Absolutely hands down the best country club in the tri-cities. Amazing food and service, beautiful golf course, amazing tennis program. Most family friendly club experience you can ask for.

Blackthorn is exceptional in every way. I was a member here for several years until I moved out of the area. The golf and tennis facilities were where a bulk of my time was spent but the dining and clubhouse experience is top class, as well. The entire staff at Blackthorn treats you like family and it shows in every way.

October 2026 trip to this golf course... Horrible day with weather but this course was still great to play!!!! Rolling hills, brutal Bermuda rough and fast sloping greens are the start... Great layout!!! Not an easy golf course... beautiful clubhouse with the golf pro shop, locker room, restaurant and bar located in

Excellent place, renovated and cheerful, outstanding attention from the service guys, they make you feel very comfortable. You can eat very well, you can tell that there is an experienced chef behind the service. I definitely recommend it!!! And the rest of the club is very complete. It has different recreation areas and all are very nice and very well maintained. Large golf course with 18 holes. Difficult but intriguing. Golf shop and the best changing rooms in the area. Pickleball and tennis courts, outdoor and covered. Gym. A beautiful pool with snack and snack service, and relax area. Anyway, a club with the best services and a great work team that will make you feel that you belong in their place!!! Thank you for having us!

Although Blackthorn Club was not for sale at the time, Ingram and Summers decided to meet with Matthew Hobbins and Lincoln Duff from Evergreen Partners. The previous owners were so impressed with Evergreen’s vision for the Club and its commitment to maintaining its legacy that they decided to entertain an offer, and eventually, a deal was made. After all, both Summers and Ingram resided in the community and would interact with the Club’s new ownership frequently. Blackthorn Club met all of Evergreen’s purchasing criteria and more. Average home prices in the community go for over $1 million. East Tennessee State University’s Medical School is helping them reach a whole new demographic, as many medical school graduates look to stay in the area. Young professionals with high earning potential are bringing down the average membership age, a great sign for any club. The centerpiece of this upscale community is the 18-hole Arthur Hills championship golf course and practice facility, which includes a full-length driving range, a short game area featuring challenging bunker shots, and a practice putting green. From 1998 – 2023, the Club hosted the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate golf tournament, which featured East Tennessee State University and other schools from around the country. Many PGA TOUR players have participated, including Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Jason Duffner, Luke Donald, and Will Zalatoris. According to Head Golf Professional Michael Davenport, the new owners plan on reviving the tournament in the fall of 2026. The golf course winds through several neighborhoods in The Ridges and can play anywhere from 4,846 to 7,147 yards. There are seven sets of tees to choose from and a couple more hybrid yardages on the scorecard, so finding a suitable distance should be easy. When in doubt, play it forward! Arthur Hills had a great piece of property to work with, and as you look over the holes on your drive onto the property, you wonder if you’ll ever find a flat lie. As you make your way around the layout, you’ll encounter meandering creeks, challenging fairway bunkers and green complexes, and a couple of water hazards. The Crenshaw Bentgrass greens are quick and roll true. They feature subtle undulations and are a lot of fun. The course is always in immaculate condition. Russell Lutz has been the Head Superintendent for 15 years and led the charge 12 years ago to obtain Audubon certification. He is quick to recognize that when Hills built the golf course, he did a good job with the drainage, an amazing feat given how hilly the terrain is. The course has never undergone any major renovations since being built. I’ve been writing about the golf industry for over twenty years and have found that many golf club sales are fueled by necessity and often lead to resentment between the two parties. This is not so at the Blackthorn Club. Neither party can find enough good things to say about the other! And with the former owners on site, Evergreen’s management staff has a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. What struck me about Blackthorn Club is the camaraderie between the members; it’s not the typical cliquish feel you find at many clubs. The relationship between the members and the staff is incredible and is built on mutual respect. It’s the type of club I’d want to belong to.