The Bear Trace at Tims Ford is one of Jack Nicklaus most celebrated design achievements in Tennessee, a stunning course set along the shores of Tims Ford Lake in Franklin County near Winchester. This Bear Trace is part of the Tennessee State Parks Bear Trace golf system — a collection of Jack Nicklaus-designed courses at Tennessee state parks — making it an extraordinary value for golfers who expect Nicklaus-caliber design at state park pricing. The course winds dramatically along the Tims Ford Lake shoreline, with water views, elevation changes, and the signature Nicklaus design elements of risk-reward decision-making and visually stunning hole settings. Tims Ford Lake is one of Middle Tennessee most beautiful TVA reservoirs, and the golf course maximizes every opportunity the waterfront setting provides. This is widely considered one of the finest public golf experiences in Tennessee.
The Bear Trace at Tims Ford was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened as part of Tennessee deliberate investment in world-class golf infrastructure within its state park system. The Bear Trace brand — developed in partnership with Nicklaus Design — brought championship-caliber design to multiple Tennessee state parks in the late 1990s. Tims Ford is widely considered the crown jewel of the Bear Trace collection.
High-profile Nicklaus design at state park value creates strong demand; book well ahead especially spring through fall
Without automated alerts, you'd need to constantly refresh the booking site hoping to catch a cancellation. That's where TeeTimeGo comes in — we monitor the tee sheet and notify you the moment a slot opens.
Book 1-2 weeks ahead for weekend tee times from March through October. Combine with lodging at Tims Ford State Park for a full golf weekend. Early tee times are cooler and offer the best lake light for photography.
Pro tip: Set a TeeTimeGo alert so you're notified the instant a cancellation opens — even at 2am.
Get notified via email and SMS the moment a tee time opens at The Bear Trace at Tims Ford.
We monitor the tee sheet around the clock, so you don't have to.
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Common questions about getting tee time alerts for The Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Sign up for TeeTimeGo and create an alert for The Bear Trace at Tims Ford. We'll monitor the tee sheet and notify you instantly when cancellations open up.
Book 1-2 weeks ahead for weekend tee times from March through October. Combine with lodging at Tims Ford State Park for a full golf weekend. Early tee times are cooler and offer the best lake light for photography.
Yes! When creating your alert, you can specify preferred tee times, number of players, and date ranges. We'll only notify you when matching slots open.
TeeTimeGo sends near-instant alerts via email and SMS when cancellations appear at The Bear Trace at Tims Ford, giving you the best chance to book before others.
High-profile Nicklaus design at state park value creates strong demand; book well ahead especially spring through fall
You can create alerts for multiple courses at once. Add The Bear Trace at Tims Ford along with other favorites to maximize your chances of securing the perfect tee time.
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