Fall Creek Falls

When it comes to golf courses that are accessible to the public in Tennessee, the Tennessee State Parks
have some of the most challenging and picturesque courses in the state. Jack Nicklaus helped put the
State Parks on the map when he put together the Bear Trace. Nicklaus originally built 5 Bear Trace
courses; three of them are still owned, operated, and maintained by Tennessee State Parks. However, as nice as the three Bear Trace courses are, the other six courses in the Tennessee Golf Trail are also excellent. One of these is Fall Creek Falls.


Fall Creek Falls State Park sits atop 29,800 acres sprawling acres on the eastern part of the rugged
Cumberland Plateau. The park is one of America's most scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation areas. In 1972, the Tennessee State Parks commissioned renowned golf course architect Joe Lee to design a challenging 18-hole championship golf course. What Lee put together has been recognized several times by Golf Digest as one of the country’s Top 100 Public Places to Play, a truly remarkable feat. In 1998, the greens were rebuilt and restored to Joe Lee’s original plans and the drainage on all 71 bunkers was also improved.


The golf course at Fall Creek Falls has been designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by
Audubon International. Only a handful of courses in the entire state have received this honor, and all nine of the Tennessee State Park’s Tennessee Golf Trail courses are Audubon Certified. The golf course at Fall Creek Falls incorporates all of the beauty and splendor that the State Park has to offer. With almost no parallel holes, it is an amazing experience in the great outdoors with wildlife sightings at every turn. The course is carved out of densely forested woodlands and features rolling hills; what it lacks in water hazards, Fall Creek Falls Golf Course more than makes up for in trees and sand traps. If you can make it around this course without finding one of the 71 bunkers on the course, you’ve probably shot a pretty good round! Lee positioned many of the bunkers strategically in the landing areas of fairways and around the greens.


Regardless of your skill level, there is a suitable tee for everyone. The golf course can be played as short
as 3,573 from the Orange Tees to 6,655 yards from the Blue Tees. I found that playing from the White Tees at 6,356 yards was a good challenge and still let me leave with a little dignity.


Fall Creek Falls’ signature hole is Number 15. From the White Tees, this long, challenging par 4 plays 414
yards. It requires a long drive to reach the corner of the dogleg left. From there you will have a mid to
long iron into a green that sits at an odd angle and is protected by two bunkers on the left and one large
bunker on the right.


Fall Creek Falls offers accommodations, too. The Lodge is brand new and combines the comforts of
modern hotels with the peace and tranquility of the State Park. The Lodge features 85 guest rooms that
overlook Fall Creek Falls Lake. Guest rooms come in a variety of sizes and layouts, allowing you to
customize your overnight arrangements. The lobby is full of information on things to do while there:
hiking, paddle boarding, zipline adventures, fishing, and, of course, golf.

The Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls offers a complimentary continental breakfast to lodge guests. They are open 7 days a week for both lunch and dinner. The current menu may not be extensive but what they do, they do well, and the servings won’t leave you hungry. Start your meal with the Chili Frito Pie appetizer, a mound of corn chips topped with chili, cheese, and jalapenos. You can’t go wrong with Fish & Chips or Low Country Pasta, Cajun alfredo sauce with chicken, shrimp, or both over hot linguine for dinner. There’s also a full liquor bar and several local and craft beers on tap.


Fall Creek Falls State Park is located an hour from Chattanooga and less than two hours from Nashville
and Knoxville. It’s the ideal destination for those wanting to enjoy nature.