8411 Harrison Bay Road, Harrison, Tennessee 37341, US
(423) 344-6214
Location Map

About Harrison Bay State Park

The 1,200-acre Harrison Bay State Park hugs 40 miles of Chickamauga Lake shoreline. It is a haven for campers, golfers, boaters and fishermen. It boasts one of the most complete marina facilities available on the Tennessee Valley Authority lakes. There are 128 RV campsites with water/electrical hookups and also 21 primitive tent-only campsites. The Bear Trace Golf Course at Harrison Bay, a Jack Nicklaus design, an outdoor swimming pool and a bike trail offer more outdoor recreation.

Facts

Price Range$$
Property Class★★★
Acres1200
Year Opened1937
Number of UnitsLess than 100

Amenities & Services

Practice FacilityYes
MarinaYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?Yes
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Harrison Bay State Park

Reviews

4.3
81 Reviews (81)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great as always

BT was again in great shape when our group played there.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Worth the drive (From ATL)

I was in Chattanooga for the weekend visiting a friend. I chose this course for us based on reviews, and man was it awesome.

The drive in has a lot of wildlife and some scenic views of the lake. Almost all tee boxes had ample, green grass. The fairways were lush with striped grass and decent grass in the first cut of rough. Greens were hard to read in the morning with a lot of dew but dried up by noon. Bunkers were well maintained with only a few being too dense from the rain. Most holes have nice views of the lake and are good for pictures. There's a lot of land on the course, making for a relaxing round that doesn't appear too crowded.

For the cost, the only other courses I find comparable in metro Atlanta are Wolf Creek and Woodmont. I'm not saying I would drive up from Atlanta every weekend because it is a good 2 hr drive, but it's worth doing at least once.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course.

Because of previous storm, played with cart path only. Course was wet condition but layout and maintenance was good. Like to play again when good condition.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course that is also scenic

Open course that makes that is not tight, well kept with friendly staff. Well maintained

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Course in excellent condition

I really enjoyed my round. The fairways and greens were in excellent shape. The course has a wonderful feel playing through the woods and occasionally near the Tennessee River. The greens were fair and true but I felt that they were rather flat with few contours...or else I putted better than usual;-). Definitely would recommend it and would play it again if I get the chance.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Huge conditons improvement over last year

After a couple of summers with some tough weather and conditions, today the course was in very good shape. Tees, fairways, and greens very very good. Greens especially smooth and dense. A tad slow but that's okay. Still some hardpan spots where people don't drive/park their carts properly but those areas generally aren't in play. Really solid layout that has some teeth from the blue tees. Even after all the rain the course drained very well and was a delight to play. Kudos to the staff for improving conditions so much since last Summer. Definitely recommend Bear Trace when in Chattanooga.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 36
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Out trip to Chattanooga

What a great day on the course. We were paired up with a member and he was great to be with. Hitting the ball well made the day even better, Jack's courses can be a "Bear" if you are not playing well.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

great bear

the staff was great. put me out in front of a 4 some. course was in top condition except the traps. had grass growing on the edge. greens were in great condition. rolled well.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Overall love this place. Sand traps are the only thing that needs work.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pleasantly surprised!

Drove from Atlanta and worth the trip. There were some wet areas but overall fairways were as expected this time of year. Greens were In great shape and rolling true. Course was pretty busy but we were able to get another 18 in thanks to a few regulars that let us play through. Definitely recommend this course and worth the value.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bear Trace

Despite the rain and server t-storms we had last week course was in great shape, was a little slow due to a 2-some holding up groups behind them!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

Somewhat Difficult

Jack Nicklaus created the Bear Trace entities in SE Tennessee for the better than average player. I found this course extremely long and difficult for a golfer my age (79), For younger players this is a wonderful course amidst the mountains and lake that surround it. I enjoyed my day, with the caveat that I was very tired after 18.Will probably play again.!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 108
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Good solid 18 holes

This is a Jack Nicklaus signature course. Very solid 18 hole layout, nothing tricked up about it. Faiways are generous, greens are not severe and usually in good shape.

It snakes around the Tennessee river and has fantastic views and a variety of wild life.

Pics of Harrison Bay

https://flickr.com/photos/92239680@N08/sets/72157648128877199

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Excellent Layout and great hole layouts

This course is a really great place to Play. Wonderful layout and always in great shape.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great Public Course

I have played Bear Trace Harrison Bay a number of times. Can't beat the course for the money and it being public. Very long and in good shape. Wonderful layout in woods.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

great course to play

great layout! not real hilly, tees in great shape, fairways are nice and tight, greens roll very well (few bad spots on a couple greens). very fun course to play! i try to play a couple times a week. great staff! wildlife everywhere! deer, turkey, bald eagles!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

This course has a great layout with challenging holes.

Course has a great layout with holes that are challenging. Players will be using almost every club in their bag. The fairways are good and the greens are well maincured, rolling smooth and true. I have played this course many times and plan to return often.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 29
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Favorite Tennessee Golf

Mr. Nicklaus carved a fantastic course out pristine woods. I love a course where there are houses / condos lining the fairways. You can't say that about many courses but you can with this one. Also, it's rare that you even see other holes than the one you're playing. To be honest, on the day we played the turf was a little beat up and the greens were a tad slow. Overall, a great golf experience and would definitely come back next trip to Tennessee!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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