Sweetens Cove Golf Club

Review of the Month June 2018 – Sweetens Cove I recently helped the Top 100 staff with their rankings of courses in my home state of Tennessee. I was amazed that they ranked this 9 hole course third in the state and commented that while the course may be pretty good I can't imaging it is better than several of the other top rated courses. The staff kept to their guns and kept the course ranked at #3 in the state and I was encouraged by editor in chief Keith Baxter to take the trip 120 miles down the road from Knoxville to play Sweeten's Cove and see what all the fuss was about. Several of my friends had played here and raved about the course as well so I was looking forward to the adventure. Bringing along Ruth, my brave wife and new golf enthusiast, we arrived an hour and a half before our tee time because of a miscalculation of the time change. There really is nothing there except a 250 square foot shack and a portable toilet, but a quick glimpse of the property gave a hint of the excitement to follow. The course sits in a flat bottom next to the Sequatchie River and is nestled within a set of beautiful mountains that dominate the scenery. The plain is nearly treeless and almost has the appearance of an inland links. Architect Rob Collins solved two problems with the site with one blow by digging out some drainage ponds to improve the water drainage of the flat area and then using the dirt to create subtle contouring of the fairways and not too subtle contouring of the greens. What he created is an absolute masterpiece of a golf course. The course starts with a strong 563 par 5. A dangerous bunker guards the left side of the fairway and requires a 260 yard carry, but there is ample room right. The serpentine-like green rolls around a large frightening appearing bunker that protects almost every conceivable hole location. The back right part of the green, which was our pin position of the day, is almost dell like and demanded a sure, precise approach. The second is a 375 yard par four influenced by two bunkers about 275 yards off the tee. The heavily sloped green has no bunkers and does not need any. A steep slope to the front and right places a premium and a precise approach. Three is another long par 5, running over 580 yards. The tee shot appears much tighter than it looks since the right bunker visible off the tee is actually almost 300 yards away and out of range for most players. This hole is dominated by a long tree that bisects the probably 50-yard wide green. Once again there are no bunkers but severe contouring both front and back require almost perfect placement of the approach. Four is a redan-style par 3 playing 169 yards but the green is massive and must be 60 yards from front to back with an almost endless amount of slope and contour. There is also bunkering left, back and long with a slope off the right front once again so that an almost perfect shot has to be played to gain access to the pin. Five is a beautiful short driveable par 4. The green has a huge slope to the left and the front right of the green is guarded by another rugged bunker. An approach from the left can be flown up to the plateau but the green is crowned so going over is a real possibility. You can't discount the chance to play a bump and run shot here as well. This is just a fantastic short hole. Six is the most demanding hole on the course, 456 yards with a hazard down the left side which runs all the way up to the green. Fairway bunkers to the right prevent a bailout. The bold play with a firm draw off the tee can open up the hole and allow a shorter approach to the subtle yet contoured green. Seven is another shorter par 4 of 328 yards with a long bunker running about 70 yards down the fairway to the green on the left side. There is some room right here, but once again the steep contours on the front of the green require an absolutely perfect shot to get near the hole. Eight is a fun hole totally dominated by the heavily mounded biarritz green. The pin was located almost in the middle in a dell protected by mounds left and right. Once again there are no greenside bunkers but none are needed. Nine is a beautiful short par 3 back over a waste area up to the first hole with a wide flowing green offering an infinite variety of pin placements. This course absolutely floored me. I have enjoyed the wonderful green complex designs of Tom Doak and Coore/Crenshaw but this course matches or exceeds many of the designs I have played by those famous architects. Each hole presents a unique challenge from the tee to the green that requires thought, conviction and precision. I honestly believe if they could find room for nine more holes and build them to the quality of this nine you would have a Top 100 USA course on your hands. As it is this is a fantastic test of golf that is ridiculously inexpensive to play. The course is easy to walk and is very easy to get to, being about 2.5 miles off Interstate 24 about 30 miles from Chattanooga. It is a shame more courses like this can't be built. Fun, challenging, exciting and enjoyable don't even start to scratch the surface to describe this place. Come see for yourself what all the excitement is about. By Richard Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee (including photos) Review of the Month June 2018 selected by Editor-in-Chief, Keith Baxter – click to read more about Sweetens Cove.

