
The Ridges Course
Blackthorn Club

About this course
The Ridges at Blackthorn Club is an Arthur Hills design located in Jonesborough, Tennessee, one of the state's oldest towns situated in the northeastern corner near the Virginia border. Hills, known for his work across the American South and Midwest from the 1970s through the 2000s, typically emphasized strategic variety and playability across different skill levels while working with the natural terrain available to him. The course occupies rolling Appalachian foothill terrain characteristic of this region of East Tennessee. Hills's design approach generally featured generous fairway corridors with well-defined hazard placement, rewarding accurate positioning over pure distance. At The Ridges, the routing likely takes advantage of elevation changes and ridge lines that give the course its name, creating holes that move across varied topography. The architect's style typically incorporated multiple tee boxes to accommodate different playing abilities and framed greens with strategic bunkering that required thoughtful approach play. The Blackthorn Club operates as a private facility serving the Jonesborough and greater Tri-Cities area of Tennessee. The region's golf season benefits from a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, though winter play can be limited. Jonesborough itself maintains a historic character as Tennessee's oldest town, and the club serves as a recreational and social center for members in this part of the state, situated between Johnson City and the Virginia state line in Washington County.
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
- Jonesborough, TN, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1997
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Arthur Hills
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,147 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.9/140
- Course Vaults score
- 8.7
Getting there
The journey to Blackthorn Club begins at Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Blountville, Tennessee, a compact regional gateway serving the convergence of Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. From there, a twenty-five-minute drive southeast traces the edge of the Appalachian foothills, winding through rolling farmland and the outskirts of historic Jonesborough - Tennessee's oldest town - before climbing into the wooded ridges that cradle the property. The final approach is a study in elevation and seclusion, as paved county roads give way to a private drive that ascends through hardwood forest, revealing glimpses of distant mountain folds before arriving at the understated entrance to one of the region's most discreet golf sanctuaries.

FAQ
Common questions about The Ridges at Blackthorn Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Ridges at Blackthorn Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 10 logged golfers.
The Ridges was designed by Arthur Hills.
The Ridges at Blackthorn Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at The Ridges is 72.
The Ridges plays 7,147 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Ridges is 140.



