By Kathy May-Martin
Tennessee National is the kind of golf community that changes how you think about what daily life can look like. Located in Loudon, Tennessee, this gated resort community is built around an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course alongside Watts Bar Lake. If you are exploring Tennessee National golf course living near Kingston, TN, here is what you should know.
Key Takeaways
- The Tennessee National golf course is a 7,393-yard, par-72 Greg Norman Signature design with five tee sets, a slope of 135, and a course rating of 75.8
- The community is golf-cart friendly throughout, meaning residents move between the course, marina, Sunset Saloon, and club amenities without getting in a car
- Tennessee National sits on Watts Bar Lake with a private marina featuring more than 140 boat slips, giving golf course living here a dual-lifestyle dimension that most golf communities cannot offer
- Properties range from golf course-view lots to main-channel lakefront estates, with homes positioned directly on the 18th green among the most sought-after in the community
The Greg Norman Signature Golf Course
The centerpiece of Tennessee National is its Greg Norman Signature Golf Course. At 7,393 yards with a course rating of 75.8 and slope of 135, the course challenges accomplished golfers while remaining accessible through five sets of tees. A-1 Bentgrass greens and Aussie Green Bermuda fairways have drawn consistently strong course condition reviews.
The design draws from Scottish golf architecture: stacked bunkers, thirteen individual lakes, streams, rock formations, and preserved native grasses give the course a visual character distinct from more manicured resort designs.
What Makes the Tennessee National Golf Course Worth Living On
- A 7,393-yard Greg Norman Signature design with five tee sets accommodating a wide range of handicaps, from beginning golfers to scratch players
- A-1 Bentgrass greens and Aussie Green Bermuda fairways maintained to a standard that has earned consistently positive course condition reviews
- Scottish-inspired architecture featuring stacked bunkers, thirteen on-course lakes, streams, and rock formations that make the visual experience distinctive from every angle
- A walkable layout despite the course's length and challenge level
The Golf-Cart Community and Daily Life
Tennessee National is golf-cart friendly throughout the entire community. Residents move between the course, marina, Sunset Saloon, pool, and clubhouse without getting in a car. For buyers who envision golf course living as a seamless daily experience rather than a scheduled activity, this feature defines what makes Tennessee National distinctive.
The Sunset Saloon functions as the community's social hub with views over the course and lake. The Top Tracer driving range adds technology-assisted practice between rounds. The saltwater pool, pickleball courts, nature trails, and dog park extend the daily offering for residents whose households include non-golfers.
Daily Life Amenities That Support Golf Course Living at Tennessee National
- A golf-cart-friendly community design that connects the course, marina, Sunset Saloon, pool, and club facilities without requiring car travel between them
- The Sunset Saloon with views of the golf course and Watts Bar Lake, serving as the primary social gathering point for morning rounds, afternoon dining, and evening events
- The Top Tracer driving range for technology-assisted practice, giving residents a way to develop their game year-round alongside access to the full 18-hole course
- Saltwater pool, pickleball courts, nature trails, and a dog park that extend the daily lifestyle offering for residents whose lives are not organized entirely around golf
Waterfront Access and the Marina Dimension
What separates Tennessee National from most golf communities in the region is the water. A private marina with more than 140 boat slips gives residents immediate access to Watts Bar Lake, and the combination of a Greg Norman course and direct lake access creates a dual-lifestyle proposition that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in Tennessee.
The lake wraps around a significant portion of the property, creating approximately three miles of waterfront and water-view home positions in addition to the golf course lots.
How the Watts Bar Lake Marina Enhances Golf Course Living
- A private marina with more than 140 boat slips gives golf course residents immediate access to Watts Bar Lake for boating, fishing, and water recreation without leaving the community
- Approximately three miles of waterfront and water-view home positions within Tennessee National in addition to golf course lots
- Waterfront dining at the marina allows residents to arrive by boat
- The combination of lake access and a Greg Norman Signature course makes Tennessee National one of the few communities in the region where the golf-and-water lifestyle is available without choosing one over the other
Choosing a Property at Tennessee National
Golf course living at Tennessee National involves a meaningful choice about home positioning. Golf course lots deliver daily views of the Norman design and the visual rhythm of a well-maintained championship course. Lakefront positions trade fairway views for direct Watts Bar Lake frontage and private dock potential.
Homes on the 18th green are among the most sought-after in the community, combining proximity to the clubhouse and Sunset Saloon with a front-row view of the finishing hole. Whatever position a buyer selects, reviewing the CC&Rs, HOA structure, and membership fees before going under contract is essential.
Property Position Types at Tennessee National and What Each Delivers
- Golf course-view lots and homes along the fairways, delivering daily views of the Greg Norman course from a primary living or outdoor entertaining area
- Lakefront positions with direct Watts Bar Lake frontage and private dock potential
- Ridge and elevated lots with panoramic views across the community toward both the course and Watts Bar Lake
- 18th-hole positions near the clubhouse, combining the finishing hole view with proximity to the Sunset Saloon, pro shop, and the community's primary social infrastructure
FAQs
Is Tennessee National open to public play or is it a private golf course?
Tennessee National is a private course, accessible to community members and their guests. Public play is not available, which is one of the features that sustains the course conditions and membership experience residents value.
How far is Tennessee National from major Knoxville amenities?
Tennessee National is in Loudon, TN, approximately 30 minutes from West Knoxville and Turkey Creek's dining, shopping, and professional services. McGhee Tyson Airport is accessible within a similar drive time.
What types of golf memberships are available at Tennessee National?
Membership options and fees vary and are best confirmed during a property tour or consultation. Factoring the full membership cost into any financial analysis is essential, as it represents a meaningful component of the total ongoing cost of ownership.
Contact Kathy May-Martin Today
Tennessee National golf course living is a lifestyle I know in detail. I have listed and sold properties throughout the community and can walk you through every position type, every consideration, and every question a serious buyer needs answered before making a move here.
Reach out to me,
Kathy May-Martin, to start the conversation about Tennessee National and the surrounding market.
