The Honors Course Continues To Reign As One Of America’s Best Courses

Tennessee’s Best: The Honors Course

photo by Dan Reynolds

A Breathtaking Final Hole at McLemore Club’s Highland Course

The Newly-Restored Lookout Mountain Club Among Georgia’s Top Courses

Council Fire Golf Club Makes Striking Debut Among Tennessee’s Best

The Farm Golf Course in Rocky Face Rises in Georgia Rankings

Chattanooga Golf & Country Club: Golf Digest’s No. 10 course in Tennessee

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When Golf Digest unveiled its ranking of “America’s Most Challenging Courses,” The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, made the list at No. 23. However, an interesting anecdote from Tiger Woods may contradict this ranking.

The memory of competing in the 1996 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship hosted by The Honors Course left a lasting impression on Tiger Woods, who won the tournament as a sophomore at Stanford University shortly before turning professional. However, his highest round score of 80, the highest round he recorded as a collegian, dampened his experience at The Honors Course.

A decade later, PGA Tour caddie, Brent Henley, shared an encounter with Woods at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, where Woods declared that The Honors Course was the hardest golf course he ever played on.

The Honors Course is ranked No. 31 among the publication’s rating of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, and was also one of seven local layouts to be recognized in state rankings. The Honors Course is rated as the best course in Tennessee, followed by Black Creek Club at No. 8, Chattanooga Golf & Country Club at No. 10, and Council Fire Golf Club at No. 15.

Lookout Mountain Club climbed several spots among the top courses in Georgia to land at No. 12, followed by The Farm Golf Club at No. 15 and McLemore Club’s Highland Course at No. 23. Henrik Simonsen, the Director of Golf at The Honors Course, expressed pride in the continued validation the club enjoys 40 years since its opening.

The Honors Course is poised to host the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur before the U.S. Amateur returns in 2031. The complete rankings for each state with their previous ranking are listed below:

Paul Payne can be emailed at [email protected]

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.