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4.1
45 Reviews (45)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.0
83.2%
Recommend this course
35 out of 45 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.2
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
3
Conditions
2.9
Value
3.1
Layout
3.9
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.3
65.2%
Recommend this course
15 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
15
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.8
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.5
77.5%
Recommend this course
31 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 71
Length 6500 yards
Slope 125
Rating 71.2
Book a Tee Time at
River Bend Golf and Country Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1977
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Gene Hamm

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities

Available Activities

Swimming

Available Sports

Tennis

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in North Carolina (2024 #25)
  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2024 #6)
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Reviews

4.1
45 Reviews (45)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Enjoyed the course.

Course was great. Greens can be better. Would play again when in town.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice place to play

This is a very nice golf course that is well kept. I get to play it as part of my membership elsewhere. This was my first time and I had a lot of fun. Yes the fairways are wide, but in general it keeps play fast . The greens and traps were in good shape and I never had a bad lie in the fairways. I likes the range also, where I play normally, its not much of a range.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The greens need serious work

Lots of grassless spots on the greens - kinda makes putting a lot more challenging

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played

So close to a fun course! H

I have played the course twice now and the course could be one of the best.

Unfortunately every tee box has a problem, significantly slanted, chopped up, weed filled or some combination. The greens are fuzzy and in need of TLC and repair. If you are long from a pin chances are you will be putting over a bare spot.

The course layout is fun and challenging, the fairways are open and in good shape, the rough isn’t punishing.

So close to be a great course but the issues do detract from the enjoyment of the play.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice place to play

The course is fun, it’s pretty wide open and well kept. The greens are way faster than you would think. Worth playing.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

It was our very first time playing at that course—and, quite possibly, our last. As we stepped onto the fairways, we couldn’t help but notice how rough and uneven they looked, like a patchwork quilt left out in the rain. The grass was patchy and unkempt, making every shot feel uncertain. The greens weren’t much better—browned, bumpy, and in desperate need of some TLC. It was clear that the course had seen better days.

Despite the conditions, there was a silver lining. The staff members were genuinely friendly and eager to help, which made a big difference.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Burnt out greens

Would not recommend this course at least his year. Multiple holes had burnt out greens.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
First Time Playing

What you expect for $25 for 18

The rough here is awful. Lost a bunch of in play balls because the rough was so tall and fluffy. Greens were pretty burnt up too. Not bad for $25 I guess and not many people playing. Greens weren’t mowed today either.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0

Don't waste your money on this course,they have no idea on how to maintain it.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

River Bend Golf and Country Club

Fairways are excellent and a couple of greens had a few bare spots but all in all it was a very enjoyable experience and will return soon. The staff was informative and helpfull with their products in the proshop.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Horrendous

Clumps of weeds and grass left behind by maintenance staff. Roughs 3 inches deep so stay on fairway or lose your ball. Even lost a ball on fairway under clump of grass. Greens are terrible and need rolling, cutting and new sod. Over priced for the conditions. Won't be coming back here until they rehab the course. I normally play The Emerald but closed for maintenance. Was a member here years ago but will choose other options if necessary. Thanks but no thanks, a waste of time and money

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun Course

Course was in pretty good condition for the season. Tee boxes were a little less manicured than the fairways or greens, but overall not too bad. Range was in good condition and the practice green matched the greens on the course. Definitely recommend playing if you’re looking for a course that has the right amount of obstacles and holes that are easy enough for beginners.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Play somewhere else if you can, bad shape and wish I had known

Greens bad, fairways ok and tees ok. Very average course and not worth more than $35. Go play emerald instead, 10 times better for only a little more money. Very disappointed I wasted a vacation round of golf here.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The only negative about the round, the greens. They had a lot of dead spots. Other than that, we enjoyed our round. The friendly staff, pace of play and the rest of the course was in good condition.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

The Emerald is a gem

I a 20 year NewBern resident recently getting back into the swing of things and the Emerald is a course that has everything a Lover of Golf needs! The staff is always courteous and ready to help when necessary! The course is one of the few in our area that is in great condition!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Why is this a course

The course conditions are horrible the greens are so bad it looks like you're hitting through a desert with like chunks of maybe what you would expect greens to be. do not come here. They charge $11 for riders which is just a joke maybe because the conditions of the course are so bad it's like you're riding in a roller coaster.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
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