Sevierville Tennesee golf course
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7 Best Smoky Mountain Golf Courses in Gatlinburg and Beyond

Looking for the best Smoky Mountain golf course? Here are seven of our favorite Smoky Mountain golf courses in Gatlinburg Tennessee and beyond…

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Golf is one of the most perfect outdoor activities in the Smoky Mountains. That’s true whether you are a dedicated expert or just a casual beginner, and it doesn’t matter if you take a cart to each hole or stroll the fairways.

You can appreciate the slower pace of the game, the deliberate thinking that goes into every stroke and swing, and the calming effect of being in the peaceful outdoors. Of course, you don’t want to get too upset if you double bogey, slice the ball into the woods or into a pond.

Even if you do, you know that you’ll at least enjoy the scenery, especially if you book a tee time on one of these spectacular Smoky Mountains golf courses, most of which have been honored with “Best of” lists and awards from prestigious golf associations. 

smoky mountains golf courses

You really can’t go wrong with any of these golf courses in the Smoky Mountains… just stay calm when you’re playing.

Best Tennessee Golf Courses in the Smoky Mountains

Bent Creek Golf Course – Gatlinburg

For the past 40-plus years, this 72-par Gatlinburg golf course has been a golfers’ favorite.  It made the list of Southern Living Travel’s top 50 courses of the South. 

Bent Creek Golf Course is quite a challenging layout, and is definitely a shot makers course. Front nine is out flat in the valley, and the back nine winds through the hills and valleys with quite more elevation change….

I had a great deal of fun for exactly what the course is, challenging. This is a place you can really work on your shot, your club length, and turning the ball the way it needs to go. I will go back, and have a great time doing exactly that.

– John G.

Professional golf legend, Gary Player, winner of several Masters and a British Open, helped design the course, which features flatter terrain along the valley floor on the front nine and challenging hilly fairways on the back.

Gatlinburg Golf Course

Adorned with lush greenery on every hole, this recently renovated course takes full advantage of its rolling landscape near Pigeon Forge. 

An absolute must play for any golf lover! The course is absolutely beautiful! It was my first time and fell in love with it. The staff was very friendly and professional. I can’t wait to play it again!

– Dwayne N.

If you get a little stressed out over your rising score, just take a quick look around at the Smoky Mountain views. Chances are you’ll calm down with the beautiful mountain scenery around you, while you take a few deep breaths and relax.

gatlinburg golf course

Wild Laurel Golf Course – Townsend

This Townsend-area Tennessee golf course has been blessed with its location between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Laurel Lake Nature Preserve. 

As a result, you won’t find much manmade development here but more than enough natural beauty and even some wildlife sightings, like wild turkeys and even bears. 

Great little golf course with friendly staff. We were able to drive right in and get on the course without booking a tee time in advance. Course offers a variety of challenges from blind shots to narrow fairways and small greens. Fairways and greens very well maintained. Was worth the 30 minute drive to get there.

– Chris M.

The par 70 course provides just enough challenge to golfers of all levels.

Sevierville Golf Club

A two-championship course facility that’s close to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the National Park, Sevierville offers golfers a choice of terrain. 

The Highlands course is a beautiful majestic track that ventures through the mountains, challenging course with some forgiveness. Greens roll true, staff and starters were very friendly, and cart girls were always around when needed.

– Jeremy W.

The 70-par Highlands dips and spreads out over the Smokies foothills and mountain ponds, while the River winds its way along the Pigeon River as players aim for a par 72 with a fair share of water hazards.

Sevierville Tennesee golf course

Top North Carolina Smoky Mountain Golf Courses

Smoky Mountain Country Club – Whittier

You’ll experience about 400 feet in elevation changes at this Whittier golf course, designed by Thomas Walker, and have the kind of blast that mountain fairways can provide. 

This is a terrific golf course. The length of the course is perfect and the layout is challenging but not too tough if you can hit the ball straight most of the time. The greens can be off a bit from time to time but that is because of all the rain this area gets. Great people. Great time.

– David M.

With over 6,000 yards of terrain, this 71-par challenge treats golfers to some breathtaking landscapes with bent grass greens and Bermuda tees.

Sequoyah National Golf Club – Whittier

couples golf in the smoky mountains

One of the few golf courses in the country owned by an American Indian tribe (the Eastern Band of the Cherokee), this Robert Trent Jones II-designed facility is deep in Carolina Smokies and provides unspoiled natural vistas at every turn. 

I’ve had this on my wish list for a few years and the experience did not disappoint one single bit. If you take what the course gives you, control your distances off the tee, and use the included GPS the course is very easy to score on despite the visual intimidation. Two or three drivable Par 4s depending on tee boxes and risk appetite from the tee, easier Par 5s, fun all around to play!

I could laud the views and pleasure of playing here for days, just do yourself a favor and experience this place for yourself soon!

– Brian B.

Be sure to get a golf club fitting from a certified PGA professional during your visit.

Maggie Valley Club & Resort

The sunsets are nearly as dramatic as the course terrain at this 6,500-yard Smoky Mountains golf club, which was once part of the Moody Farm that grew tobacco and corn until the 1960s. 

Wonderfully golf experience just outside Asheville. Scenery was breathtaking and course very well kept. Pricing was excellent for the quality you get.

– Heather M.

Its location between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains also provides plenty of activities for the non-golfer, such as fishing, rafting, and swimming.

smoky mountains tennessee

More Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains

Besides being home to some of the best Tennessee golf courses, greater Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains are full of great things to do in the outdoors!

For adventure lovers, Smoky Mountain white water rafting is a great way to spend an afternoon. Or perhaps you’d prefer to take a horseback ride on a trail through the Smoky Mountains. And at the end of the day, don’t miss a visit to one of the best Smoky Mountains moonshine distilleries!

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