CR&J’s Final Rating: 42/80 (Average)
Twelve Stones Crossing review today may not be Twelve Stones Crossing review tomorrow, as the ownership of the course continues to make investments and improvements in the property. I have only played Twelve Stones once, but from what I understand, the course has been vastly and quickly improving and holds a much better rating today than it would have at the beginning of the year. However, Twelve Stones even in its best form has a ceiling, as structural problems with the golf course remain to be solved, as well as once severe (but now less severe) conditioning issues.
This course was reviewed as part of a broader Journal entry exploring public golf courses in the Nashville, TN area.
What Works: What is working for Twelve Stones at the moment is a commitment to improve. Because, frankly, it needed it badly. Twelve Stones has an all new driving range area with nice mats, conditioning has improved enough where the course is playable without major issues (at least at the time of my round), and the putting surfaces roll nicely. There are also a few really cool, thoughtful holes. The cost to play, for the Nashville area, is also on the side of good value.
Best Hole: As I said, for a golf course that leaves a lot to be desired, there are actually a handful of good holes and nice vistas. The best hole might be the shorter par-4 sixteenth, a hole that wraps around a lake with some nice fountains. Like Old Fort, this has a bit of the same flair with biting off as much as you can chew without plunking one. Successful drives will leave but a short approach and a reasonable look at birdie.
Interesting Hole: This one is funny. I presume that at some point, the course will blow the fifth hole up or sell it off as land, requiring a redesign. But for now, the mid-length par-4 fifth hole is probably the worst hole I’ve ever played, basically straight up the side of a mountain. There’s nothing really to this hole and I presume it would be like playing golf while climbing Mount Everest. It is so steep, it causes me to question whether a ball would even stay on the hill if the fairway was conditioned like a Top-100 golf course.
Limitations: The limitations appear to mostly be monetary. The Nashville golf community often lament about the poor and changing course conditions at Twelve Stones. Perhaps that time is coming sooner than later. What money it will take to condition the course properly will pale in comparison to the money required to redisign a few of the broken holes, particularly the fifth. Limitations are aplenty at Twelve Stones, but I think they should be commended for putting forth some effort to turn the ship around, and I hope it continues its current trajectory, because I found it a perfectly playable golf course and a fun golf round.
Final Thoughts: Twelve Stones is not a course I could confidently recommend, yet. It is a course that I would recommend in the shape I found it. Consistency and continued improvement will determine the future of Twelve Stones. Twelve Stones will never be in contention for a top golf course list of any kind. But, it can aim to be a good public course that serves a very underserved public golf community in Nashville, and if done correctly, will make a lot of money doing so.
CR&J’s Final Rating: Shot Options: 5; Challenge: 6; Layout Variety: 5; Distinctiveness: 5; Aesthetics: 7; Conditioning: 4; Character: 4; Fun: 6. Total: 42/80 (Average)