The short answer
Choose by how you will spend your days. A golf course lot gives you long green views, golfers passing and mowers early in the morning. A lake lot gives you water views and shoreline rules to learn. At Tennessee National, on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, the golf course and the marina are both inside the gates, so either choice keeps the other close.
Key facts
- Tennessee National has one Greg Norman Signature golf course: 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72.
- The full-service marina at Tennessee National has 140+ boat slips on Watts Bar Lake.
- Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir with more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline.
- The lake level changes about 5 to 6 feet between summer and winter.
- The five ways to own are The Timbers, lake homesites, waterfront homesites, Land & Home packages and townhomes.
- There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite at Tennessee National.
Plenty of buyers arrive wanting a lake view. Then they stand beside a fairway near sunset and are not so sure.
Both are good choices. They are also different lives. Here is an honest comparison of a home beside a golf course and a home by the water, and the questions that usually settle it.
What do you get with a golf course lot?
Open green space, long views and golf going by.
- A view someone else mows. Fairways, greens and trees, kept by the course crew.
- Something to watch. Golfers come through all day. Some people love that. Some want a quieter yard.
- A working course next door. Mowers start early, sprinklers run at night, and now and then a ball lands in the yard. How much depends on where the homesite sits along the hole.
Two guides go deeper. How golf course maintenance affects fairway homes covers the daily rhythm. The pros and cons of living on a golf course covers which positions along a hole see the most golf balls.
One more point. The view lasts as long as the course does, so ask how the course is run and cared for.
What do you get with a lake lot?
Water, and a view that changes by the hour.
Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River. It has more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline. It is freshwater, with no tides and no salt.
- A view that moves. Light, weather and boats change it all day.
- A waterline that shifts a little. Summer pool runs about 740 to 741 feet, and the winter minimum is 735 feet. That is a seasonal change of about 5 to 6 feet. TVA's lake level page has current numbers.
- Shoreline rules. What you can build at the water's edge is not only up to you. TVA manages the shoreline of its lakes, and the community has its own rules. Never assume a homesite can have a private dock. Ask the community and TVA what is allowed at that exact homesite, and get it in writing.
- More site questions. Slope, trees and drainage near the water can make a build more involved.
How do the two compare?
They differ in what you see, what you hear and what you need to check before you buy.
| Golf course lot | Lake lot | |
|---|---|---|
| What you look at | Fairways, greens, trees | Water, the far shore, sky |
| What you hear | Mowers early, golfers by day | Boats in season, quiet in winter |
| Who passes by | Golfers and carts | Boaters, at a distance |
| What changes with the seasons | Turf color and how busy the course is | Lake level, about 5 to 6 feet |
| What to check first | Where shots land on that hole | Shoreline rules, slope and drainage |
| Where the boat goes | The marina, if a slip is available | Ask what is allowed at that homesite |
Which one fits how you live?
The one that matches your ordinary week, not your best one. Four questions usually settle it.
- How often will you be on the water? Be honest, not hopeful. If you boat most weekends, the lake is part of your routine. If you boat a few times a year, you may be buying a view.
- How often will you play golf? If the answer is most days, a home near the course shortens every trip.
- Will you live there all year? If you will be away for stretches, think about what the homesite asks of you while you are gone.
- Which view do you want with your coffee? Stand on both at the hour you would use the porch.
Does the homesite decide what you can use?
No. The homesite decides your view, not your address.
At Tennessee National the golf course and the marina share the same 1,492 gated acres. It is a golf cart community, so a home near the fairway is still close to the water, and a home near the water is still close to the first tee. Ask which routes are open to carts.
Two things to ask either way. Golf membership questions go to the club. And the marina has 140+ boat slips, so a boat does not have to live at your house. Ask about slip availability on the boat slips page.
What drives the price difference?
Mostly the water. Across lake communities, land on or near the water tends to cost more than land away from it. The view and the size of the homesite matter too.
That creates a real trade. More of the budget in the land can mean less for the house. Decide how you want to split the two before you fall for a view.
Pricing is in the info pack. This post does not quote numbers.
What can you buy at Tennessee National?
There are five ways to own: The Timbers (wooded homesites), lake homesites, waterfront homesites, Land & Home packages, and townhomes. Finished homes are listed on the properties page.
Ask which homes and homesites border the golf course and which are on or near the water. The answer changes with what is for sale.
There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite. So you can choose the land first and take your time with the house.
The short answer
Lean toward the lake if you will watch or use the water most days and you are willing to learn the shoreline rules.
Lean toward the golf course if you like a green view with some life in it, and you are content keeping a boat at the marina.
Do not decide from a map. Walk both on the same afternoon. Stand by the water, then stand beside a fairway at the same hour, and notice which one you do not want to leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is a golf course lot or a lake lot better at Tennessee National?
Neither is better for everyone. A home or homesite beside the golf course suits a buyer who wants green views and golf close by. One near the water suits a buyer who will watch or use Watts Bar Lake most days. Ask Tennessee National which of each is for sale, and walk both before deciding.
Can you keep a boat at Tennessee National without a lake lot?
Tennessee National has a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips on Watts Bar Lake, so a boat does not have to be kept at home. Ask about current slip availability and terms before you count on a slip.
Does the water level on Watts Bar Lake change?
Yes, modestly. Summer pool on Watts Bar Lake runs about 740 to 741 feet, and the winter minimum is 735 feet, a seasonal change of about 5 to 6 feet. TVA's lake level page shows current numbers.
What kinds of homesites does Tennessee National sell?
Tennessee National has five ways to own: The Timbers (wooded homesites), lake homesites, waterfront homesites, Land & Home packages, and townhomes. Pricing is in the info pack, and finished homes are listed on the properties page.
Do golf balls hit homes beside a golf course?
Sometimes. How often golf balls reach a home beside a golf course depends on where the home sits along the hole. Homes beside the area where tee shots land see the most. Watch play from the homesite for an hour before you decide.
Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.