In General
The Towhee Club (formerly Towhee Golf Course) is an Arnold Palmer-designed layout just south of Nashville that's long, strategic, and full of potential—but it feels like it's stuck in a rough patch right now. At 6,807 yards from the tips, it demands length and accuracy, with rolling terrain, forced carries, and plenty of risk-reward opportunities that Palmer fans will appreciate. The modern clubhouse and freshly paved parking lot give a great first impression, and the GPS-equipped carts are a nice touch for navigation and scoring.
That said, pace of play was a major buzzkill during my round—one slow group turned a promising day into a 5+ hour slog, with backups on nearly every hole until I politely asked them to pick it up. Large sections of the course (especially off-fairway areas) are bone-dry and burned out, and the bunkers are so neglected they're basically unplayable penalties. The greens, however, are a bright spot—well-maintained and rolling true.
In Detail
Condition overall: Greens are excellent—firm, fast, and consistent. Fairways are hit-or-miss with lots of dry/thin lies, and rough/waste areas are crispy brown in spots. Bunkers are the low point: hard-packed, weedy, and often unraked—most players (myself included) treated them as lateral hazards and chipped out instead.
Tee boxes: Mostly level but showing wear and dryness.
Clubhouse & facilities: Brand new and sleek—modern pro shop, clean restrooms, and a welcoming vibe. Parking lot is freshly paved and spacious.
Carts: Comfortable with reliable GPS screens that help with yardages, hazards, and scoring.
Practice facilities: Putting green is spot-on (speed matches the course perfectly), though no flags in the cups is odd. Driving range is in rough shape—extremely dry, beaten-down turf with little grass left.
Layout: Classic Palmer—demanding tee shots, undulating fairways, and memorable holes. Plays long and punishes mistakes, but rewarding when you’re on.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Pace of play – Get marshals out there regularly. With GPS on every cart, it should be easy to spot bottlenecks in real-time. Our round had 11-minute delays on the front and started slipping again on the back until a friendly chat fixed it. A visible presence would prevent that entirely.
- Driving range – Bring it up to the standard of the practice putting green. Reseed, irrigate, or rotate hitting areas—it’s currently the weakest link and doesn’t prep you properly for the course.
- Bunkers & dry areas – Major overhaul needed. Soften the sand, rake daily, and address the widespread drought damage. Right now, bunkers aren’t strategic—they’re just frustrating.
- Cart GPS – Add a yards-to-meters toggle. International visitors (Europeans, Asians, etc.) would love the option instead of doing mental math all day.
Bottom line: Towhee has the bones of a top-tier Nashville-area track—great design, solid greens, and modern amenities—but maintenance issues (especially bunkers and range) and slow play drag it down. Fix those, and it jumps to 5 stars easily. Worth playing if you’re in the area and catch it on a good day, but temper expectations until they get the conditioning sorted.