Nashville is the most underrated golf trip in the Southeast. The courses are not household names but Hermitage President's Reserve and General's Retreat are well-maintained public courses at rates that feel like a discount. The nightlife on Broadway and Midtown makes it the easiest city to fill an evening after golf. A 4-day trip with 3 rounds is the right structure.
Courses included
The trip experience
Nashville is the most underrated golf trip in the Southeast, and the argument is simple: the courses are better than most non-Tennesseans realize, the rates are below what the city's national profile would suggest, and the post-round infrastructure is unmatched by any other American golf destination. Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, 20 minutes from downtown, gives the trip its spine with two 18-hole layouts on a Cumberland River wetlands property that actually delivers distinctive golf rather than generic public-course parkland.
President's Reserve is the stronger of the two Hermitage layouts. Denis Griffiths's 7,200-yard design winds through 300 acres of protected Cumberland River bottomland, with natural elevation changes, long carries over wetland corridors, and a back nine that follows the river closely enough to make the environment feel consequential. The LPGA Sara Lee Classic ran on General's Retreat from 1988 to 1999, but President's Reserve is the more demanding and memorable course now. Weekday morning rates run under $80.
"President's Reserve at Hermitage is a 7,200-yard Denis Griffiths design through 300 acres of Cumberland River wetlands -- and it runs under $80 on weekday mornings."
Gaylord Springs Golf Links completes the two-course anchor. Larry Nelson's design along the Cumberland River southeast of downtown is the most links-style round available in Tennessee: open terrain, firm conditions when maintained, and enough wind exposure to change club selection on a regular basis. At under $95 a round and 10 minutes from Nashville International Airport, it is accessible as both an arrival-day option and a departure-morning round without requiring a detour from the BNA corridor.
"Gaylord Springs Golf Links is a Larry Nelson design that plays like a Scottish links along the Cumberland River, sits 10 minutes from Nashville BNA, and caps around $95 a round."
The want list is modest. Franklin Bridge Golf Club in Franklin, 25 minutes south, is a value fourth round for groups with extra time before departure, at rates well below the Hermitage structure.
Nashville proper is the trip's differentiator. The Broadway honky-tonk corridor -- Lower Broadway's blocks of live music venues, from Tootsies to the Stage -- is genuine, not manufactured, and functions as a reliable post-round destination regardless of what you are into. East Nashville's Five Points neighborhood and the 12 South corridor are the spots for actual dining: Josephine, Prince's Hot Chicken, Lockeland Table. The Gulch has the hotel-adjacent dinner options for groups anchoring in the urban core. Groups who want the full version of the Nashville evening should budget two nights in lower Broadway walking distance.
Fly into Nashville International (BNA), which is 20 minutes from both Hermitage and Gaylord Springs. No rental car is strictly necessary for the two-course core itinerary -- the Uber from BNA to Old Hickory runs under $30. A car is useful for a Franklin Bridge add-on. Book Hermitage 30 to 60 days out for weekend mornings; President's Reserve fills faster than General's Retreat.
Side trips & bonus golf
Broadway in downtown Nashville has become one of the most efficient entertainment corridors in the country for a group night out. The honky-tonks run live music from noon to 2am, entry is free, and the density means you can walk from spot to spot without planning. Tootsies Orchid Lounge and Robert's Western World are the two legacy institutions worth intentional stops. The newer bars on the Gulch neighborhood, 10 minutes from Broadway, are lower-key and easier for groups who want actual conversation.
Country music history is well-packaged here. The Country Music Hall of Fame is a serious museum worth 3-4 hours if anyone in the group is genuinely interested. The Grand Ole Opry, directly adjacent to Gaylord Springs Golf Links, runs shows on Friday and Saturday nights and is worth the ticket price once.
Franklin, Tennessee sits about 20 miles south of Nashville and has the best independent restaurant strip outside of downtown. The historic main street has two or three farm-to-table restaurants that punch well above what a town of 80,000 should have. Puckett's Grocery there has live music in a more manageable format than downtown Broadway.
GreyStone Golf Club in Dickson, about 45 minutes west of Nashville, is the course that local golfers cite as comparable to Gaylord Springs with a different design character. Worth adding as a fourth round option if the itinerary extends to 5 days and you want variety beyond the two main courses.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓Book this trip if the combination of good public golf and one of the best cities in the country for a night out appeals to your group.
- ✓Book this trip if value matters. Nashville golf runs $69-115 per round at Hermitage and up to $95 at Gaylord Springs, well below Florida and Hawaii resort pricing.
- ✓Book this trip if Bachelor party or large group coordination is the goal. Nashville has the nightlife infrastructure to handle 8-12 people efficiently.
- ✓Book this trip if Spring or Fall travel is preferred. The course conditions and weather combination is excellent in April, May, and October.
- ✓Book this trip if fly-in logistics need to be simple. BNA airport is 10 minutes from Gaylord Springs and 25 minutes from downtown.
- ✓Book this trip if the group wants a self-directed experience with no resort dependence. All courses are public and no resort stay is required for access.
