Public Golf Courses Near Me in Lafayette

Experience golf at its best at Gaylord Springs Golf Links.  Named one of the Tennessee’s Top Public Courses by GolfWeek Magazine, Gaylord Springs offers all the benefits of a resort with the availability and reasonable rates of a public course.  The 2012 host course of the Tennessee State Open, Gaylord Springs boasts new Mini Verde Bermuda grass greens, giving golfers the purest putting surface around.

Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses more than 26,000 acres sprawled across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau. Laced with cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams and lush stands of virgin hardwood timber, the park beckons those who enjoy nature at her finest. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Other waterfalls within the park include Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades.
The park is located in Bledsoe and Van Buren counties, 11 miles east of Spencer and 18 miles west of Pikeville. It may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30.

In 1937, the federal government began purchasing the badly eroded land around Fall Creek Falls. The following year, the Works Project Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began restoring the forest and constructing park facilities. A few years later in 1944, the National Park Service transferred ownership of the park to the State of Tennessee.

Fall Creek Falls features 30 cabins and 222 campsites. Backcountry camping is also available with permit.

The park is home to a variety of activities suitable for visitors of all ages and abilities. Hikers can opt for short or long walks around the lake and to the base of Fall Creek Falls. There are two long-distance overnight trails for adventure-seeking visitors while the day-use trails are designed to accommodate recreational and educational activities for all ages. More than 56 miles of trails can be explored.

The Nature Center at Fall Creek Falls offers hands-on environmental education through a variety of naturalist-led programs. Additional programs include arts and crafts, movies, campfires, organized games, and live musical entertainment. In addition to individual and family environmental education, the park offers extensive programming geared to school groups. Since 1996, the Environmental Education Center has been educating and facilitating environmental education through the parks vast natural resources by offering a low cost, high quality overnight field trip for school groups. The park serves as an excellent outdoor classroom with programs designed to relate to your school's required curriculum.

Activities

ROCK CLIMBING
Rock climbing at Fall Creek Falls State Park is by registration only. Registration is free and available at Park Headquarters in the Taft Village Area and online.

BOATING
Aluminum jon boats may be rented year-round. Please bring your own trolling motor and battery. No privately owned, motorized boats or gasoline motors are allowed on the lake. Visitors may bring their own canoes and kayaks year-round. Paddleboats, kayaks and canoes are available for rent, April through October. Click “More Info” for complete details.

SWIMMING
The Olympic-sized is open seven days a week. A children's wading pool, modern bathhouses and a snack bar are available. Lifeguards are on duty and the pool is ADA compliant.

HIKING
There are over 56 miles of hiking trails around the park. Hikers can opt for short or long walks around the lake and to and from the base of Fall Creek Falls.

BIKING
Fall Creek Falls has three mountain bike trails covering 24 miles. The park offers bike rentals at the Canopy Challenge Course near the pool and Park Office.

FISHING
Fall Creek Lake (345 acre) provides catches of Largemouth Bass and is home to state record catches for Channel Catfish and Bluegill. Fishing is best in the spring and fall and is good from either a boat or the bank. Anglers enjoy bank and wade fishing in creeks throughout the park.

BIRDING
Fall Creek Falls is filled with deep gorges, dense and diverse woods, and bluff-top vistas, attracting awide array of bird life year-round. One hundred and forty species of birds have been observed throughout the year.

GOLF
Fall Creek Falls State Park is home to one of the most challenging 18-hole layouts carved out of the densely forested woodlands of the Cumberland Plateau.

Campground

The park has 222 campsites in five different areas. All sites have tables, grills, water, and electricity and are served by six bathhouses. 92 sites have sewer connections. Some sites will accommodate an RV up to 65 feet in length. Ice and firewood may be purchased year-round. Most campgrounds are accessible by persons with a disability.

The park also has 16 primitive sites, meaning they do not include water or electric hookups and are for tent camping only. Nine of the primitive sites are “walk-in” and are set back in the woods several hundred yards from the designated parking area. Reservations for walk-in sites are only available over the phone. The other seven primitive sites are “park-on” sites with parking adjacent to the actual campsite. These seven sites are located in Area C and are reservable online or over the phone.

Prepared food is available at The Village pool snack bar and FCF Golf Course Pro Shop. Groceries are sold at the camp store in The Village. A coin laundry facility, open year-round, is located in The Village by the Main Office and General Store. Fall Creek Falls t-shirts, caps and other souvenirs are available at our two gift shops; one is located at the park office and one located at the camper check-in building.

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

There are 16 back-country campsites located in four different areas along the overnight backpacking trails. For more information about these sites, please call the Nature Center at 423-881-5298 or click into the reservation section. From there, you can read specific details about each site. Reservations may be made online.

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING - VIRGIN FALLS STATE NATURAL AREA

Now accepting on-line reservations. The distance to Virgin Falls is four miles one way. Please allow plenty of time to get to your campsite in the daylight. This is a strenuous hike. Campsites are primitive with no vehicular access or water or electric. Water is available from the Caney Fork River, except in drought times, but must be treated. There is no camping allowed above Virgin Falls. Please be sure to respect the resources, and to take out all waste brought in. If camping, please leave your campsite in as good as, or better shape than you found it.

