Dogwood Hills at Dogwood Hills Country Club

Dogwood Hills Country Club sits in Portland, Tennessee, a small city roughly thirty miles north of Nashville along the Highland Rim. Designed by Jerry Lemons and opened in the mid-1970s, the course reflects the regional approach to golf development during that era, when many communities across Middle Tennessee added country club facilities to serve growing populations. Lemons, a Tennessee-based architect active primarily in the southeastern United States during the 1960s and 1970s, designed several courses across the region with an emphasis on playability and integration with natural terrain.

The layout occupies rolling terrain typical of the Highland Rim's outer edge, where elevation changes and wooded corridors shape the playing corridors. The course features tree-lined fairways with doglegs that follow the land's contours, and greens that incorporate modest undulation. Water comes into play on several holes, adding strategic variety to what is primarily a parkland design. The routing takes advantage of natural elevation shifts to create interest without requiring excessive earthmoving, a hallmark of Lemons' practical design philosophy.

Dogwood Hills serves as the centerpiece of a traditional country club offering both golf and social amenities for its membership. The facility has remained a fixture in the Portland community for nearly five decades, providing a local venue for recreational play and club competitions. The course represents a straightforward example of mid-century regional golf architecture, designed to challenge members across skill levels while maintaining accessibility for everyday play.