State of the week: Tennessee
Where are we? The Volunteer State. Tennessee is bordered by eight states. It can take as little as an hour and a half to drive from top to bottom, but as much as nine hours (or more) to get from east to west. The state flag has three stars on it to celebrate the three distinct regions (West, Middle, East) that make up Tennessee.
Tennessee history: Tennessee became a state in 1796 -- four years after Kentucky (the 15th state) and seven years before Ohio (the 17th state). No United States President has ever been born in Tennessee, but three of them (Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson) eventually made Tennessee their home. Tennessee saw numerous Civil War battles in all corners of the state, and memorials of the war are scattered throughout.
Tennessee on TOUR: The Stanford St. Jude Championship's early-June placement on the PGA TOUR schedule usually precedes the U.S. Open. The extreme difficulty of TPC Southwind (It was the PGA TOUR's sixth-hardest course in 2007) makes it an excellent tune-up for the Open.
The Nationwide Tour makes two stops in East Tennessee during its season. The Knoxville Open Presented by Food City is June 19-22, and the Chattanooga Classic presented by Black Creek is Oct. 16-19.
Tennessee on the course: Tennessee is one of the best states for golf value. The Nashville municipal system is one of the best in the country. The well-maintained Harpeth Hills Golf Course in south Nashville helped produce Brandt Snedeker, the 2007 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. The municipal system also boasts Ted Rhodes Golf Course, named after Ted Rhodes, an early black golf star who mentored Lee Elder and Charlie Sifford.
Jack Nicklaus placed his name atop The Bear Trace, a collection of outstanding courses around the state. These courses supplement the Tennessee State Park system.
Equipment tidbit: Putter company SeeMore is based in Franklin near the Vanderbilt Legends Club, a 36-hole facility that formerly held an LPGA event. Zach Johnson used a SeeMore putter to win the 2007 Masters.
Tennessee golfer: Despite his early success on the PGA TOUR, Snedeker has firmly planted himself in Nashville. Snedeker grew up in Nashville and attended Vanderbilt University. Even after setting out on the PGA TOUR in 2007, he continued to make his home in Middle Tennessee. Memphis ain't bad, either: Major champions John Daly and Shaun Micheel each make their home near TPC Southwind.
Tennessee off the course: Chattanooga is one of the best vacation spots in the country. The Tennessee Aquarium was opened in Chattanooga in 1992 and has helped revitalize the downtown area. The area also has Rock City, Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls. Local tip: Schedule a ride on the Alpine Slide near Lookout Mountain.
Tennessee eats: If you're in Nashville, stop for breakfast at The Pancake Pantry on 21st Ave., across the street from Vanderbilt. Cracker Barrel is based on the outskirts of East Nashville: Rumor has it that one person's sole job is finding all the old stuff they hang on the walls in their restaurants.
Tennessee culture: The state is obviously known as the home of country music, but the state's love of music goes beyond that. Nashville record studios are such high quality that it attracts all genres. Stroll down Music Row and take in all the talent that seeps from the seams of this big time country town.
Tennessee golf charity: Golf-crazy (and low-handicapper) Vince Gill has lent his name and time to one of the best charity events in the country. Since 1993, his tournament, The Vinny, has helped raise money for junior golf in the state. The event is slated for May 17-19 at The Golf Club of Tennessee, a gorgeous Tom Fazio design featuring zoysia fairways.
Tennessee resort: The Gaylord Orpyland is one of the largest hotels in the country. Its nearby golf course, Gaylord Springs, is a links-style course bordering the Cumberland River. It formerly hosted a Champions Tour event every spring. The best times to visit? Early May and early October.
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