8919 Harrison Bay Rd,
Harrison, Tennessee TN 37341
Office
+1 (423) 326 0885Pro shop
+1 (877) 611 2327 toll freeFax
+1 (423) 326 0881Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Robin Boyer (Head Golf Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Woodland and lakeside.
Designer:
A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
35.196694
-85.107672
20 miles NE of Chattanooga.
Bear Trace Harrison Bay
Like the other three Bear Trace courses designed by Jack Nicklaus for Tennessee State Parks (originally there were five - see Did You Know section below), the layout at Harrison Bay benefits from a wonderfully natural setting. It's not difficult to see why this course in particular is often rated the best of them all.
Here you'll experience a fabulous location on the banks of Harrison Bay, a raft of lakeside holes and excellent quality greenkeeping. Roads and housing play no part in proceedings here. When you are not looking across the broad expanse of the lake itself, you will probably be playing along one of its attractive inlets.
Individually carved through the nicely undulating woodland terrain, no hole encroaches on, or seems close to any other. The good-width fairways are generally routed through broad avenues of soaring pines and indigenous hardwood trees, with many holes sitting just above the lakeshore. Stretching to 7,140 yards from the back-tees, there's not as much water in play as you might expect for a course surrounded on three sides by water.
Some holes, like the short par-4 15th are wonderfully bunkered, others are bunkerless, but no worse for it. Most of the smallish, subtly sloping greens are open at the front, allowing bump-and-run shots onto the green, while also making things more user-friendly for higher-handicappers.
Its worth keeping an eye out for the abundant wildlife that lives on and around the golf course, which often includes nesting bald eagles. Although just 20 minutes north of downtown Chattanooga, it's well worth going out of your way to have this course on your Tennessee itinerary.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted.
Good
Originally five Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses made up The Bear Trace quintet, which is spread out from east to west in southern Tennessee. Still in operation as Bear Trace courses are those at Tims Ford, Cumberland Mountain and Harrison Bay. In western Tennessee, the former Bear Trace courses at Chickasaw and Ross Creek Landing are now operated independently of the Tennessee State Parks' "Bear Trace" golf collection.
Harrison Bay has been designated as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by Audubon International. The course is the seventh in Tennessee and the second within the Tennessee State Parks system to receive this honour.
1400 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
+1 (423) 265 4635
Visit websiteThe Chattanooga Choo Choo (a name made famous by Glen Miller's 1940s song), is the only Historic Hotels of America resort in Chattanooga. The terminal railway station (built in 1908; first train 1909; last train 1970; hotel opened 1973) is located in downtown Chattanooga and has been converted into a charming and fun hotel.
Whether you stay in one of the Victorian train cars that line-up along the platforms (recommended!), or in a hotel suite or standard room, you can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, gardens, on-site shopping and the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel restaurants.
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Bear Trace at Harrison Bay; Ooltewah Club (pvte); Honors Course (pvte).
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