Dead Horse Lake Golf Course

Andy Tatum

Love the course and always enjoy playing it, but I can’t give 5 starts due to frustrating management practices. I’ve played here many many times over the years and I have had several issues here that I don’t have at other courses. The overall issue is management and lack of communication/ social media. They have strange hours and rules that you don’t find out about until you get there. First, it’s late February and the range closes at 4:30 when there’s daylight until 6:30. The website states the range is open as long as the course is under operational hours. This was frustrating to find out as I pull up at 5:45 with plenty of daylight and get denied. It was a beautiful mid 60 degree evening and I even passed several other open driving ranges that evening on the way home from work. Would never have thought I needed to call. I wish they would adjust their hours more frequently as the daylight shifts longer into the evening. Same with tees times. Secondly, I showed up a few weekends ago on a Sunday afternoon with the temperature right around 49 degrees expecting to play nine. Show up to a locked gate. I guess it was too cold? Ended up calling Centennial who was more than happy to have me. I tried calling Dead Horse to get a tee time and didn’t get an answer, but I never would’ve thought that was due to them being completely closed on such a nice winter afternoon. At least a voicemail stating they were closed for the day would be nice. Thirdly, one time I was playing with some friends (group of five) and as we’re heading up the first fairway, the golf shop guy is chasing us down in a golf cart saying we have to split up. We turned around and there was literally a group of five walking off the 9th green. We’re all decent golfers and play pretty fast so we were just trying to keep things moving on a Sunday afternoon. Instead, we were forced to split up and create even more of a backup on the first tee box. Fourthly, I called one morning to see if I could walk 9 at the end of the day and the guy said that shouldn't be a problem to jump behind the last group, just call the afternoon desk guy (Bud) to put you down and he would leave him a note to let him know. I call a few hours later and Bud says no. The management of this place is so infuriating. Moved around my evening plans and then get told I cant play. That's just bad business. Once again called Centennial and they were very friendly and glad to have me. Fifthly, I showed up at 6:15 on a Monday evening in August to hit a bucket on the range and when I get there, the range is closed with a sign that says last bucket at 5:00. I asked the guy at the desk and he said they had to pick that evening for some maintenance the next day. I understand stuff pops up, but once again, no communication! FB post, email, etc just something please. I play here at least once a week after work and the new guy at the desk has been great so I hate adding to the review but these situations are just getting old now. Nowhere else do I have these experiences. Overall, again I just wish there was more communication from the course. Maybe just some more posting on Facebook at least about course conditions, closures, and range hours. It’s the only course I have to hold my breath when I pull up hoping there’s not some weird issue going on.

Joe Miles

Course in good shape, needs a ranger to keep groups moving

Lanny Walls

Great place. Great staff Melissa was 👍

Hunter Croft

Dead Horse is by far my favorite course in East Tennessee all things considered. The courses and greens are well-maintained. Great staff. Very fair pricing for the range and fees. Tee times are scheduled well. I have no complaints! The best course in the area in my opinion.