Lowest Slope Rating (Public)

Easiest Golf Courses in Tennessee

The 25 most beginner-friendly public golf courses in Tennessee, ranked by lowest slope rating.

The most beginner-friendly public golf course in Tennessee on Stymie is Cattails at Meadowview Golf Course in Kingsport, with a minimum slope rating of 97 and 3,573 yards from the forward tees. Slope ratings below 115 signal a course where bogey golfers can play their actual game without the layout adding strokes — usually meaning wider fairways, fewer forced carries, and gentle greens.

112 public or municipal courses in Tennessee carry a minimum slope of 115 or lower from the forward tees, and the average across rated public courses statewide is 109. This list is restricted to public and municipal courses so anyone can book a tee time — no membership required.

If you're new to the game, looking for a course to take a kid or beginner friend, or just want a stress-free round that lets you focus on tempo, start at the top of this list. Most of these courses also offer instruction programs, learning facilities, or shorter executive layouts that pair well with the forward-tee ratings shown here.

Ranked
25
Gentlest slope
97
Avg min slope
109
Slope 115 or lower
112
#CourseSlope
1
Cattails at Meadowview Golf Course
Orange tees · 3,573 yds · Rating 59.2 · Par 71 · Denis Griffiths · 1998Kingsport
97
2
Southern Hills Golf Course
Black tees · 3,607 yds · Rating 61.5 · Par 72Cookeville
97
3
Heatherhurst Golf Club
Green tees · 3,838 yds · Rating 60.6 · Par 72Crossville
97
4
Clinchview Golf and Country Club
Gold tees · 4,970 yds · Rating 62.9 · Par 72 · Charles J. Campbell · 1969Bean Station
97
5
Fall Creek Falls Golf Course
Orange tees · 3,573 yds · Rating 60.2 · Par 72Crossville
98
6
Farms Golf Club
Pink tees · 3,915 yds · Rating 62.9 · Par 72 · 1998Dyersburg
98
7
Druid Hills Golf Club
Green tees · 3,748 yds · Rating 61.6 · Par 72Crossville
99
8
Links At Galloway
White tees · 4,453 yds · Rating 61.6 · Par 70 · 1926Memphis
99
9
Smyrna Golf Course
Red tees · 4,662 yds · Rating 62.4 · Par 72Smyrna
99
10
Smyrna Municipal
Red tees · 4,662 yds · Rating 62.4 · Par 72 · 1960Smyrna
99
11
Tri Cities Golf Club
Red tees · 4,720 yds · Rating 66.6 · Par 71Blountville
101
12
Dixie Oaks Golf Club
Red tees · 4,970 yds · Rating 64.0 · Par 72 · Dick Gross · 1994Summertown
101
13
Lambert Acres Golf Club
Gold tees · 5,248 yds · Rating 64.4 · Par 72Rockford
101
14
Memphis National Golf Course
Blue tees · 3,650 yds · Rating 60.7 · Par 72Collierville
102
15
Lakewood Golf & Country Club
Silver tees · 4,425 yds · Rating 65.7 · Par 72 · Bubber Johnson · 1957Tullahoma
102
16Johnson City Country Club logo
Johnson City Country Club
Silver tees · 4,472 yds · Rating 63.1 · Par 72 · A. W. Tillinghast · 1923Johnson City
102
17
Franklin Bridge Golf Course
Silver tees · 4,647 yds · Rating 63.0 · Par 71 · 1964Franklin
102
18
Stonehenge Golf Club
Green tees · 3,738 yds · Rating 60.7 · Par 72 · Joe Lee · 1984Fairfield Glade
103
19
Old Fort Golf Course
Family tees · 3,755 yds · Rating 60.6 · Par 72 · Leo Howard · 1985Murfreesboro
103
20
Brainerd Golf Course
Green tees · 3,942 yds · Rating 62.7 · Par 72 · Donald Ross · 1926Chattanooga
103
21
Dandridge Golf & Country Club
Green tees · 4,982 yds · Rating 64.2 · Par 72 · Dan MaplesDandridge
103
22
Montlake Golf Course
Red tees · 4,106 yds · Rating 63.6 · Par 70 · Earl Spear · 1990Soddy Daisy
104
23
Three Ridges Golf Course
Green tees · 5,050 yds · Rating 64.8 · Par 72 · Ault · 1991Knoxville
104
24
McCabe Golf Course
Gold tees · 5,096 yds · Rating 63.8 · Par 70Nashville
104
25
Shiloh Golf Course
Black tees · 5,224 yds · Rating 64.4 · Par 71 · Dave Gremmels · 1969Adamsville
104

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest public golf course in Tennessee?

Cattails at Meadowview Golf Course in Kingsport, Tennessee is the easiest ranked public or municipal course with a minimum slope rating of 97. Slope below 115 is considered friendly for beginners and higher-handicap players.

How many public courses in Tennessee have a slope of 115 or lower?

112 public or municipal courses have a minimum slope rating of 115 or lower in Tennessee. These are generally the most beginner-friendly options in the state.

What slope rating is good for beginners?

Beginners typically look for courses with a slope rating under 120 and a total yardage under 6,200 from the forward tees. Courses with a slope of 105–115 from the forward tees are widely considered the friendliest starting ground.

More rankings

More easiest course rankings

Easiest golf courses ranked in other states.