- ✗Skip this trip if Top 100 course access is the requirement. Nashville has no nationally ranked layouts.
- ✗Skip this trip if a quiet, golf-focused retreat away from city energy is the goal. Nashville is a party city and the energy follows you everywhere.
- ✗Skip this trip if December through February weather is a concern. Tennessee winters can produce cold rain and occasional frost closures.
- ✗Skip this trip if the group wants resort-style amenities on property. Off-property hotel stays and separate course bookings are the only format here.
When to go
- April and May deliver ideal playing conditions with temperatures in the 65-78 degree range, minimal rain, and full course availability at both Hermitage and Gaylord Springs.
- Nashville tourism peaks in May for the CMA Fest in early June and hotel rates begin climbing in mid-April. Book lodging 6-8 weeks ahead for late April and May.
- October is an equivalent peak for golf. Fall foliage along the Cumberland River corridors adds visual appeal that is unique to the season.
- Spring weekends at Hermitage President's Reserve book out 2-3 weeks ahead. Weekday tee times remain accessible with 1-week notice through April.
- March has variable weather but mostly playable conditions. Course fees run 15-20 percent below April peak and the city is not yet fully into tourist season.
- September begins the fall window. Hermitage stays in strong condition through fall and the Cumberland River wetlands on President's Reserve take on a different quality in September light.
- November is the tail of the fall shoulder. Thanksgiving week tends to be quiet and some of the best rate windows of the year appear in the two weeks before the holiday.
- Gaylord Springs dynamic pricing tends to show better rates in shoulder months. Book 3-4 weeks out in March and September for the best rate window.
- December through February is the weakest window for golf but remains viable. Tennessee winters average 10-15 frost days per year in Nashville, most in January.
- Course closures at both Hermitage and Gaylord Springs are temporary and weather-dependent. Call ahead or book through the apps which show real-time availability.
- Winter hotel rates in Nashville are the lowest of the year. Groups who prioritize nightlife over golf conditions find December and February good value.
- Broadway honky-tonks run on full schedule year-round regardless of season. The city does not slow down for winter the way seasonal resort destinations do.
What a Nashville trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (3 rounds) | $225-$345 | $175-$280 | $145-$230 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $450-$1,050 | $350-$780 | $290-$630 |
| Food & drink | $350-$600 | $260-$450 | $210-$370 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $150-$250 | $120-$200 | $100-$160 |
| Total (est.) | $1,175–$2,245 | $905–$1,710 | $745–$1,390 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (3 rounds) | $225-$345 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $450-$1,050 |
| Food & drink | $350-$600 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $150-$250 |
| Total (est.) | $1,175–$2,245 |
Per-person estimates for a 3-round, 3-night trip at Hermitage and Gaylord Springs. Excludes flights. Nashville BNA is 20 minutes from both courses. All-in: $1,200-2,250 peak (Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov), $900-1,700 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Hermitage rates vary significantly by day and timeMonday through Wednesday mornings run $69-70 plus tax on General's Retreat. Friday and Saturday peak to $88. Book mid-week rounds to maximize value.
- 2Gaylord Springs uses dynamic pricingRates adjust based on demand and booking timing. Book 2-3 weeks ahead to lock in lower rates before demand pricing kicks in.
- 3Hermitage President's Reserve is rated Top 10 in Tennessee by Golf DigestIt books faster than General's Retreat on weekends. If one course fills, the other is always available.
- 4Hermitage twilight rates start at 4pmAt $44-62 depending on course and day, this is the best value in Nashville golf. Early August sunsets make late afternoon rounds viable.
- 5Gaylord Springs is closed MondaysPlan the Gaylord round for Tuesday through Sunday only.
Common mistakes
- !Treating Nashville as only a golf tripThe evening programming is too good to ignore. Groups that play 36 holes and go straight to bed miss half of what makes Nashville worth the trip.
- !Not booking Hermitage President's Reserve over General's Retreat on the first dayPresident's Reserve at 7,200 yards is the more demanding and rewarding experience. Play it when legs are fresh.
- !Relying on Broadway for dinnerThe honky-tonks are for drinking and music, not serious eating. Dinner quality on Broadway is poor. Eat in Midtown or the Gulch and go to Broadway for the music afterward.
- !Underestimating the Gaylord Springs fourth holeThe signature hole at Gaylord Springs is the century-old springhouse par-3. Multiple golfers miss that it requires a forced carry over a chipping-shot length gap. It catches first-timers.
- !Booking accommodation downtown without accounting for golf driving timeDowntown Nashville to Hermitage Golf Course is 25-30 minutes with no traffic. Add buffer to morning tee times.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + President's ReserveLand BNA, afternoon President's Reserve at Hermitage.
- Day 2General's RetreatMorning General's Retreat at Hermitage. Afternoon East Nashville food and music corridor.
- Day 3Gaylord SpringsMorning Gaylord Springs. Full afternoon on Lower Broadway -- Tootsies, Legends Corner, the Stage.
- Day 4Value round + DepartFranklin Bridge morning round, afternoon BNA departure.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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