Henry Horton State Park was constructed in the 1960s on the estate of the former governor of Tennessee, Henry Horton. The park is located on the shores of the historic Duck River, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Remnants of a mill and bridge operated and used by the family of Horton’s spouse for over a century may be seen today on the Wilhoite Mill Trail.

The park offers several lodging options, including an inn, eight cabins, 56 RV campsites, 10 tent campsites, nine primitive campsites and three backcountry campsites. There are also three group campsites available. The inn features The Governor's Table Restaurant, open seven days a week. 

The Buford Ellington championship golf course at Henry Horton State Park is temporarily closed for greens renovations until mid-September, 2015. This challenging course is heavily treed with hardwoods and contains 37 bunkers.

Duck River anglers can catch largemouth and smallmouth and red-eye bass and catfish, among many other species.

The Henry Horton Trap and Skeet Range includes five skeet fields, two trap fields and a lodge building with concessions. Gun rental and ammo are available. A picnic shelter is available for large shoots or related gatherings. No pullers provided. Must be 18 years of age or youth sportsman. A valid hunter education card required for shooters under the age of 18.

Activities

BIKING
Bikes are allowed on paved roads throughout Henry Horton State Park.

DISC GOLF
There is an 18 hole disc golf course inside the park that is free to the public. With level terrain and well defined fairways, this is one of the best disc golf courses in Tennessee.

SWIMMING
Henry Horton's Olympic-sized pool is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, ages three and older and $2.50 for campers.

TRAP AND SKEET
The Henry Horton Trap and Skeet Range is one of the finest in the state and offers Skeet, Trap, Wobble Trap, and Five Stand Shooting.

GOLFING
The Buford Ellington championship golf course at Henry Horton State Park measures 5,625 yards from the Forward tees and 7,020 yards from the Championship tees. This challenging course is heavily treed with hardwoods and contains 37 bunkers. Although the length may scare some golfers away, the fairways are generous in width and the greens larger than average.

HIKING
With over 10 miles of hiking, Henry Horton State Park is a wonderful place to get outside and into nature. From deep and cool sinkholes to dry and hot cedar glades, from riverbank ecology to areas with deep cultural history, the trials here are unique, diverse and rewarding around every bend.

FISHING
The Duck River provides catches of Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Redeye, and catfish. Fishing can be very good from the banks as well as by small boats. Some areas provide excellent opportunities for flyfishing.

BIRDING
Birding is exceptional for residents such as Carolina chickadee and tufted titmouse, pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers and migrating warblers. Over 70 species of birds have been observed throughout the year.

Campground

CAMPSITES

Campsites are limited to six people and two vehicles maximum. Only two tents or an RV and one tent allowed on camp sites. All sites have tables and fire rings. Two bathhouses are available seasonally and one remains open during the winter to accommodate tents and small campers without self-contained facilities. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash. Pets may not be left tied unattended. WiFi is available in the campground and firewood is sold onsite.  A large group tent camp site is also available.

The newly renovated campstore sells basic camping supplies, snack and drinks as well as gift items such as t-shirts, hats and toys. We recently added a new coffee and seating area as well as expanding our inventory. Come out and see us!

Montgomery Bell State Park is located seven miles east of Dickson in Dickson County. The park was once the center of the iron industry in Middle Tennessee. The park’s namesake, Montgomery Bell, formed one of the largest iron industries in Tennessee. Iron was once thought to be more valuable than gold and was a very lucrative industry at the time.

Montgomery Bell State Park is equipped with a conference center that can host up to 500 people. The onsite restaurant is open every day and available to cater events. Within the center, the inn offers 120 rooms and five suites. The park also has eight environmentally-friendly modern cabins available for rent.

The park’s campground can accommodate 60 ft. campers on most electrical sites. The campground has on-site sewer at 40 sites and can accommodate small pop-up campers and large RVs. There are 94 campsites available at the park.

Group Camp One was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The camp is in a rustic setting and is considered a historic landmark. The buildings are constructed of hand-hewn stone. The 47 rustic cabins, which do not have air conditioning or heating, sleep 120 people.

The site of the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church is also located at Montgomery Bell State Park. The church was founded in 1810 in the log cabin home of Reverend Samuel McAdow. A replica of the cabin and a church are located within the park.

There are many activities to try at the park. Most notably, are hiking, biking, golf, and fishing. There are nearly 19 miles of trails throughout the park with one that follows the circumference of the park. The Par 72, 18-hole golf course is a local treasure. The clubhouse, with a snack bar and pro shop, also has a furnished patio that can be reserved for events. There are three lakes within Montgomery Bell State Park for fishing and boating. Paddle boats, jon boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the park.

