Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain

Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain is one of three Jack Nicklaus-designed public courses in Tennessee's Bear Trace collection, opened in 1998 as part of a state park golf initiative. The course sits atop the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, at elevations exceeding 1,800 feet, where the rolling terrain and dense hardwood forests create a mountain golf experience distinct from the state's lowland layouts. Nicklaus routed the course through natural elevation changes and rock outcroppings characteristic of the plateau geography.

The design takes advantage of the property's topography with holes that move through corridors of oak, hickory, and pine. Several holes feature significant elevation changes from tee to green, and the routing incorporates natural rock formations and seasonal creeks into the strategic framework. The par-3s showcase variety in both length and setting, while the longer holes often require positioning off the tee to navigate doglegs and approach angles shaped by the terrain.

As a Tennessee State Park course, Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain operates with a public-access mission, offering resort-style conditioning and amenities at rates below typical daily-fee championship layouts. The facility includes a clubhouse with dining and a practice area. The course serves both destination golfers visiting the Crossville area—known for its concentration of golf courses—and regional players drawn to Nicklaus design at an accessible price point. The Cumberland Mountain location is generally considered the most dramatic of the three Bear Trace properties in terms of elevation and natural setting.