Cherokee Ridge Country Club

• Format: 18 holes; par 72.
• Design/history: Sammy Dean design; opened in 1992.
• Course character: A 17-acre lake shapes the front nine; the back nine moves through a more wooded setting.
• Length: Current sources conflict between approximately 6,574 and 6,728 yards from the back tees. Keep the exact yardage unresolved until the club supplies a current scorecard.
• Access: Preserve SEMI-PRIVATE. Current tourism/booking sources show guest play, but direct eligibility and booking method should be confirmed.
• Current published rate signal: Alabama Tourism lists $59 Tuesday–Sunday, with $39 Tuesday–Thursday before 11 a.m., $39 senior weekday and $39 twilight after 3 p.m.; 18 holes and shared cart are described as included. Verify directly before publication because the official club site does not clearly timestamp those prices.
• Practice: Two putting greens, a practice bunker, a roughly 30-station range and pro shop are listed by the club.
• Location: 4000 Cherokee Ridge Drive, Union Grove, AL 35175.

18Birdies shows 4.4/5 from 282 reviews, including value 4.3 and conditions 4.0; golfers characterize it as difficult with quick greens and good pace. GolfNow’s current category scores are especially strong for layout, staff, pace and value.

Cherokee Ridge looks like the best straight-up bargain case in this batch if the posted rates hold. The front-nine lake and wooded back give the round two different looks, and the review signal says the layout is the reason to make the drive. At $59 with a cart—or $39 in the promo windows—this is the kind of place that gets the group chat moving.

The 97-mile trip means we still want a confirmed tee time and rate before leaving Dalton. The semi-private access label and conflicting yardages are exactly the sort of small details that can turn into a dumb Saturday surprise if nobody calls.

Our Call: GREAT VALUE and WORTH THE DRIVE—confirm the guest tee time and rate first.

• Value-hunting foursomes willing to make a longer drive
• Golfers who like accuracy tests, lake holes and wooded routing
• North Alabama golf days that need a strong second stop

Confirm guest access, the live rate and promo windows, shared-cart inclusion, current scorecard/yardage, food/alcohol, walking policy and maintenance schedule.