2025 Best Nashville Golf Courses Under $50: Top 6 Affordable Gems

Our Ranking Methodology

Our rankings are based on comprehensive analysis of player reviews, golf publication ratings, course conditioning reports, and value assessments from multiple sources. We evaluated factors including:

Situated in the rolling hills of Dickson County, Montgomery Bell State Park Golf Course represents one of Tennessee's finest state park golf experiences. This par-72 layout stretches 6,454 yards through beautiful hardwood forests and features Champion Bermuda greens with 419 Bermuda fairways that provide consistent playing conditions throughout the season.

What sets Montgomery Bell apart is its recognition by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 100 Public Courses to Play," a designation that speaks to the quality of both the layout and maintenance standards. The course routing takes advantage of the natural topography, creating elevation changes that add strategic interest without overwhelming average golfers. The gently rolling terrain provides natural drainage, ensuring playable conditions even after significant rainfall.

The course's location within Montgomery Bell State Park adds to the overall experience, offering a peaceful round away from urban development. Players consistently praise the course's conditioning, particularly the greens, which roll true and provide consistent putting surfaces. The fairways offer generous landing areas while still rewarding accurate tee shots with better approach angles.

At approximately 50 miles from downtown Nashville, Montgomery Bell requires a bit more travel time than closer options, but many consider this a benefit rather than a drawback. The drive itself is scenic, and the course's park setting provides a genuine escape from city life. With green fees ranging from $18 to $47 depending on the season and time of play, it represents exceptional value for a Golf Digest-recognized layout.

Why Montgomery Bell Makes the List

Montgomery Bell consistently appears in discussions of Tennessee's best public golf values, and its Golf Digest recognition provides third-party validation of its quality. The course offers a complete golf experience with practice facilities, and the state park setting ensures long-term preservation and maintenance funding. For golfers seeking a destination-style round within budget constraints, Montgomery Bell delivers championship-quality golf at municipal prices.

Located adjacent to the historic Fortress Rosencrans in Murfreesboro, Old Fort Golf Course combines affordable municipal golf with fascinating Civil War history. This city-owned facility offers one of the most accessible price points in the Nashville area, with green fees ranging from just $11 to $47, making it an exceptional choice for budget-conscious golfers who don't want to sacrifice course quality.

The 18-hole layout provides solid municipal golf with well-maintained conditions that consistently exceed expectations for the price point. The course routing incorporates the natural terrain while respecting the historical significance of the surrounding area. Players often comment on the unique experience of playing golf in such close proximity to Civil War earthworks, adding a layer of interest beyond the golf itself.

Old Fort excels in its commitment to junior golf development and senior programming, offering special rates that make the game accessible to players of all ages and economic backgrounds. The course hosts league play throughout the season and provides professional instruction through its affiliated PGA professionals. These programs create a vibrant golf community that enhances the overall experience for all players.

The practice facilities, while modest, provide everything needed for pre-round warm-up and skill development. The course maintains a welcoming atmosphere that particularly appeals to beginning golfers and families. The staff's commitment to pace of play and course etiquette helps ensure enjoyable rounds for players of all skill levels.

Historic Significance Adds Value

Beyond the golf itself, Old Fort's location adjacent to Fortress Rosencrans provides educational value and historical context that's unique among Nashville-area courses. The fortress, built during the Civil War, adds gravitas to the golf experience and makes each round feel like a step through Tennessee history. This combination of affordable golf and historical significance creates lasting memories that extend well beyond the scorecard.

For golfers seeking maximum value, Old Fort's pricing structure is hard to beat. Even peak rates remain well under $50, and off-peak specials can provide 18 holes of golf for under $20. This accessibility makes it possible for golfers to play multiple times per week without straining their budget, encouraging skill development and regular exercise.

Built on 175 acres of converted farmland in northern Murfreesboro, Cedar Crest Golf Club represents modern public golf design that accommodates players of all skill levels. The 6,800-yard, par-72 layout features four distinct tee boxes, allowing golfers to choose distances that match their abilities while still experiencing the full strategic intent of the course design.

Cedar Crest's design philosophy emphasizes playability without sacrificing challenge. The course routing flows naturally across the former farmland, incorporating mature trees and natural contours while adding strategic bunkering and water features that come into play on several holes. The result is a layout that rewards good shots while providing reasonable recovery options for less-than-perfect play.

The course consistently receives praise for its conditioning, particularly the greens complex. Players report that the putting surfaces are well-maintained year-round and provide consistent ball roll and appropriate speeds. The fairways offer good lies and adequate width to encourage aggressive play, while the rough provides a fair but noticeable penalty for wayward shots.

