Tennessee is dominated by the Appalachian's Smoky Mountains in the east with the ridge, plateau, and valley regions in the middle eventually leading to the western, coastal plain near Memphis along the Mississippi River. Golf in Tennessee mirrors the various geographies of the state with a variety of mountain layouts including Smoky Mountain Country Club and RedTail Mountain.

The best public golf courses in this guide in the major population centers range from Mirimichi in the Memphis area to the Hermitage with President's Reserve and General's Reserve in Nashville and River Islands in Knoxville. The more rural setting features Jack Nicklaus' Bear's Trace in the Cumberland Mountain State Park in the center of the state at Crossville and Fairfield Glade in addition to the a variety of top public golf courses you can play on the Tennessee Golf Trail.