Golf in Tennessee
Overview
Golf in Tennessee
What golf looks like for retirement in Tennessee: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Golf in Tennessee
Nashville Metro Parks operates several public golf facilities including Harpeth Hills Golf Course, set within Percy Warner Park. A Senior annual membership is available at $600 per year, and regular green fees at Metro courses are among the more affordable options in the region. Tennessee's mild climate allows golf from late February through November in most years.
Published local price
Weekday 18-hole greens fee at Shelby Golf Course (municipal, Nashville); rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $34 to $44.
Nashville Metro Parks - Shelby Golf Course · as of 2025-04What Tennessee costs
Cost of living
92
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
None
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
- 1
Map the public and municipal courses nearby
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
- 2
Ask about senior and resident rates
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
- 3
Price the season, not the round
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in Tennessee
Where to do it, town by town.
Brainerd Golf Course is a city-operated 18-hole course in Chattanooga where seniors age 60 and older pay $19 on weekdays and $30 on weekends and holidays. Harrison Bay State Park, on Chickamauga Lake about 12 miles from downtown, offers a second publicly accessible option managed by Tennessee State Parks.
City of ChattanoogaThe City of Knoxville manages three 18-hole public courses: Knoxville Municipal Golf Course on Schaad Road, Whittle Springs Golf Course on Valley View Drive, and Williams Creek Golf Course on Dandridge Avenue, operated in partnership with golf organizations and open daily dawn to dark. Knox County separately operates Three Ridges Golf Course, The Barn at Beverly short course, and Concord Park Par 3 overlooking Fort Loudon Lake.
City of Knoxville Golf CoursesMemphis Parks operates seven public golf courses under the Memphis Public Links brand, including the 18-hole Links at Galloway at 3815 Walnut Grove Rd where senior rates (age 62 and older) run $18 for 18 holes on weekdays and $35 on weekends. Children under 18 play free at all city courses, and PGA Hope clinics for veterans operate at no cost.
Memphis Parks Golf, Memphis Public LinksMetro Nashville Parks operates multiple public golf courses including Harpeth Hills Golf Course and Shelby Golf Course, both of which list a senior annual membership at $600 (resident) versus $1,000 for a regular adult membership following fee updates that took effect April 1, 2025. Harpeth Hills is frequently cited as one of the more technically demanding public layouts in the city.
Nashville.gov - Harpeth Hills Golf CourseCommon questions
Is Tennessee a good place to retire for golf?
Nashville Metro Parks operates several public golf facilities including Harpeth Hills Golf Course, set within Percy Warner Park. A Senior annual membership is available at $600 per year, and regular green fees at Metro courses are among the more affordable options in the region. Tennessee's mild climate allows golf from late February through November in most years. Towns like Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis have their own local options.
What does it cost to retire in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a cost-of-living index near 92 (U.S. = 100), no state income tax, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for