Brainerd at Brainerd Golf Course

Brainerd Golf Course occupies a hillside setting in the eastern part of Chattanooga, designed by Donald Ross and opened in the 1920s during the architect's most prolific period. The course represents Ross's work in the Tennessee Valley region, where he adapted his design principles to the rolling Appalachian foothill terrain characteristic of the area. The layout features the elevated greens, strategic bunkering, and subtle ground contours typical of Ross's approach, asking players to think carefully about approach angles and club selection.

The routing moves across varied elevation changes, with several holes playing uphill or downhill and offering views across the surrounding neighborhoods and ridgelines. The greens display the crowned shapes and false fronts associated with Ross designs, rewarding accurate iron play and penalizing mishits with challenging recovery shots. Par is set at 72 over a traditional length that has been adjusted over the decades to accommodate modern equipment while preserving the strategic intent of the original design.

Brainerd operates as a public facility, serving Chattanooga's municipal golf community for nearly a century. The course provides accessible Ross design character to a broad range of players, from beginners to experienced golfers who appreciate the architect's emphasis on strategy over sheer length. The tree-lined fairways and mature landscape reflect the course's long history as part of the city's recreational infrastructure.