
Cherokee Trails Course
Cherokee Trails Golf Course

About this course
Cherokee Trails Golf Course sits in Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation in northeastern Oklahoma. Designed by Tripp Davis with Amon Baker, the course reflects a collaboration that brought modern golf architecture to this culturally significant region. Davis, a Texas-based architect known for his work across the Southwest and Plains states, has built a portfolio of daily-fee and resort courses that emphasize playability across different skill levels while respecting natural landforms. The routing at Cherokee Trails works through rolling Oklahoma terrain characteristic of the Ozark foothills, where elevation changes and native vegetation frame the holes. The design incorporates strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward thoughtful course management rather than demanding excessive length. Water features appear on several holes, typical of the region's creek-fed landscape, and the layout generally allows the land's natural movement to dictate hole character rather than imposing heavily manufactured features. As a public facility in Tahlequah, Cherokee Trails serves both local golfers and visitors drawn to the area's historical and cultural attractions. The course operates within the broader context of Cherokee Nation enterprises, which have invested in recreational amenities throughout their jurisdiction. The setting offers views of the surrounding wooded hills and open stretches that define this part of Oklahoma, where the landscape transitions between prairie and forest. The course provides a straightforward golf experience suited to the region's golfing community.
Quick facts
- Location
- Tahlequah, OK, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1954
- Designer(s)
- Tripp Davis, Amon Baker
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,244 yards
Getting there
The journey to Cherokee Trails Golf Course begins at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), approximately ninety minutes to the northwest, or alternatively through the smaller regional hub at Bentonville-Fayetteville (XNA) in nearby Arkansas, each offering a straightforward drive into the green rolling terrain of northeastern Oklahoma. From either gateway, the route descends gradually from the Ozark plateau into the Illinois River valley, trading interstate commerce for quieter state highways that wind through stands of oak and hickory before arriving at the course's perch above Tahlequah. The final miles reveal the distinctive landscape of this corner of Oklahoma - a landscape shaped by Cherokee heritage and water, with the Illinois River threading through limestone bluffs in the distance - creating a sense of arrival that feels both remote and deeply rooted in the region's character.

FAQ
Common questions about Cherokee Trails
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Cherokee Trails was designed by Tripp Davis and Amon Baker.
Yes. Cherokee Trails is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Cherokee Trails is 36.
Cherokee Trails plays 3,244 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
Cherokee Trails is a 9-hole course.



