Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing

Bear Trace at Ross Creek Landing in Clifton is one of five Jack Nicklaus Signature courses on the Tennessee State Parks Golf Trail (the 'Bear Trace' system), and it has earned the system's top ranking. Golfweek named Ross Creek Landing the #1 public course in Tennessee, a remarkable achievement for a state-parks course. Nicklaus opened the 7,131-yard par-72 layout in 2001 overlooking the Tennessee River in rural Wayne County, about 90 minutes southwest of Nashville. The Nicklaus design details are classic. During construction, Jack shortened two of the par-5s to let better players reach them in two, creating the risk-reward decisions he always leans into. The par-4 4th became a 'drivable' par-4 with multiple 'go-for-it' or 'lay-up' options. Five sets of tees handle every skill level. The routing moves between wooded stretches (Oak, Hickory, Hackberry, Cedar, Cypress) and meadow-style open corridors, giving the round a Tennessee-native-landscape feel that most state-park golf can't match. For a Tennessee golf trip, this is the anchor stop.