We've curated four exceptional gifts for the discerning golfer—from handcrafted Sunday bags to contemporary art that reimagines golf's greatest holes. Pine Coast Golf Sunday Bags The Sunday bag represents golf at its purest. Pine Coast Golf has elevated this concept with bags handcrafted in a Polish workshop using Italian leather from a fourth-generation Tuscan tannery and waxed canvas from Dundee, Scotland. Founded by Lisette and Johan from a love for golf and commitment to mental health awareness, each bag features brilliant functionality: a skewed pocket that secures valuables naturally, accessible water bottle storage, and strategically centred shoulder loops that balance perfectly over 18 holes. The collection—The Dirty Shirley, The Whitecap, The Pine, The Moss, The Beach, The Sunset and The Orchid—ranges from 3,490 to 4,890 SEK (£260-£370/$350-490) for canvas models. The premium Leather Bag: 9,995 SEK (£750/$995). Personalised embroidery available. Perfect for: Minimalists, walkers, and golfers who value sustainability Why we love it: Handcrafted with purpose, these bags develop a beautiful patina that tells the story of your rounds. Charcoal Golf Art Prints Charcoal Golf bridges fine art and golf course architecture with urban contemporary flair. Artist Mark Rivard brings over 20 years of fine art experience—from skateboard art to founding "Do Rad Things" with Sharpie Markers—to golf's premier landscapes. His top-down hole designs are immediately recognisable yet gritty and unfinished, with geometric patterns and bold colours that push beyond traditional golf art. Each museum-grade giclée print on heavyweight archival stock is hand-signed by the artist. Recent works include Sweetens Cove, Sand Hills, Prairie Dunes, and Bethpage Black's 18th. Custom commissions available. Perfect for: Modern collectors, design enthusiasts, gand olfers who appreciate contemporary art Top100 Members & Subscribers: 15% off with code Top100 at checkout Why we love it: It represents golf culture's evolution—respectful of tradition whilst embracing modern expression. Fyfe Golf Harris Tweed Headcovers Handcrafted in Scotland using authentic Harris Tweed woven in the Outer Hebrides, these headcovers are wearable art. The dark charcoal herringbone pattern features 100% pure new wool that naturally repels water, with plush fleece lining protecting your clubs. Co-founded by Neil Rennie—whose grandparents worked at Aberdeen's famous Grandholm Mill—Fyfe reconnects golf with Scotland's manufacturing heritage. Fabrics come from heritage mills, including Halley Stevensons in Dundee. Carbon-neutral production. Made to order, shipping within 7-14 working days. Available for drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids: £85-95 ($105-122). The newly launched Shooter's Club line really hits the Scottish sporting estate vibe hard. Perfect for: Traditionalists, Scotland lovers, golfers who value heritage craftsmanship Why we love them: They age beautifully, developing character with every round. "Buying better and buying less." Gary Lisbon's "Great Golf Courses of the World" Melbourne-based photographer Gary Lisbon has spent two decades capturing 685 courses across 26 countries. This panoramic coffee table book showcases over 400 images—many never published—from 100+ courses in 20 countries. Playing off a mid-single-figure handicap at Royal Melbourne, Lisbon brings a golfer's eye to his dawn photography. Journey from Norway's Lofoten Links to the British Isles, Australia's Melbourne Sandbelt to New Zealand's clifftop masterpieces, and continental gems like Valderrama and Morfontaine. Over 95% of featured courses are accessible to travelling golfers. 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch feels it is "undoubtedly the best collection of golf course images from around the world." $135 with worldwide shipping. 18-month desktop calendar: $25. Perfect for: Dreamers, trip planners, course architecture enthusiasts Why we love it: Trip-planning material disguised as art—a worldwide golfing journey from your living room. Mymo Golf Personalised Prints Every round has a story. Mymo transforms those memories into watercolour-style prints featuring any hole from any course worldwide. Founded by Chris Pyatt after his first hole-in-one, Mymo creates personalised aerial prints capturing every detail. Choose your course and hole, add a custom message, and receive a digital proof within 48 hours. Printed on premium matte paper (189 g/m²) with water-based inks. Available in Medium (12 × 16") or Large (16.5 × 23.3"), framed or unframed. Course Map collection features all 18 holes with space for player names and dates—perfect for commemorating trips. You can also capture your three favourite holes on one