We’d go to school here based on the quality of the course at Sewanee alone! What a setting!?! Wow. What a treat this ridge top gem is to play and for bargain prices IMO. Wonderful staff and facilities all around. Nothing not to like. Cliffside holes get the press but par 4 8th is one of greatest par 4s in golf. Gil Hanse public courses don’t grow as on trees. Play it
a year ago
This might be the best golf experience I've had in a while. From Matt at the front desk to the driving range to the immaculate putting and chipping greens to the bar - and I haven't even mentioned the course yet. This Gil Hanse-refurbished 9-hole track is a complete joy, managing to hit that sweet spot so beloved of Alistair McKenzie - to be both challenging to the better player and fun for the deep amateur. Practice putting before you start. I was on the first hole, a par 5, in regulation - only to four-putt. The turf was so springy, the air so breezy and light, that I did not care one bit.
3 years ago
The Course at Sewanee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Part 1 Holes 1-5
Warning: This is a nine hole course that can be played in many different ways. You must bring your imagination to play well here.
In 2013, Gil Hanse was brought in to renovate. He kept the original routing but definitely turned it into a must play stop. He firmed it up, reworked all the green complexes, and threw in the visual stimulation to think about all those wicked hazards.
Depending on what tee set you chose, you could be playing a par 4 or 5 on the same hole. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, it could be an uphill battle or a cakewalk. The two par 3's will give you an amazing view of the valley behind their seemingly infinity greens. Keep in mind there's a small burn(creek) on number 2 that's in play, so don't hit without contemplating what the rollout might be. Hole 4 is a twisty fun ride that might lead you to Ryan's burial bunker or a hop, skip, and a jump to the green(birdies are possible). I've seen it! Number 5 may be one of the most aesthetically pleasing par 3's of all time. It's as if Gil Hanse hand planted every weed on this hole to steal your attention. Throw in a small pond and the never-ending valley on the backside of the green, and you have all the ingredients you need.
Bring on the closing holes 6-9. They play as par 4's, and the 9th can stretch back to a Par 5. It will be key to position your tee ball to have good looks at Birdie and Par. Being out of position will have a price to pay. Number 6 slopes from right to left, the greens a visual illusion as the high side is the back left. Hole 7, possibly has the trickiest green to putt and chip around. You'll want to be dead center of the fairway if you plan to make par or better at 7. The 8th has a spectacular view off the tee. Catch the speed slot over the fairway bunker, and you're chippin' up. The closing hole is wide open, but those white stakes will creep up on the left. Don't go long on the approach to the green, or your ball could be sitting at the bar when you see it next.
The course plays host to the University of the South, which is a hidden treasure in itself. I highly recommend a trip to campus afterward(tell me there's not a secret society in play here).
The Head Pro was an absolute host, giving us many details about the facility and a handful of great stories about guests and regulars to play this 9 holer. So a great big thank you is nessacery for Matthew Daniels.
3 years ago
This course is, as said by multiple people in my party, a hidden gem. I visited with a group of PGA professionals and they had a great time playing the course as scratch golfers. Each hole had a different unexpected layout. I played from the forward tees and as a girl had trouble on one of the par 3s which was playing 165 yards uphill with the wind-quite the challenge, yet I also had a driveable par-4. Overall we loved the course and pro shop area, but I had some issues in the bar/restaurant area. Obviously it is a small place so they don’t have everything, but I ordered the “Superfood Salad” and I got something entirely different. There was no arugula (instead iceberg lettuce), no avacado, and quinoa seemed half cooked. They added in grapes, day old pineapple, watermelon, and melon chunks- clearly from a fruit salad platter. This was NOT on the menu and if I would have known this is what I was getting, I would have not ordered it at all. I am allergic to both grapes and pineapple so this was not appreciated. I am still giving 5 stars for the golf course but noting that restaurant needs a simpler menu & some extra help
2 years ago
An absolute hidden Gem, I’ve never seen such an interesting 9 holes of golf. Risk and Reward. It’s a must play. The staff in the clubhouse are as nice as you’ll get anywhere in the world. Thanks for the game guys!
a year ago
