Chattanooga offers golf fanatics lots of options

Course designer and builder Rob Collins tees off at the newly-opened Sweetens Cove Golf Course near South Pittsburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2014.
Course designer and builder Rob Collins tees off at the newly-opened Sweetens Cove Golf Course near South Pittsburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2014.

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Featured Chattanooga Area Amateur TournamentsMay 20-22: Signal Mountain Invitational at Signal Mountain Golf and Country ClubJune 4-5: North Georgia Invitational at Dalton Country ClubJune 22-25: Tennessee Four-Ball Championship at Black Creek ClubJuly 6-8: Tennessee Girls’ Junior Amateur at The Course at SewaneeJuly 15-17: Chattanooga Men’s Metro at Council Fire Golf ClubJuly 18-23: U.S. Junior Amateur at The Honors CourseJuly 25-27: Choo Choo Invitational at Council Fire Golf ClubJuly 28-31: Tennessee State Match Play at Bear Trace at Harrison BayAugust 6-7: Brainerd Invitational at Brainerd Golf CourseSept. 9-11: Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club

The Chattanooga golf scene is unlike any other in the South, perhaps, the country.

There are many other fine places in our 50 states, from Hawaii to New York to Florida and California.

But few places offer golfers such an array of opportunities.

Golfers can learn the game from PGA of America teaching professionals and play one of the finest public courses in the state the next day.

"Chattanooga is the capital of amateur golf in the United States," said Chris Schmidt, an area native who competes in high-level tournaments across the country and is the tournament director for the Choo-Choo Invitational. "I can argue that point to no end.

"There are so many players who have come through this city and become champions."

The public options are plentiful - such courses as Moccasin Bend where many break 100 for the first time, or 90 - to the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay which will host a Tennessee Golf Association championship later this summer. The private courses provide an array of opportunities and difficulty and have been the site of numerous state and United States Golf Association championships.

"Look at Bear Trace, that is a great golf course, and Nob North that was designed by (World Golf Hall of Famer) Gary Player back in the day," Schmidt said. "I think the public courses here are impressive. Look at Brainerd, which is a course designed by Donald Ross. You can't get any better than that.

"Brown Acres still remains in good shape and they've put some money back into it. Brainerd has to be the spotlight of public golf in Chattanooga," he said.

The greater Chattanooga area has more than 40 golf courses with an hour's drive of downtown for golfers to test.

The recently opened Sweetens Cove Golf Course in South Pittsburg, designed by Rob Collins, was slated as the "Top Course You Can Play," by GolfWeek magazine. Anybody can play the beautiful nine holes there, then play them again from different teeing grounds.

"I think it add tremendous amount of value in that average golfers have a world class public option," Collins said. "For people to come play golf on courses equivalent of The Honors Course and Shoal Creek is incredible."

The highlight of the 2016 Chattanooga golf season will be the upcoming U.S. Junior Amateur to be held July 18-23 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah. Tiger Woods are Jordan Spinet are the only two golfers to ever with this championship twice.

The public is invited to attend for free. Tournament organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of the tournament. More information on on volunteering can be found at www.ChattanoogaClassic.club.

Contact staff writer David Uchiyama at UchSports@gmail.com.

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