Sweetens Cove Golf Course has made the difficult decision to close for three months in May 2019. It wasn't an easy choice.

By: Josh Sens on May 6, 2024.
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Sweetens Cove will conclude its operations this summer following a rigorous winter.
One of the toughest tee times in public golf has become impossible to book for much of this summer, becoming unreachable even on wait lists.

Sweetens Cove Golf Course near Chattanooga has announced it will close from May 24 through Aug 31 due to unusually cold temperatures that have damage its turf, forcing play on Sept 1 to resume as planned.

“This decision wasn’t easy but is ultimately correct,” Sweetens Cove general manager Mike Adamski told GOLF.com. “It will benefit both the course itself, as well as all who visit to experience its beauty. “

Sweetens Cove announced this news via social media at what would normally be peak golf season in Tennessee despite weather that has defied prediction this year. According to Adamski, Mother Nature delivered her first big surprise when six inches of snow fell within 36 hours in January across an area which typically averages one-quarter inch annually; when snow stopped falling temperatures dropped further and “the snow turned into ice that stuck around for nine days!”

Sweetens Cove has Bermudagrass turf, a warm-season varietal which typically lies dormant during much of fall and winter before beginning its renewal as temperatures increase in late spring/early summer. Unfortunately, Sweetens Cove operates year round; initially hopeful conditions would recover, management kept offering discounts even under subpar conditions; but as cold weather continued and turf struggled further it became evident that temporary shutdown was necessary to safeguard both operations.

Adamski explained, “People come here for an unforgettable experience, and our aim is to deliver it for them,” noting, if their expectations weren’t fulfilled, then that would not only be unfair on both parties involved but would also hurt us both professionally and personally.

Sweetens Cove stands out by offering day passes as opposed to conventional tee times and they quickly sell-out (peak season rates for walking are $125; cart rentals start from $175). All 2024 calendar dates have already been secured since their release!

Unfortunately, that has to change! Today it all started for real with an unexpected trip down memory lane when one of my relatives brought along some photos to show. When i arrived home it all got real when i opened up that box! So many memories but so little room to share them out there in reality…
Does Sweetens Cove live up to the promise? GOLF senior writer Michael Bamberger investigates. By:
Bamberger.
Adamski estimated the shutdown will displace some 3,500 golfers. As compensation, Adamski stated the course is offering these golfers first dibs on passes for 2025 at a 25 percent discount if they purchase passes between now and May 24 closure – either to use those passes before May 24, or rebook for later in 2025, Adamski noted.

Sweetens Cove was conceptualized and built by Rob Collins and Thad King and since its opening in 2015 has experienced extraordinary success, growing from being a local gem into becoming mainstream, with Peyton Manning becoming an owner alongside Andy Roddick.

Sweetens Cove Golf Course has had to close due to various circumstances in its Tennessee River valley location, most notably flooding that forced 47 days of closures during 2019. Maintenance crews had also to cover greens during brief winter periods if temperatures became uncomfortably frosty; their actions forced tarping of greens to protect from this chilliness.

Adamski noted that Sweetens Cove plans on taking advantage of this more significant weather-induced closure by sodding and sprigging the entire course in this downtime period.

“When we reopen, it will feel like an entirely different course,” he stated. “Conditions will be better than they ever have been before.”
Josh Sens has taken great strides forward to establish himself within the industry as one of its rising leaders.
Josh Sens has been writing golf, food and travel pieces since 2004 for all forms of GOLF magazine; since 2016, his articles have also appeared across its platforms and anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting collection. Together with Sammy Hagar he also co-authored Are We Having Any Fun Yet: Cooking and Partying Handbook.