Chattanooga is actually a nicer area than most people think. I enjoy it a good bit more than my previous two locale's: Mobile, AL and Augusta, GA. It is definitely a different choice than the others though. You will get four seasons here although winter isn't bad. This area is in the foothills of the mountains, so the terrain is all ridges and valleys, but if you have interest in outdoor activities (hiking, camping, rafting, etc) there is plenty of things close-by. From a golf standpoint, I'll be honest, the area is weak for one of this size. Most of the quality courses here are private. The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is a decent Jack Nicklaus Signature course on the banks of the lake, Eagle Bluff is an ok, mountain style course, but the other public courses (I haven't played them all) are mostly muni quality. The nice thing about this area to me is the fact that you can be many different places quickly depending on what you want for that weekend. It is less than two hours down to Atlanta if you want the big city. You can be in the mountains in an hour or two. Knoxville is 90 miles, Nashville is not much further. There's a decent lake just north of town. However, with all that said, Chattanooga is big enough you don't have to leave town to find something to do. Downtown (particularly toward the river) is actually a regional tourist destination with many restaurants and bars. It has been revitalized through the years and is quite nice now. The North Shore (just across the river from downtown) is the trendiest area and has smaller, quirkier dining and shopping. The areas east of I-75 are more like the suburbs with the main Shopping Mall and chain restaurants. Hope this helps...good luck in your transfer.