Knoxville Golf Trip Planning Guide
East Tennessee golf with the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop. Public courses with mountain and lake views, a revitalized downtown and Old City packed with bars, and the Smokies and Tennessee River lakes within easy reach for the rest day.
Quick Facts
Spring, Fall
TYS (20 min drive)
$25–$160
$350/night
0 of 5
~$301/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Knoxville. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Tennessee National Golf Club — parkland, $90–$160 · 4.7★
Greg Norman signature on a peninsula in the Tennessee River — five holes play to or from the water (limited access)
The Chop House / Knoxville steakhouses — steakhouse, $$$ · 4.5★
Reliable big-group steak dinner downtown — easy with 16
Old City (downtown Knoxville) — patio · Open late
Knoxville's nightlife district — bars, breweries, and music venues all walkable
Day 2
Egwani Farms Golf Course — parkland, $30–$55 · 4.5★
Scenic riverside course along the Little River in Rockford — a local favorite
Great Smoky Mountains Hike — half day, $0–$30/pp
The most-visited national park in the U.S. is an hour away — easy waterfall hikes to Clingmans Dome
J.C. Holdway — farm to-table, $$$ · 4.7★
James Beard-winning chef's wood-fired Appalachian cooking — the foodie dinner
Preservation Pub (Market Square) — dive · Open late
Three-floor Market Square institution with live music nightly
Day 3
Avalon Golf & Country Club — parkland, $40–$75 · 4.5★
Joe Lee design in Lenoir City with rolling fairways and mountain views — a polished semi-private round
Pigeon River Whitewater Rafting — half day, $40–$90/pp
Class III-IV whitewater near the Smokies — a high-energy rest day
Calhoun's on the River — bbq, $$ · 4.4★
Riverside ribs with a deck on the Tennessee River — the rowdy group spot
Pretentious Beer Co. — brewpub
Old City brewery that blows its own glassware — house pours and a patio
Course-by-Course Guide
Knoxville has 5 courses worth playing, including 1 bucket-list tier layout.
Where to Stay
Knoxville has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $350/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$350–$1300 /night
Downtown Knoxville / Old City — homes walkable to the bars and Market Square
$500–$2200 /night
Tellico Lake / Fort Loudoun Lake — lake homes 30–40 min from town near Tennessee National
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Chop House / Knoxville steakhouses
$$$Reliable big-group steak dinner downtown — easy with 16
J.C. Holdway
$$$James Beard-winning chef's wood-fired Appalachian cooking — the foodie dinner
Calhoun's on the River
$$Riverside ribs with a deck on the Tennessee River — the rowdy group spot
Market Square restaurants
$$Walkable cluster of restaurants on Market Square — something for everyone
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Old City (downtown Knoxville)
Late nightKnoxville's nightlife district — bars, breweries, and music venues all walkable
Preservation Pub (Market Square)
Late nightThree-floor Market Square institution with live music nightly
Pretentious Beer Co.
Old City brewery that blows its own glassware — house pours and a patio
Peter Kern Library
Late nightHidden speakeasy in the Oliver Hotel — sharp cocktails for the early night
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Great Smoky Mountains Hike
The most-visited national park in the U.S. is an hour away — easy waterfall hikes to Clingmans Dome
Pigeon River Whitewater Rafting
Class III-IV whitewater near the Smokies — a high-energy rest day
Tennessee River / Fort Loudoun Lake Boat Day
Pontoon day on the river through downtown (the 'Vol Navy' route) — laid-back rest day
Getting There
Fly into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) — it's a 20-minute drive to Knoxville. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Knoxville Party Bus and Rocky Top Limousine). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.