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2.4
81 Reviews (81)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
36
3 Stars
19
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
7
Conditions
1.9
Value
2.8
Layout
3.5
Friendliness
3.7
Pace
4.0
Amenities
1.9
40.1%
Recommend this course
61 out of 81 reviews
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Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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Amenities
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About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 72
Length 6079 yards
Slope 110
Rating 68.2

East Nashville's Shelby Golf Course is historic, opening way back in 1924, making it Nashville's first municipal golf course, and it's a beauty, offering 18 holes of golf over rolling hills on a good-looking landscape in the beautiful confines of Shelby Park. Bermuda Tif Dwarf greens became a part of the golf course in 2006, and golfers of all levels will be able to golf a round on this golf course, which has hosted the School Days Junior Golf Tournament, Tennessee's longest-running golf tournament.

The par-72 Shelby Golf Course measures 6,079 yards from the Blue tees, though ladies have the option of playing to 4,873 yards on the Red tees. A round of golf kicks off on a par-4 hole that comes in at 345 yards from the Blue tee. The long hole here is 16th, a par-5 that measures 528 yards from the Blue tee.

A round of golf on the Shelby Golf Course concludes on a par-4 hole that measures 364 yards from the Blue tee.

Course Details

Year Built 1924
Greens Bermuda Tif Dwarf Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect George Livingston Donald Ross (1924)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire is required. Tank tops, cut offs, tattered clothing, and halter-tops are not allowed.

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

2.4
81 Reviews (81)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 8
This course/club is great for:
Locals 8
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 9

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good course fun layout

Pleasantly surprised, fun course layout, wide forward are forgiving, will definitely play again. No driving range.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Close to Downtown

Great rate and layout. Pace of play was a eagle, Sunday 4 hour round. Tee boxes were a par. Greens were a double bogey. Layout was a birdie. Fairways were a bogey. Convenient to downtown is a birdie.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 50
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

New course

After the 2020 tornado, this course is completely different. If you played it before, you remember all the huge trees around the course but now they have been wiped out making the course very open. Fairways were pretty nice, the greens were the best they have every been. They actually rolled true & somewhat fast.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Paradise Lost

A great layout. Incredible elevation changes. A very hilly course with small greens. Unfortunately, the course is poorly maintained. Hopefully the city will refurbish like it has other munis because the layout is attractive.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 106
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Nice and Tricky

This time was the first time to play. I was surprised several tricky holes, but I really enjoyed. After 18 holes, I asked to replay 18 holes immediately, I could enjoy the course again.
And the staffs are very friendly, this is one of my favorite courses, I will play again soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Nostalgic Gem in East Nasty

Shelby is the first golf course I remember from early childhood. Sixty years ago we had church picnics in Shelby Park located uber close to downtown. I was curious about the men walking and talking on the beautiful grass carrying bags of golf clubs.
Fast forward 50 years I joined a group playing the Metro public courses on a rotating basis. I feel glad when we play Shelby, with its hilly and tight front nine and its hilly and long back nine. I usually walk 9 holes with a push cart for exercise or ride 18 because of the hills and valleys. Lots of blind tee shots. Love the friendly staff. Unbeatable low greens fees. Love the millenial golfers who have gentrified East Nashville and taken up the greatest game, bringing Shelby back to life!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Short & Quirky Fun

Hilly venue with hidden dog legs and tiny greens. A little scruffy, so you a likely to lose an errant ball in the rough, but never fear, you’ll probably find one from the foursome ahead of you. Best played when paired with a local who can point the way, just keep your hand on your wallet. It’s a fun afternoon at the Park & the staff keeps it that way. Enjoy!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hilly course

Very hilly golf course. Some blind shots. Yardage on course not very well marked.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Pace of play is awful!

I've always liked this course, it's short and gives players a chance to focus on accuracy and scoring. Without a lot of in town courses it's always packed on the weekend. Just as I was about to tee off the guy runs out and pairs me with another group, which sucks but it's expected. My main problem was the pace of play and the lack of a ranger. At one point my threesome was roasting on a tee box for 10 minutes and we had 5 groups on two holes. I know these courses accommodate less skilled players but it should not take 5 hours to play a short muni, Hopefully they get a ranger for the weekends.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good Value

First time playing this course, and I definitely will be back. For $30 for 18 holes and a cart you can’t get much better. Some of the holes are very oddly set-up. Most of the greens are a little overgrown and need to be repaired, but I was overall pleased with the course’s condition. The elevation on some holes are pretty extreme, and there are many blind tee shots. I had a good time playing this course as an average golfer and was challenged by the layout. Overall, a good deal for 18 holes!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fair

Course was poorly maintained, greens and tee boxes in bad shape. It is a short course so can drive many holes. Staff was very nice. For a cheap course and so close to downtown ca be fun to just get out. Wont play again though.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Old course small greens

This course has an interesting layout- tight fairways in some areas and wide open in others. As usual with these old courses, the greens are the size of postage stamps but still very challenging. The course will be great in another 2-4 week. Right now lots of dormant grass and broken branch pieces to play through.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Disappointing

The weather was perfect for February so me and two friends decided to play in town when we would normal travel outside Nashville to play. Nashville munis have a reputation for being well maintained but expensive. This time Shelby was only the later. Most courses will give you free range balls or a discounted rate for having winter or temporary greens. Shelby not only did not give us a discount for having all winter greens, they did not even notify us at all. My friends would have rather not paid 30.00 to play on winter greens. Also, these courses stack way too many groups up and the pace is atrocious. On the back nine we waited 10 minutes just to get on a tee box. After 30 minutes to complete one hole the ranger finally showed up and we informed him that the group two groups ahead were dragging. No water anywhere on the course, only two washers with water in them and no score cards available. Overall just a real disappointment for the price.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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