The university has both men’s and women’s intercollegiate golf teams. UT briefly fielded a coed team in NCAA competition in 1964 and 1965, with Ann Baker Furrow receiving an athletic scholarship and serving as a member of the team.
After World War I, interest in golf grew, and in 1922 a UT Golf Club for men was organized by football coach Banks. Prior to coming to UT, Banks had championed a highly successful golf team at Drake. Will F. Akers won the first UT golf tournament in fall 1922.
In spring 1923 Tennessee made plans to hold the first Southern Intercollegiate Golf Tournament and sent invitations to all S.I.C. institutions. Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tulane, and Sewanee accepted, and the tournament was held in May at the Cherokee Country Club Golf Course. (Jack Crenshaw of Alabama was the winner.) In 1924 the annual tournament to name the champion of the University of Tennessee Golf Association was played at Whittle Springs, with the Journal and Tribune providing a silver loving cup for the winner. In 1934 the men’s team was incorporated into the minor sports program with Professor James “Jimmy” Walls as coach.
An indoor golf driving range was established in Alumni Memorial in the 1950s and was rebuilt in 1961. The range was located on the lower level of the girls’ side of the building. In 1985 the M. C. James Driving Range was installed at Lakeshore Park and was moved to the golf practice facility on Cherokee Farm. Golf was added as a women’s intercollegiate sport in 1991.