Nashville

Accommodations:

Fairfield Inn

Location:

Nashville.  Home to country music, the Grand Old Opera, the Tennessee Titans, the Hermitage, Vanderbilt University, friendly people and great weather can be found here in Nashville.  The golf is outstanding.  Very few towns can boast about the number of former US Open Champions that designed their area courses.  Larry Nelson, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin and Raymond Floyd provide some fun, challenging golf holes. Fairfield Inn featuring spacious guest rooms with two queen-sized beds.  Double occupancy.  Located near Opryland.  Cost includes breakfast, green fees, carts and taxes.

Springhouse Golf Club
Home of the Senior PGA Tour’s Bell South Classic at Opryland, this course is very scenic and hilly.  The par 72 layout offers 18 challenging holes bordered by limestone bluffs and enhanced by federally protected wetlands. At the signature fourth hole, you'll find the century-old springhouse from which the club derived its name. Designed by Larry Nelson in 1991, Springhouse is rated 4 ½  stars by Golf Digest.  The fairways are tree lined and the greens are average in size and speed.  Water hazards come into play on a few holes and you need to be aware of the moguls.  An interesting thing about this course is its options.  On some holes there are dual paths to the greens.  The “play it safe” route and the “go for it” route.  This course has received many other accolades, such as, Golf Week, Best Places to Play in Tennessee, 2007, voted one of the "Best Places to Play" by Golf Digest, 2004 voted one of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America” by Golf Digest and a Member Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program .  Play this course and give out your own award.

Hermitage Golf – Enjoy 36 holes of fun and challenges with the General’s Retreat and the President’s Retreat. Located in Old Hickory, these two courses have two different feels and you’ll love them both. The facility has received many awards over the years … here are a few: Top 10 in State" Golf Digest Magazine, "Four Star Rating." Golf Digest Magazine's Highest award in Tennessee, ESPN ZAGAT SURVEY - "America's Top Golf Courses", Nashville Scene Magazine's "Best Public Golf Course", Maximum Golf's "One of the 100 Best Bargain Golf Courses in the United States", Travel and Leisure Golf – "One of America's 100 Best Golf Courses for $100.00 or Less", Golf For Women's "50 Best Courses for Women" and Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International.  Play them one the same day!

The General’s Retreat - Former home of the LPGA Tour’s Sara Lee Classic, this course is primarily flat with just enough mounding to cause a few uneven lies.  Designed by Gary Baird in 1985, it also is rated 4 Stars by Golf Digest.  With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, this track features several ponds and a lake that come into play on sixteen holes.  Hole #5, a 216-yard, par 3 features an island tee, but you will have to be wearing a skirt if you use it.                                                                         The President’s Retreat - This newer course, designed by architect Denis Griffiths of Chateau Élan fame, trails through 300 acres of natural Tennessee wetlands and along the banks of the Cumberland River.  After opening in the spring of 2000, it is already receiving comments, like “must-play”.  With 7153 yards from the back tees, you can experience all the challenge you want.  Beware of hooking the ball on the finishing hole … splash material guards the entire hole.  Did I mention it’s a 499-yard, par 4?

Greystone Golf Club
Considering this course was built in 1998, it continuing to receive rave reviews on its mature condition.  This track is a links-style design with a layout that has incorporated large rock formations into its design.  The tricky greens vary from postage-stamp size to abundantly ample.  Because of a constant trade wind, the course plays longer than measured.  Designer Mark McCumber created the signature hole to be a monster.  Hole #12 is a 520-yard, par 5 that plays longer because of the wind.  Off the tee, you must be aware of boulders on the right and the second shot is blind and the green drops twenty to thirty feet.  Other than those few things, it’s an easy one, right.  McCumber also gives you a tester to finish.  The 18^th plays uphill with a creek running the entire right side of the fairway.  Did I mention your drive must find a welcome spot between the creek and a huge fairway bunker? A little refreshment after the round will help.

The Legacy
This course was built in 1996 and made history as the nation’s first “signature” municipal golf course.  Located 25 miles north of Nashville in Springfield, Raymond Floyd’s incredible design plays through rolling hills, woodlands and scenic country vistas. He reveals his thoughts with, “I believe a golf course should compliment its environment.” It does and with Bill Casper’s management group, you can count on it to be in great shape. There are fifty-four bunkers and water comes into play on eleven holes.  Designed in a manner that there is not one single hole to stand out as a signature hole, but 18 unique challenges.  You start out with a par 5 and end with one.  #10 is a good challenging hole to start off the back nine, no mercy here. Forced carry over water, and extra club may be required since the approach shot it longer that it appears. Par is a great score on this hole. The finishing hole is the longest par 5 on the course…enjoy! Both the tee shot and second shots are uphill.  Fairway bunkers on the second shot are strategically placed to catch a missed shot going left or right. Green slopes back to front with a deep bunker on the right.