print. Partnership with Arccos integrates shot-tracking data. Orders typically take 7 days. First-time customers: 10% off. Perfect for: Commemorating holes-in-one, bucket-list rounds, cand elebrating achievements Why we love it: Turns memories into masterpieces worthy of display rather than hidden in your golf bag. Editor's Choice Smathers & Branson Needlepoint Belt Founded by college roommates in 2004, Smathers & Branson now employs over 2,000 artisans creating 100% hand-stitched needlepoint using French cotton thread, full-grain Italian leather, and solid brass buckles. Arrives in a handmade wooden gift box. $185. Pro tip: add 2-3 inches to your pant size. Editor's Note: "The St Andrews Scene belt is my personal favourite. The detail is extraordinary—a daily reminder of golf's spiritual home." Vessel Skyline PrimeX Backpacka For travelling golfers, the right backpack is essential. Vessel features crosshatch embossed synthetic leather—durable, weather-resistant, easy to clean. Padded laptop compartment (15" MacBook Pro), velour-lined valuables pocket, internal water bottle sleeves, hidden top pocket, trolley sleeve, compression-moulded neoprene back panel. Once you have one you'll wonder how you travelled without it. Available in Black, Maroon, Navy: $195. Editor's Note: "A lifesaver on 50+ flights. Transitions seamlessly from airport to office to course." Gift Pairing Ideas Heritage Collection: Pine Coast Sunday bag + Fyfe headcovers for European craftsmanship Art Lovers: Charcoal Golf print + Lisbon's book contrasting contemporary and classical Travel Package: Vessel backpack + Smathers & Branson belt for the well-travelled golfer Memory Makers: Mymo personalised print + Lisbon's book with a promise to book a featured course Scottish Links Experience: Fyfe headcovers + Smathers & Branson St Andrews belt Why We Selected These Gifts Each product celebrates craftsmanship, sustainability, and artistic vision whilst supporting small businesses with genuine purpose. From Scottish workshops to Polish leather artisans, from contemporary artists to master photographers, these gifts honour the game and inspire golfers to play with intention. And don't forget about Top 100 swag at shop.top100golfcourses.com

For much of golf’s history, the idea of a hole measuring 700 yards or more would have seemed excessive. Today, such distances are no longer quite so extraordinary. The world’s longest holes are an eclectic group, spread across very different landscapes and created for very different reasons. Some belong to expansive resort courses, others to championship layouts, while a handful have become famous largely because of the sheer scale of the challenge they present. From a former world-record holder in North Carolina to an extraordinary par 7 measuring over 1km in South Korea, these are the 10 longest golf holes in the world. 10. Black Mountain Golf Club (North Carolina, USA) Hole 17 | 747 yards (683m) | Par 6 The 17th at Black Mountain is one of the survivors from an era when exceptionally long golf holes were still something of a novelty. At 747 yards, the par six was once recognised as the longest golf hole in the world - a distinction that helped put this small North Carolina club on the golfing map. The hole is part of Black Mountain's older nine-hole layout, which dates back to the 1960s, and its extraordinary length was a deliberate feature rather than an accident of modern championship-course design. From the back tees, the fairway climbs and falls through the foothills, with the green sitting far enough away that it disappears from view for much of the hole. For a course that otherwise has a relatively modest footprint, the 17th is an impressive piece of real estate. Its 747 yards are now exceeded by several holes built in the decades since, but the hole retains its place in golf's long-hole folklore. It is also a reminder of how quickly perceptions of distance have changed. What was once a world record is now the shortest hole in this particular top ten. 9. TPC Colorado (Colorado, USA) Hole 13 | 773 yards (707m) | Par 5 TPC Colorado opened in 2018 at Heron Lakes near Berthoud, with Arthur Schaupeter’s design set against open Colorado terrain and views towards the Front Range. The 7,991-yard course was built with tournament golf in mind and has since become a regular Korn Ferry Tour venue. The 13th, named “Longer Still”, is its defining hole. At 773 yards from the TOUR tees, it is the longest hole on a PGA TOUR course and the longest par five in PGA TOUR golf. Its principal feature is the enormous 108-yard Hell Bunker, which runs along the left side of the fairway and creates the key decision after the drive: challenge it to gain ground or lay back and accept a longer approach. At altitude, the hole does not play quite as severely as the yardage suggests, but its scale remains remarkable. More importantly, the length is integrated into the design rather than simply added as a spectacle, giving No. 13 a strategic identity that has made it one of the most recognisable holes in modern American golf. 8. The Reserve at Moonlight Basin (Montana, USA) Hole 17 | 777 yards (710m) | Par 5 Set at 7,500 feet above Big Sky in the Rocky Mountains, The Reserve at Moonlight Basin is one of Jack Nicklaus’ most dramatic mountain courses. Built across the former Moonlight Basin ski area, the 8,000-yard layout moves through forest and open mountain terrain, with more than 1,000 feet of elevation change across the property. The 17th is the signature expression of that setting. At 777 yards, it is already extraordinary on the card, but the hole plunges downhill towards the green, with the change in elevation and thin mountain air making the distance considerably less daunting than it first appears. A large fairway bunker sits around 370 yards from the back tee, beyond which the fairway reveals the full scale of the descent towards the green. It is a fittingly theatrical hole for a course where elevation is central to the experience. The 17th was also one of the holes that came to wider attention when Moonlight Basin hosted The Match in 2021 – when Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers defeated Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady – putting its spectacular setting and remarkable yardage on national television. 7. Penati Golf Resort - Legend course (Trnava Region, Slovakia) Hole 15 | 783 yards (716m) | Par 6 Opened in 2012, the Legend Course at Penati occupies a sandy, pine-covered site near Senica, with Nicklaus Design using the natural character of the property to create wide, undulating fairways and extensive waste areas. The course forms part of Slovakia’s largest golf resort and was the first Nicklaus Design course in the country. The 15th is the course’s defining feature. It has 11 teeing positions, allowing it to be played at very different lengths, but from the back tees, it stretches to 783 yards and becomes a par 6. The fairway is split by a large waste bunker, with further bunkering framing the second landing area before the hole finally turns towards the green. The hole gained international attention when the European Challenge Tour used the full 783-yard version during the Slovakia Challenge in 2015, 2016 and 2019. In regular play, however, it is generally shortened and played as a par 5 - a useful reminder that the extraordinary version seen on the professional circuit is only one interpretation of Central Europe’s longest hole. 6. Theodora Golf Club (Transylvania, Romania) Hole 18 | 804 yards (735m) | Par 6 Theodora Golf Club sits outside Alba Iulia on the banks of the Mureș, occupying a remarkably flat 56-hectare site. Opened in 2018, the resort was created around an 18-hole championship course, with a large lake excavated in front of the clubhouse providing material to shape the otherwise level ground. That lake is central to the character of the closing hole. The 18th stretches over 800 yards from the back tees, with the approach eventually leading to an island green shared with the 9th. The arrangement gives what might otherwise be a straightforwardly expansive hole a much more distinctive finish. Theodora itself describes the 18th as the longest par 6 in Europe, and it has become the defining feature of a relatively young Romanian resort that has steadily established itself on the European golf map. 5. The Links at Kahite Golf Club (Tennessee, USA) Hole 9 | 808 yards (739m) | Par 6 The Links at Kahite opened in 2002 as the third course in Tellico Village, occupying a natural setting between Tellico Lake and the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The links-style layout has six sets of tees, stretches to 7,170 yards and is notable for its 93 bunkers and tall fescue framing some of the fairways. The 9th is the course's defining hole: an 739-metre par 6 that runs in a notably direct line across the landscape. From the back tees it measures 808 yards, while the blue tees bring it down to 721, making the hole a very different proposition depending on where it is played from. The course's own guide describes it simply as a unique hole, with the fairway rewarding players who can keep successive shots in play. Its position at the turn also gives Kahite an unusual rhythm. After eight holes that establish the character of the course, the 9th opens out into one of the most distinctive holes in Tennessee golf before the back nine heads back towards the mountains. 