
Cherokee Course
Cherokee Country Club



About this course
Cherokee Country Club sits in the hills of West Knoxville, where Donald Ross designed the original eighteen holes in 1910. The course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the Tennessee Valley, with elevation changes that Ross used to create natural strategic interest. The layout reflects Ross's principles from that era: greens with subtle interior contours and false fronts, fairways that reward positioning over distance, and an emphasis on approach play. The property's mature hardwoods and native vegetation frame holes that move across ridges and through valleys. Ross's routing takes advantage of the site's topography, with several holes playing uphill to elevated greens and others descending into lower ground. The greens themselves show the designer's trademark shaping—crowned surfaces that repel poorly struck approaches and reward players who understand how to use the contours. Par threes vary in length and demand different clubs depending on conditions, while the par fours require thoughtful tee shots to set up favorable angles into the greens. The club has maintained an active membership since its founding and has hosted regional amateur competitions over the decades. Cherokee represents an example of Ross's work in the Southeast during his prolific early period, when he was establishing the design vocabulary that would influence American golf architecture throughout the twentieth century. The course remains a private club serving the Knoxville golf community.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in TN
Quick facts
- Location
- Knoxville, TN, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1907
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,370 yards
- Course Vaults score
- 7.5
Getting there
Cherokee Country Club lies in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee, with most visitors arriving through McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), a straightforward fifteen-minute drive to the northwest. The route from the terminal traces the Tennessee River valley before climbing gently into the wooded residential hills that cradle the club, where the hum of the city gives way to the quiet rustle of hardwoods and the first glimpses of immaculate fairways. For those accustomed to private travel, Downtown Island Airport provides a discreet alternative within the city limits, offering an even swifter passage to Cherokee's understated gates.

FAQ
Common questions about Cherokee
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Cherokee has a Course Vaults score of 7.5 out of 10 based on 16 logged golfers.
Cherokee was designed by Donald Ross.
Cherokee is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Cherokee is 70.
Cherokee plays 6,370 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
Cherokee is a 18-hole course.