Activities

BIRDING
The primary habitat is open forest with small field openings and roadway edges. The lakes attract small numbers of waterfowl such as mallard and wood duck, and bald eagle primarily in winter. Twenty miles of trails wind through woods or adjacent to roadways or fields, allowing observation of such residents as Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, barred owl, and many more. During migration, a variety of warblers can be seen along with breeding red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos. Northern parula can be heard or seen in summer at the creek next to the visitor center. Montgomery Bell has had 139 species identified.

PADDLING
Kayaks and pedal boats are rented for use on Acorn Lake through PaddleEZ.com. The cost is $18 an hour. Private boats are allowed on Lake Acorn.

BIKING
The park has approximately 23.5 miles of dirt mountain bike trail. The mountain bike trails are not in the main section of the park. The various trails differ in difficulty from easy to difficult.

BOATING
Boating is allowed on all three lakes at Montgomery Bell State Park. Outboard motors are not allowed on boats at any time on any of the lakes. The Lake Woodhaven boat ramp is at the boat access entrance.  

SWIMMING
The swim beach on Lake Acorn is free and available to the public, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

GOLFING
The course was built in 1973 and then redesigned by designer Gary Roger Baird in 1988. The entire course is heavily wooded and features an abundance of wildlife such as deer, geese and wild turkey.

HIKING
Montgomery Bell has several hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate, including a 10 mile overnight trail.

FISHING
Lake Woodhaven (50-acre) provides fishing for bass, bream and catfish.

Campground

TENT & RV CAMPSITES

Open year-round, the campground provides 20, 30 and 50 amp electric service and can accommodate 60 ft. campers on most electrical sites. There are 47 sites equipped with water and electric, 40 sites with onsite sewer and can accommodate pop-up campers to the largest RVs and 22 tent only campsites. There are two pull-through campsites accessible to persons with a disability. There are three bathhouses located in the campground. Two sites are accessible to persons with a disability. Picnic tables, trash cans and grills are available at campsites.

Please note, campsites may contain only one of the following combinations:

one motorhome, (fifth-wheel, travel trailer or pop-up, etc.) plus one tent, or
two tents only

Dogs, cats and other pets are welcome at the campground but are to be controlled and on a leash at all times. They may not be tied and left unattended outside. Pets are not allowed inside any buildings, rental units, pavilions, beach area or playground areas.

Some sites are available along the bank of the creek running beside the campground.

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

Back country camping is allowed on the overnight trail with a back country camping permit. Tent camping is not allowed on the overnight trail.

Just an hour-and-a-half south of Nashville lies another star of the Jack Nicklaus-designed collection. The Bear Trace at Tims Ford has received widespread acclaim almost from the day of its opening. Included among its plaudits are one of the "Top Ten Places You Can Play" and one of the "Best New Destinations" in Tennessee for 1999. Situated on a peninsula surrounded by picturesque Tims Ford Lake, this visually compelling golf course has been described by one national publication as a "glittering newcomer....an intriguing 6,764 yard layout (gold tees) with several different looks."

About the Course

The second Bear Trace course to open, Harrison Bay is destined to become a true classic in this collection designed by Jack Nicklaus. Located approximately 20 minutes north of downtown Chattanooga, the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is surrounded by both water and heavily-wooded land, making an ideal setting for the course. Referred to as “the best natural piece of land for a golf course,” the course features Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways lined with soaring pine and hardwood trees. Although water touches 12 fairways, there is more than sufficient room to play safely. Most greens are open in front, which makes the course more user-friendly for high-handicap players and allows run-up shots. Fairway and green side bunkers are designed in the traditional Nicklaus fashion and add notable character to the overall integrity of the course. Like other courses in the collection, the emphasis on playability is clearly evident.

Rivaled in beauty, only by The Great Smoky National Park, the views available from every hole are reminiscent of Laurel Valley’s ridge-side neighbor … Cade’s Cove. This challenging, yet playable, eighteen-hole regulation course, was designed by Edmund B. Ault, ASGCA, and features bent grass greens and bermuda fairways. Dramatic drops in elevation, natural meandering creeks, and towering mountains are at every turn. Although private memberships are available, Laurel Valley Golf Course is open to public play and events, and offers a practice putting green, as well as rental clubs for the traveling golfer.

About Us:

Gatlinburg Golf Course is open year-round with modern facilities, fully equipped pro shop and food services area. This beautiful 18-hole course was designed by noted golf course architect William Langford. In 1993 and again in 2007, it underwent major renovations by Bob Cupp & Associates of Atlanta.Today, the completely rebuilt greens and reworked fairways are better than ever. The course offers the well-seasoned golfer as well as the beginner a challenge on every hole, while its scenic beauty is unsurpassed.The course has been acclaimed as one of the most picturesque courses in America with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Located just five miles from downtown Gatlinburg, the course lies adjacent to Dollywood. Convention and group outings are welcome. Call us – we'll have a tee time waiting for you!Play our legendary #12, affectionately known as "Sky Hi." It's 194 yards in length and drops 200 feet, tee to green, making it one of the most dramatic holes in the country. The #3, 529-yard par 5 we call "Long Lane," and for good reason! And #17, a 231-yard par 3, offers little in the way of forgiveness. All together, it’s 6,281 yards of challenge and fun.