete Dye’s top 10 courses according to Golfweek’s Best rankings

Pete Dye designed more than 250 courses around the world, many of which have hosted major championships and PGA Tour events.

Pete Dye, who died Thursday at the age of 94, designed more than 250 courses around the world, many of which have hosted major championships and PGA Tour events.

Known for making tough courses that would challenge – even infuriate – the best players in the game, Dye left a lasting impression on course architecture. While perhaps most famous for his island green at No. 17 at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, his contributions to golf go way beyond that pond.

More: Pete Dye dies at 94 | Reaction | Photos

Following are the top 10 Dye courses in the Golfweek’s Best rankings for 2019, as compiled by our hundreds of raters. Nine are in the United States, and one is in the Dominican Republic. Each course was judged by 10 criteria before being assigned a total score between one and 10 by each rater, then those scores were averaged to compile the rankings below.

1. Whistling Straits (Straits)

Where: Mosel, Wisconsin

Year opened: 1997 (resort)

Average rating: 8.28

Golfweek’s Best: No. 7 Modern Courses in the U.S.

2. The Golf Club

Where: New Albany, Ohio

Year built: 1967 (private)

Average rating: 7.86

Golfweek’s Best: No. 12 Modern Courses in the U.S.

3. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean)

Where: Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Year built: 1991 (resort)

Average rating: 7.85 

Golfweek’s Best: No. 13 Modern Courses in the U.S.

4. Pete Dye GC 

Where: Bridgeport, West Virginia

Year built: 1994 (private)

Average rating: 7.78

Golfweek’s Best: No. 16 Modern Courses in the U.S.

5. Honors Course 

Where: Ooltewah, Tennessee

Year built: 1983 (private)

Average rating: 7.75

Golfweek’s Best: No. 19 Modern Courses in the U.S.

No. 17 at the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

6. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) 

Where: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Year built: 1981 (resort)

Average rating: 7.74

Golfweek’s Best: No. 22 Modern Courses in the U.S.

Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course (Courtesy of Casa de Campo)

7. Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog)

Where: La Romana, Dominican Republic

Year built: 1971 (resort)

Average rating: 7.54

Golfweek’s Best: No. 3 in the Caribbean and Mexico

8. Oak Tree National

Where: Edmond, Oklahoma

Year built: 1975 (private)

Average rating: 7.45

Golfweek’s Best: No. 41 Modern Courses in the U.S.

Harbour Town Golf Links (Courtesy of Sea Pines)

9. Sea Pines (Harbour Town GL)

Where: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Year built: 1970 (resort)

Average rating: 7.35

Golfweek’s Best: No. 54 Modern Courses in the U.S.

10. Long Cove

Where: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Year built: 1982 (private)

Average rating: 7.14

Golfweek’s Best: No. 77 Modern Courses in the U.S.