Winchester, Tennessee · Crossville & the Upper Cumberland
Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Jack Nicklaus on a near-island in Tims Ford Lake: links-style holes on old pastureland first, then big oaks, and a par-3 finish over the water.
- WinchesterLocation
- 1999Opened
About Bear Trace at Tims Ford
The Bear Trace at Tims Ford sits on a peninsula in Tims Ford Lake, and the head pro calls it a virtual island: the only connection to land is an entrance road about 40 yards wide. It's a par 71 of 6,763 yards from the Bear tees (72.7 rating, 128 slope), with five sets of tees, 419 Bermuda fairways and TifEagle greens. The opening holes roll across what used to be pastureland in a links style, and then the course moves into woods full of big oaks. The lake is in view and in play on several holes.
Jack Nicklaus built it as the third course on Tennessee's Bear Trace state-park trail, and it opened in 1999, picking up 'Top Ten Places You Can Play' and 'Best New Destination' in Tennessee that year. Two players shot 63 on back-to-back days in August 1999, in a TearDrop Mini-Tour event just after the opening, and that still stands as the tournament record.
The nines have been flipped since opening, so the old 18th, with its two-tier green and the lake off to the right, is now the 9th. You finish on a par 3 slightly over water, with bunkers short left and long right. The 6th is the green to study: it's a half Biarritz, with the front third about 8 feet above the rest, so being on the right level matters more than hitting the green. The park has cabins and campgrounds if you want to stay.
It's one of 12 courses Yoink watches in the Crossville & the Upper Cumberland area, and the closest alternative is The Bear Trace at Tims Ford, about 8 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
Booking a tee time at Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Call the pro shop at (931) 968-0995 or book through Tennessee State Parks. In season (March 26 to November 16) it's $69 plus tax for 18 with a cart on weekdays and $79 on weekends and holidays; walking is $49 on weekdays and $59 on weekends. Seniors 62 and over pay $55 with a cart on in-season weekdays. From November 17 to March 25 rates drop to $51 weekdays and $60 weekends with a cart.
How to get a tee time at Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Yoink
If Bear Trace at Tims Ford looks full for the day you want, it usually isn't for long: groups drop, rounds get moved and times reopen at all hours.
Yoink checks the sheet for you. Set a watch for the date, window and group size you want, and you'll get a push notification as soon as a spot opens — then book it directly with Bear Trace at Tims Ford.
- Pick Bear Trace at Tims Ford in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near Bear Trace at Tims Ford
- The Bear Trace at Tims Ford · 8 mi
- The Course at Sewanee · Sewanee · 11 mi
- Arnold AFB Golf Course · Arnold A F B · 12 mi
- WillowBrook Golf Club · Manchester · 21 mi
- Saddle Creek Golf Club · 40 mi
All 12 Crossville & the Upper Cumberland courses in Tennessee · Tennessee golf courses
Bear Trace at Tims Ford FAQ
Where is Bear Trace at Tims Ford?
Bear Trace at Tims Ford is in Winchester, Tennessee, in the Crossville & the Upper Cumberland area — about 8 miles from The Bear Trace at Tims Ford.
Who designed Bear Trace at Tims Ford, and when did it open?
Bear Trace at Tims Ford was designed by Jack Nicklaus (Signature course) and opened in 1999.
Is Bear Trace at Tims Ford open to the public?
Bear Trace at Tims Ford is state park (Tims Ford State Park, Tennessee State Parks).
Can you walk Bear Trace at Tims Ford?
Walking allowed; walking rates posted.
How do I get a tee time at Bear Trace at Tims Ford when it's booked up?
Set a watch for Bear Trace at Tims Ford in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near Bear Trace at Tims Ford?
Nearby options include The Bear Trace at Tims Ford, The Course at Sewanee and Arnold AFB Golf Course. Yoink watches 12 courses in the Crossville & the Upper Cumberland area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- tnstateparks.com · government
- nicklausdesign.com · official
- golftennessee.com · media
Never miss a tee time at Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.