RV Golfer - Tuned in at Music City

Written by Rick Stedman

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 04:00

For some, visiting Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry is like a trip to Mecca; it’s something you just have to do during your lifetime. For others, even those who are not fans of country-western music, it’s also a must-see.

Over the years, the Grand Ole Opry has been housed in several venues in Music City, as Nashville is affectionately known. Memorable moments at the Opry have accumulated like number one hits, thanks to many great singers who have blessed its stage, including Garth Brooks, George Jones, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Charlie Pride, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood. Elvis Presley sang “Blue Moon of Kentucky” during his only Opry performance on Oct. 2, 1954.

Next to New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry is the most visited performance venue in the country. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Grand Ole Opry show is performed live on 650 WSM-AM radio, just as it has been for more than 80 years now. In fact, this is the world’s longest running radio show. It can be heard on Stream 137 on Sirius Satellite Radio and at www.opry.com .

In addition to the Grand Old Opry, a visit to Nashville would not be complete without two stops: the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and Historic RCA Studio B. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a shrine to everything country. The original barn-shaped building opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row. However, in 2001, the new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened in a colossal $37 million, 130,000-square-foot building on Fifth Avenue in downtown. To date, it has welcomed more than 10 million visitors.

The museum has 75 full-time employees, and features numerous historical and interactive offerings. The Frist Library and Archive houses more than 200,000 recorded discs, 60,000 historical photographs, 5,000 films and videotapes, hundreds of audio tapes and thousands of posters, books, songbooks, periodicals and copies of sheet music. The collection also includes thousands of personal artifacts such as performers’ instruments, costumes and accessories.

• A few treasures you’ll discover include:
• A two-story-high display of every gold and platinum record awarded country artists during the 20th century—854 in all. You can even open some of the cases and hear the music.
• The Hee Haw cornfield set, where Roy Clark, Buck Owens, the rest of the cast and famous guests popped up to deliver some of the funniest punch lines on a comedy television show.
• The Country Music Hall of Fame, where you will see bronze images of its members.
• Elvis Presley’s 1960 “Solid Gold” Cadillac limousine, Patsy Cline’s cocktail dress and Faith Hill’s Gianni Versace dress.

As ample proof of country music’s fertility and wide appeal, it’s worth noting that a dozen members of the Country Music Hall of Fame also hold membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Chet Atkins, Bob Wills, the Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Sam Phillips and Floyd Cramer.

If you’re an Elvis Presley fan, you’ll want to step back in time with a visit to Historic RCA Studio B. From 1957 to 1977 the magic of Studio B lent itself to the recording of more than 35,000 songs. Nearly 1,000 became Top Ten hits. Elvis recorded 262 songs in this studio. Imagine sitting at the same piano where the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll sang “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” He recorded that song in 1960—at 4 a.m. on a Sunday, in complete darkness, right there at that piano. When the guide replicated that moment while playing the melancholy ballad and dimming the lights, you could feel Elvis’ presence in the studio.

Just like the music that was brought to life there, Studio B tells the stories of the artists that walked through those doors and what transpired during their sessions. Historic RCA Studio B is the only recording studio that offers a tour in Nashville. Though today it is one of Music City’s most popular tourist attractions, it closed the day after Elvis’ untimely death on Aug. 16, 1977. Ironically, Studio B’s planned closure was scheduled a year in advance.

A Golf Treasure in Tennessee
A stop at Gaylord Springs Golf Links is one of the highlights of a visit to Nashville. A true Tennessee treasure, Gaylord Springs opened to the public in September 1990. As part of the Gaylord Opryland Resort complex, this popular course averages about 30,000 rounds per year, according to Neil Collins, director of golf. A complete vacation can be fulfilled with visits to the famed Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Springs Golf Links just down the road.

Carved from the banks of the Cumberland River, Gaylord Springs was designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion Larry Nelson, assisted by architect Jeff Brauer. The course measures 6,842 yards from the championship tees, and the natural topography is skillfully used to create a true links-style course. The entire 220-acre facility is visually stunning. As you follow the winding road that leads to the course, the spectacular clubhouse immediately draws your attention. The 43,000-square-foot antebellum-style clubhouse offers shopping, dining, meeting rooms, and banquet rooms, along with panoramic views of the golf course.

“The fourth hole is our signature hole,” says Collins. “It plays 392 yards from the tips, with both the tee shot and second shot requiring carries over a pond that borders the left side of the hole. The hole also features the springhouse, which is nestled behind the fourth green and dates back to the 1850s.” The one-room springhouse is a small building that was built next to a spring. Springhouses were used for refrigeration in rural areas before the advent of electricity.

In addition to the fourth hole, the fifth and 15th are positioned along the limestone bluffs, which border the course on the west. Serving as a boundary on the east side of the course is the gentle flowing waters of the Cumberland River. The river comes into play on holes one, two, three, 10, and 11. In addition to the river, there are also eight other water hazards. Throughout the course, golfers will notice the many mounds bordering each fairway, which is typical of the links-style design.

Gaylord Springs is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Wildlife you might see while on the course includes herons, wild turkeys, fox and beaver.

This well-manicured course has hosted numerous professional tournaments, including the Champions Tour from 1994-2003. It also hosted the BellSouth Senior Classic from 1994-2002. In 2003, the tournament became the Music City Classic and was sponsored by Gaylord Entertainment and Vanderbilt Medical Center. It also has hosted the Tennessee State Open Championship since 2007.

In addition to the championship course, the facility also houses the Golf Institute at Gaylord Springs. Virgil Herring, director of instruction, said the institute features two indoor hitting bays for year-round practice and instruction, along with a diagnostic technology V-One instructional system to analyze your swing. Also, a Vector launch monitor measures impact conditions, while a DBS force platform analyzes weight distribution as you swing.

In all, Gaylord Springs Golf Links offers a comprehensive golf experience that’s sure to rank right up there with a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. For information on the golf course, visit www.gaylordsprings.com. n

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer, and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .