The pilgrimage golf property of Sweetens Cove in Tennessee has unveiled plans for its much-anticipated expansion, with a new 13-hole lighted short course from King Collins Dormer Design set to open next summer.
The new routing will connect and overlap with the existing 9-hole layout at Sweetens Cove, providing (and encouraging) the opportunity for creative cross-country play at a public facility where a limited number of guests purchase all-day passes – similar to the operating model at a ski resort – rather than set tee times.
“We’re going to work really hard on tying the two courses together so that Sweetens feels more free-flowing and explorative than it already is,” said architect Rob Collins, who teamed with Tad King to rebuild the current nine holes at the property that opened in 2014.
The golf course groundbreaking is the core element of the long-planned growth effort at Sweetens Cove, one that will also feature a stay-and-play opportunity with one-bedroom, on-property cabins set to open in 2028. Also to come as part of the ownership’s partnership with Reef Capital – the group behind Black Desert Resort in Utah – are a full-service restaurant and bar (only for those staying on property), a two-acre putting green, a micro-distillery for Sweetens Cove Spirits, a fishing dock near the sixth hole, and a skeet shooting range.
“Sweetens will be the ultimate 24-hour golf playground,” says Collins, who has also gained national acclaim for co-designs such as Landmand (Nebraska), Crossroads at Palmetto Bluff (South Carolina), The Bounty Club (Tennessee), and Red Feather (Texas).
All the added amenities and planned offerings are intended to create more casual gathering spaces for guests who make the journey to South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Boasting views of the Appalachian Mountains, Sweetens Cove is a links-style course located in the Sequatchie Valley, less than 30 minutes from Chattanooga and within a three-hour drive of cities such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Knoxville, and Nashville.
“We have always prided ourselves on offering a golf experience unlike any other, one where every golfer has access to incredible architecture at an affordable price,” said General Manager Matthew Adamski, who is part of a diverse ownership group that includes Collins as well as a pair of professional athletes with Tennessee ties in Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick. But it’s the alignment with (and capital from) Reef, which became a full partner at Sweetens Cove in 2024, that’s pushing the expansion forward at what the company views as a legacy project.
“These new additions will only enhance what our guests experience on property and further cement Sweetens as the ultimate golf destination,” said Adamski. “Our new model allows guests to take full advantage of everything this place has to offer, and that is what makes time stand still and friendships grow stronger. At the end of the day, everyone needs a little more Sweetens in their life.”
From a golf standpoint, Sweetens Cove is revered for its Scottish spirit, with classical architectural features, dramatic contours, tightly mown turf, and wildly creative bunkering. But it might be best known for its unique model of all-day passes rather than tee times, with guests gathering each morning to get detailed information about course conditions and how the day will operate. Daily rates range from $140 (walking) to $190 (with cart) for all-day play during peak season.
The property’s operating structure will remain the same with the forthcoming changes, only with additional guest passes added to accommodate the new short course.
The private 5,100-square-foot restaurant and bar will be reserved for players with golf packages and open in Fall of 2027. There will also be a micro-distillery and a bottle shop, with the distillery open to the public as a tasting room with bottles available for purchase.
In addition to the 13 new holes and the massive putting green, which is set to debut in spring 2027, plans call for three simulator bays, club fitting and retail, and more. The expansion effort at Sweetens Cove comes as golf travel in the U.S. has hit record levels in recent years, with the National Golf Foundation reporting more than 12 million golfers traveling annually to play the game.