Located just 15 miles from downtown Murfreesboro and approximately 35 miles from downtown Nashville, Cedar Crest offers convenient access without urban development pressures. The course maintains a suburban feel with mature landscaping that creates natural separation between holes. This design provides a peaceful golf experience despite its proximity to Tennessee's fastest-growing communities.

Design Versatility for All Players

Cedar Crest's four-tee system is particularly well-executed, with meaningful yardage differences that genuinely change the playing experience. Forward tees allow senior players and beginners to enjoy the course without being overwhelmed, while championship tees provide sufficient challenge for accomplished players. The middle tees offer the ideal balance for regular golfers seeking an enjoyable but engaging round.

The practice facilities support serious improvement efforts with a driving range that provides both distance and target practice options. The short game area allows players to work on all aspects of their wedge game and putting, while the practice putting green accurately reflects the speed and character of the course's putting surfaces.

Designed by PGA Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd and opened in 1996, The Legacy Golf Course in Springfield represents tour-level design accessible to public play. This 6,776-yard championship layout has earned recognition as the 6th best public golf course in Tennessee by GolfPass and consistently ranks in the Top 15 Public Courses in Tennessee by Golf Advisor, including a Number 2 ranking in 2019.

Floyd's design philosophy emphasizes strategic variety over punitive difficulty, creating a course that challenges accomplished players while remaining enjoyable for average golfers. The rolling hills terrain provides natural elevation changes that Floyd incorporated into risk-reward opportunities throughout the round. Multiple water hazards, well-placed bunkers, and mature tree lines require thoughtful course management without demanding perfect execution.

The Legacy consistently receives praise for its pristine conditioning, with players regularly commenting on the quality of the greens and fairways. The putting surfaces are known for their consistent speed and true roll, while the fairways provide excellent lies that reward solid ball-striking. This attention to course maintenance reflects the semi-private nature of the facility, where member investment supports higher conditioning standards than typical daily-fee courses.

Located approximately 30 miles north of Nashville in Springfield, The Legacy offers a destination golf experience within reasonable driving distance. The course's setting in Robertson County provides scenic views of Middle Tennessee's rolling countryside, creating an escape from urban pressures while remaining easily accessible for Nashville-area golfers.

Raymond Floyd's Design Excellence

Floyd's tour experience is evident throughout The Legacy's design, with subtle strategic elements that reward course knowledge and thoughtful play. The layout features multiple risk-reward opportunities where aggressive play can yield significant scoring advantages, but conservative approaches still allow for par-saving opportunities. This design balance creates a course that improves with familiarity while remaining engaging for first-time players.

The course has achieved record low scores of 60, 63, and 65, demonstrating both the quality of conditioning and the scoring opportunities available to skilled players. However, these same design elements that allow for exceptional scoring also provide strategic interest and variety that keep regular players engaged over multiple rounds.

With weekday rates starting at $33 and weekend fees reaching $73, The Legacy offers exceptional value for championship-level golf design. The pricing structure makes it accessible for regular play while reflecting the quality of both design and conditioning that sets it apart from typical municipal options.

Designed by 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber, Greystone Golf Course in Dickson represents championship-level golf design at public accessibility. This 6,858-yard layout consistently appears in discussions of Tennessee's finest public golf experiences, earning frequent mentions in golf publications and maintaining a loyal following among Nashville-area golfers.

McCumber's design takes full advantage of the dramatic topography, featuring scenic rock formations, elevated tee boxes, and strategic use of natural elevation changes. The course is described as "hilly and wide open," providing spectacular views while challenging players with elevation changes that affect club selection and shot strategy. The routing flows naturally through the landscape, creating holes that feel both memorable and fair.

The course features Crenshaw Bent Grass greens and Zoysia Grass fairways, providing superior playing conditions throughout the season. The greens are known for their consistent speed and true roll, while the Zoysia fairways offer excellent lies and natural drought resistance. This grass combination ensures optimal playability even during Tennessee's hot summers and provides excellent conditions for year-round golf.

Located approximately 40 miles west of Nashville, Greystone offers a destination golf experience that justifies the drive. The course's setting provides natural beauty and peaceful surroundings that enhance the overall golf experience. Players consistently comment on the course's scenic qualities, particularly the rock formations and elevated views that create memorable backdrops for photographs and lasting impressions.

McCumber's Tour-Level Design

McCumber's professional tour experience is evident in Greystone's strategic design elements. The course features multiple risk-reward opportunities where skilled players can gain advantages through aggressive play, while providing alternate routes for more conservative approaches. This design philosophy creates a layout that scales appropriately to different skill levels while maintaining strategic interest for accomplished players.

