Gatlinburg Golf Course: Round Recap

William Langford is known as a bold golf course architect with a flair for the dramatic – and Gatlinburg Golf Course fits this description perfectly. If you’re looking for one of the best golf courses in Gatlinburg, this one features sweeping views of the Smoky Mountains and one particular tee shot that will test your fear of heights as much as your precision. Gatlinburg is fun for a variety of handicappers. 

It took me a bit of research before deciding I did, in fact, want to play this course. It’s so close to Dollywood I was afraid I might actually hear the roller coasters, and there are a couple holes that bring you very close to the busy roads nearby. But by the end of this journey through the mountains, I forgot there were any tourist attractions around at all. If there’s a downside, it’s that the course is nearly impossible to play without a cart; I always feel more in tune with my game when I’m walking, but it’s an understatement to say this track is a strenuous hike. 

That said, the deciding factor for me was Langford himself. Living and mostly playing golf in Upstate New York, I’m blessed with access to designs by Donald Ross, A.W. Tillinghast, and Robert Trent Jones (blessed is a strong word for RTJ), but I’d only read about Langford and his contrasting style. Fortunately, of all the golf courses in Gatlinburg, TN, Gatlinburg Golf Course itself showed off nearly everything I read about and hoped for: massive scale, dramatic greens, undulating fairways, and blind (but fair) shots. 

I started my round with 2 local residents – a father and son – who were playing the remainder of a Father’s Day round that got cut short by weather. I was happy to find out that the son was still learning about golf because it took the edge off my own early-round jitters. The nice thing about this course is that it eases you in before presenting too many difficult shots. The first hole is a straightforward, downhill par 4 with wide landing zones; just don’t go long on the approach. The second is a dogleg right with a forgivably wide fairway and challenging green complex. The third goes back downhill, making it a reachable par 5 with dry conditions and a large green.

Holes 7 and 8 are nestled into the edge of consumerism, played next to a large hotel and extremely busy intersection. My approach on 7 missed left and I was no more than 20 feet from a family in their minivan no doubt headed to one of Dolly Parton’s theme parks. Fortunately I hit a decent chip shot under the pressure.

The back nine is where this course gets really interesting – and demanding. By my tee shot on 10, I was warmed up and I knew which clubs I could rely on. I had to say goodbye to my playing partners, though, so I’d be facing the mountains alone. Number 10, known as the “Bowling Alley,” is extremely narrow to the eye. One landing area is no wider than 10 yards, but the hole plays significantly easier than it seems because it’s routed through a valley. With steep hills on both sides of the fairway, errant shots roll safely back into the center of play – which I know because I hit 2 of them and came to rest in the fairway both times. 

The view from the 11th green is absolutely spectacular, but it’s the 12th that is known by some as “the most dramatic hole in the country.” From the blue tees, I was 194 yards away from the green – both in distance AND elevation. If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting a golf ball off the side of a cliff and actually having somewhere to aim, this is your hole. It was on this tee box that I felt most thankful for William Langford because he clearly saw an opportunity to boldly use the natural landscape – and he didn’t shy away. While many architects at the time may have routed the course in a safer, more traditional direction, Langford was going up and over. And even though I was warned not to miss right, I missed right, played from the drop zone, and took a double bogey.  

The 12th hole at Gatlinburg Golf Course demands precision and courage, especially if you’re afraid of heights.

From there, it was a lot of careful club selection throughout the rest of the round. In several cases, I had to decide whether to flirt with the trees or risk a blind approach shot. Fortunately – and inexplicably – the course felt narrower and more difficult than it actually was. Tees and green complexes were cut into thick woods and mountainside, but landing zones were wide open and manageable. The more risk I was willing to take on, the better off my next shot would be – only, of course, if I actually executed. And water only really came into play on the last hole. In the category of “golf courses in Gatlinburg,” this one provided all the vistas and views you’d expect from the mountains and all the fun you’d hope for in a well-designed course.

Overall, Gatlinburg Golf Course is a shining example of Langford’s style and skill, even though it doesn’t get much praise. Despite a renovation in the early 90’s, his expert routing and bold decision-making are still extremely evident. Without Langford, it could have been a disastrous decision to use this plot of land for a golf course. But because of him, it shines.

It was a real pleasure playing this golf course, and I’m glad I got to spend the front nine with Brian and his son. As a lifelong resident of Eastern Tennessee, I had to ask about Brian’s perspective of Dolly Parton and everything she’s done to build up the economy and tourism in that part of the state.  “Dolly’s our girl,” he told me, speaking in his own words on behalf of all the locals. He shared a story about the time he ran into Dolly at a big box store during the holidays. She was doing her own shopping to buy her own gifts for the people on her Christmas list. The Tennessee Smoky Mountains shaped Dolly and her music – and the people and places nearby. And Gatlinburg Golf Course is the perfect way to take it all in from a moderate distance.