4. Meadows Farms Golf Course (Virginia, USA) Hole 12 | 841 yards (769m) | Par 6 Meadows Farms is very much the product of its founder, Bill “Farmer” Meadows, who built the course on former farmland after taking up golf later in life. It opened in 1993 with an intentionally unconventional character: the 27-hole layout includes a baseball-themed hole, a waterfall green and an island green, alongside the hole that became its calling card. The 12th stretches to 841 yards from the championship tees, running downhill before turning right, crossing two lakes and climbing towards a large elevated green. A three-leaf-clover-shaped bunker guards the approach. The sequence gives the hole considerably more shape and interest than its raw length might suggest. For decades it was promoted as the longest golf hole in the United States, a distinction that helped make this eccentric Virginia course a destination in its own right. The current course still describes No. 12 as its signature hole and the longest in the country, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. 3. The Links Golf Club (Idaho, USA) Hole 9 | 842 yards (770m) | Par 6 The Links Golf Club in Post Falls opened in 1999 on the broad, open Rathdrum Prairie, with owner and designer Emmett Burley shaping the course in the tradition of Scottish links golf. There are few trees or water hazards to interrupt the prairie landscape, leaving wind, wide fairways, deep bunkers and rough to define its character. The 9th has been the course's signature hole from the beginning. It was originally measured at 738 yards from the black tees, but subsequent changes have transformed it into an 842-yard par 6, now the longest hole on the course and one of the longest in America. That extra distance has only amplified the hole's original links character. With no trees or water to dictate the route, the scale of the prairie is laid bare, while the wind can have a considerable influence on successive shots. The green itself has two distinct levels, adding another layer to a hole that has evolved from an unusual feature into the defining landmark of The Links. 2. Satsuki Golf Club - Sano course (Kanto Region, Japan) Hole 7 | 964 yards (881m) | Par 7 Satsuki Golf Club’s Sano Course opened in 1979 in the hills of Tochigi Prefecture, with broad fairways laid through a landscape of trees and gentle elevation changes. The 18-hole course measures more than 7,200 yards from the back tees, but it is the seventh hole on the outward nine that has made the club internationally known. At 964 yards, the seventh was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest golf hole and remains the defining feature of the course. It is not simply a long, open stretch: the hole has trees crowding the tee shot, OB on both sides and a relatively narrow fairway, creating pressure from the outset. There are two greens, with the left measuring the full 964 yards and the right 924. The club’s own playing strategy reflects the scale of the hole: rather than simply attacking distance on every shot, the objective is to keep successive balls in play and leave the final approach within comfortable range. For many years, Satsuki’s seventh was the benchmark by which the world’s longest holes were measured. Gunsan Country Club has since surpassed it in sheer yardage, but the Japanese par-7 remains the more established name in the record books. 1. Gunsan Country Club - Jeongeup course (Jeonbuk State, South Korea) Hole 3 | 1,098 yards (1,004m) | Par 7 Gunsan Country Club is an extraordinary property in its own right. Built on a former salt field on Korea’s west coast, the sprawling complex now has 81 holes across more than 1,000 acres, with lakes accounting for roughly 380 acres of the site and 26 bridges linking the courses. The third on the Jeongeup Course is the hole that gives Gunsan its international reputation. At 1,004 metres from the black tees, it is a par 7 and the longest hole in this ranking. The hole is also the No. 1 handicap on its nine, with water running along the left and bunkers placed to complicate the long sequence of shots required to reach the green. Its scale is matched by an unusual sense of place. The hole emerged from the transformation of the old salt works into one of Asia’s largest golf complexes, and its local nickname, the “1004 Hole”, is a play on the 1,004-metre length. Gunsan has built much of its identity around these extreme holes, with a 661-metre par 6 elsewhere on the property, but the Jeongeup third remains the defining feature. At 1,098 yards, it is comfortably longer than Satsuki’s 964-yard seventh and takes the top spot here by distance. Guinness World Records, however, has historically recognised Satsuki’s hole, so the distinction between the longest hole by yardage and the Guinness record is worth keeping in mind.