The elevated tee boxes throughout the course provide both strategic advantages and spectacular views. These elevated starting points allow players to see the entire hole layout, making strategic decisions easier while adding to the visual drama of each hole. The elevation changes also create natural landing areas and strategic chokepoints that reward course knowledge and thoughtful play.

Greystone's reputation among Nashville-area golfers extends beyond the course itself to include the overall experience. The practice facilities, pro shop, and dining options create a complete golf destination that supports both casual rounds and special occasions. This comprehensive approach to the golf experience helps justify the course's position among the region's premier public golf destinations.

Consistently regarded as Nashville's most popular public golf course, Harpeth Hills Golf Course represents the gold standard for affordable championship golf in Music City. Located within Percy Warner Park, this 6,899-yard municipal layout combines exceptional value with course conditions and design quality that rival much more expensive facilities.

The course's reputation is built on its remarkable value proposition - players can enjoy a weekend round with cart for less than $50, making it one of the best bargains in American public golf. This pricing accessibility has made Harpeth Hills a regional destination, attracting golfers from across Middle Tennessee who recognize the exceptional quality-to-cost ratio that defines the Harpeth Hills experience.

Originally opened in 1965, Harpeth Hills received a comprehensive redesign in 1991 that transformed it into the championship-caliber layout that exists today. The redesign respected the natural contours of Percy Warner Park while incorporating modern design principles that created strategic interest and memorable golf holes. In 2017, new green complexes seeded with TifEagle ultra-dwarf Bermuda were installed, elevating the putting surfaces to tour-quality standards.

The course routing takes full advantage of the undulating terrain that characterizes Percy Warner Park. The numerous elevation changes create strategic options and visual interest while requiring precise club selection and course management. The layout features several distinctive domed greens that demand accurate approach shots and refined short-game skills, creating scoring opportunities for skilled players while providing fair challenges for golfers of all abilities.

Championship Caliber at Municipal Prices

Harpeth Hills serves as a regional qualifying site for the USGA Public Links Championship, providing third-party validation of its championship-quality standards. This designation requires the course to meet strict conditioning and design criteria that ensure it can host competitive golf at the highest amateur levels. For daily-fee players, this means experiencing the same course conditions that challenge the nation's best amateur golfers.

The TifEagle ultra-dwarf Bermuda greens installed in 2017 represent a significant upgrade that places Harpeth Hills' putting surfaces among the finest in Tennessee public golf. These greens provide consistent ball roll, appropriate speeds year-round, and recovery characteristics that maintain quality conditions even under heavy play. The investment in premium putting surfaces demonstrates the course's commitment to championship standards despite municipal pricing.

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, Harpeth Hills offers unmatched convenience for Music City golfers. The course's setting within the Warner Park system provides a peaceful escape from urban pressures while remaining easily accessible for regular play. This combination of quality, value, and convenience has established Harpeth Hills as the benchmark against which other Nashville-area public courses are measured.

The Complete Nashville Golf Experience

Beyond the exceptional golf course itself, Harpeth Hills provides a complete golf experience that includes comprehensive practice facilities, professional instruction, and a welcoming clubhouse atmosphere. The driving range offers both distance and target practice options, while the short game area allows players to work on all aspects of their wedge and putting games using the same turf conditions found on the course.

The course's popularity among local golfers creates a vibrant golf community where regular players develop friendships and friendly rivalries that enhance the overall experience. This community atmosphere, combined with the course's reputation for maintaining excellent pace of play, ensures that rounds at Harpeth Hills are both enjoyable and efficient.

Planning Your Nashville Golf Adventure

To experience the best of Nashville's affordable golf scene, consider creating a golf trail that includes multiple courses from this list. Each course offers distinct characteristics that showcase different aspects of Tennessee golf, from the historic setting at Old Fort to the championship challenge at Harpeth Hills.

The 2025 golf season in Nashville promises exceptional opportunities for affordable, high-quality golf experiences. These six courses represent the pinnacle of value golf in the region, each offering unique rewards for golfers who appreciate both quality and affordability. Whether you're a Nashville native or visiting Music City, these courses provide the foundation for memorable golf experiences that won't strain your budget.

Remember that great golf isn't defined by expensive green fees or exclusive access - it's measured by the quality of the experience, the condition of the course, and the memories created during each round. These Nashville-area gems prove that some of Tennessee's finest golf experiences are available to everyone who appreciates the game's enduring appeal and timeless challenges.