The Bear Trace at Tims Ford
891 Wiseman Bend Rd,
Winchester, Tennessee TN 37398
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Office
+1 (931) 968 0996 -
Pro shop
+1 (888) 558 2327 toll free
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Website
Visit website
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Golf pro
Jared Melson (PGA, Head Golf Professional).
About the course
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The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
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Surroundings:
Woodland and lakeside.
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Designer:
A Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6745
5477
4806
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
72.4
66.3
66.3
Location
Latitude:
35.209178
Longitude:
-86.259584
How to get there:
75 miles W of Chattanooga.
- Americas /
- Chattanooga /
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Bear Trace Tims Ford
Est. 1999
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 Tims Ford benefits from a wonderfully natural setting. The course sits on its own island in the middle of Tims Ford Lake.
The opening holes have a predominantly open, links-style character, gently rolling across former pasture land. These early stretches gradually transition to incorporate wooded, tree-lined holes where giant oak trees dominate. The back-nine, also pleasantly undulating and a mix of open and tree-lined holes, lays down an arguably stronger test. It culminates in the long par-4 18th that features traditional Nicklaus bunkering and, on the rightside, the shoreline of the surrounding lake.
With generous width fairways, not overly penal rough and a relative absence of threatening water hazards, this is not perhaps one of Jack Nicklaus's sternest tests. However, the many partially "concealed" fairway bunkers, deeper greenside bunkering and generally smallish putting surfaces, call for good-quality shot-making if you are to score well.
The expansive Tims Ford reservoir is visible from most holes, either through the trees or from the course's higher elevations; rarely however is it directly in play. Roads and housing play no part in proceedings here. Much in evidence is the quality of the course and its conditioning, as well as many wonderfully scenic views onto the lake.
This well-rated and always popular golf course contains many attractive features, scenic lake views and several excellent holes to enjoy. It is also home to several families of deer.
Stay&Play at Tims Ford State Park: onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
List of courses: Tennessee (West)
Visitors
Who can play and when?
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Green fees
Contact club for golf rates.
Other information
Non-metal spike facility. Walking permitted.
Practice facilities
Good
Did you know?
Tims Ford Lake, which surrounds the golf course, was created as part of an electricity generation and recreation project. Long before the construction of Tims Ford Dam on the headwaters of the Elk River, the area was used extensively by Native Americans as a hunting and fishing territory.
Archaeological excavations uncovered numerous sites and artefacts, indicating that people had occupied the area as much as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. The 10,700-acre Tims Ford Lake is one of the most picturesque in Tennessee and is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the Southeast.
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.
Where2Stay
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Tims Ford State Park Cabins
891 Wiseman Bend Rd, Winchester, TN 37398
+1 (800) 471 5295 (toll free)
Tims Ford State Park offers 20 comfortable cabins situated on the wooded slopes of Tims Ford Lake. The cabins are equipped with cooking appliances and serving utensils. Each cabin features a gas fireplace, outdoor balcony, colour television and charcoal grills. Cabins have two bedrooms with two double beds in each bedroom. Reservation requirements are two night minimum stays.
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Golf at this hotel:
Bear Trace Tims Ford
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Golf within 5 miles:
No
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Golf within 20 miles:
No
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Find a course
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Or
Tournaments
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open:the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Who's Who
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club
: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available