Gaylord Springs Golf Links - A Tennessee Treasure

- Gaylord Springs Golf Links is one of the highlights of any visit to Nashville. A true Tennessee treasure, Gaylord Springs opened to the public in September 1990. As part of the Gaylord Opryland Resort Complex, this popular course averages about 30,000 rounds per year, according to Neil Collins, the Director of Golf. A complete vacation can be fulfilled with visits to the famed Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Springs Golf Links just down the road.

Carved from the banks of the Cumberland River, Gaylord Springs was designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion Larry Nelson, and assisted by architect Jeff Brauer. The course measures 6,842 yards from the championship tees, and the natural topography is skillfully used to create a true links-style course. The entire 220-acre facility is visually stunning. As you follow the winding road that leads to the course the spectacular clubhouse immediately draws your attention. The 43,000-square-foot antebellum-style clubhouse offers shopping, dining, meeting rooms and banquet rooms, along with panoramic views of the golf course.

“The 4th hole is our signature hole,” says Collins. “It plays 392 yards from the tips, with both the tee shot and second shot requiring carries over a pond that borders the left side of the hole. The hole also features the springhouse, which is nestled behind the fourth green and dates back to the 1850s.” The one-room springhouse is a small building that was built next to a spring and used for refrigeration in rural areas before the advent of electricity.

In addition to the 4th hole, the 5th and 15th are positioned along the limestone bluffs, which border the course on the west. Serving as a boundary on the east side of the course are the gentle flowing waters of the Cumberland River. The river comes into play on holes 1, 2, 3, 10, and 11. In addition to the river, there are also eight other water hazards. Throughout the course golfers will notice the many mounds bordering each fairway, which is typical of the links-style design.

According to Collins, Gaylord Springs is also a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Wildlife you might see while on the course includes herons, wild turkeys, foxes and beaver.

This well-manicured course has hosted numerous professional tournaments from the Champions Tour between 1994-2003. It hosted the BellSouth Senior Classic from 1994-2002, and in 2003 the tournament became the Music City Classic and was sponsored by Gaylord Entertainment and Vanderbilt Medical Center. “We have hosted the Tennessee State Open Championship in 2007 and 2008, and will again host the event in May 2009,” says Collins.

In addition to the championship course, the facility is also home to the Golf Institute at Gaylord Springs. According to Virgil Herring, the Director of Instruction, the Institute features two indoor hitting bays for year-round practice and instruction, along with a diagnostic technology V-One instructional system to analyze your swing. Also, a Vector launch monitor measures impact conditions, while a DBS force platform analyzes weight distribution as you swing.

In all Gaylord Springs Golf Links offers a comprehensive golf experience that is sure to rank right up there with a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Visit www.gaylordsprings.com for more information.