thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

Gatlinburg Golf Course has been selected as the Best Municipal Golf Course in the State of Tennessee, as published in the August issue of Golf Digest magazine.

Using a combination of star ratings from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” rankings and the magazine’s “Best In State” ratings, a panel of Golf Digest contributors and editors ranked the “Best Muny Course” in each state.

For this list, Golf Digest defined “muny” as a course owned by a city, town, county or state. Gatlinburg Golf Course received a rating of four and one-half stars out of five in the magazine, rating among the nation’s top courses, with a listed green fee of $60. The list includes nonresident, walking green fees during peak hours. Only one municipal golf course, Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmingdale, N.Y., site of last month’s U.S. Open, received a rating of five stars, with a green fee of $120.

“Obviously, this is a very prestigious honor for the City of Gatlinburg and our members and residents,” said Gatlinburg Golf Course Manager Rick Tucker. “Golf Digest is recognized as one of the leading voices in the industry and a showcase of the game of golf.”

Gatlinburg Golf Course is open year-round with modern facilities including a brand new, fully equipped pro shop. It was established in 1955 on a 145-acre tract off Dollywood Lane near Dollywood, the Smoky Mountain amusement park attraction. The picturesque 18-hole course was designed by noted golf course architect William Langford. In 1993 and again in 2007, the course underwent major renovations by Bob Cupp and Associates of Atlanta.

“We are very proud of our golf course, Clubhouse facilities, and all the staff at the course,” said Cindy Cameron Ogle, City Manager of Gatlinburg. “We feel our patrons enjoy a memorable 18-hole experience and are very pleased with the recognition received from Golf Digest.”

The Course has always been public and has had only two PGA Professionals – Harry “Cotton” Berrier, a Hall of Fame inductee who retired in 1998, and Tucker, the current director of the Golf Course, which is a Department of the City of Gatlinburg.

In addition to a $500,000 hole renovation project, a new $1.24 million clubhouse opened in 2007, featuring a full-service pro shop and patio deck overlooking several holes. All of the clubhouse’s utilities have been placed underground at the 7,500 square foot facility, which includes modern locker rooms and restroom facilities and is fully handicap accessible.

Acclaimed as one of the most picturesque courses in America with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains, the course includes the legendary #12, affectionately known as “Sky Hi.” The hole is 194 yards in length and drops 200 feet, tee to green, making it one of the most dramatic holes in the country.