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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
1415 Reviews (1415)
5 Stars
722
4 Stars
496
3 Stars
129
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
35
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.8
94.3%
Recommend this course
1298 out of 1415 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
20 Reviews (20)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.8
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
90.0%
Recommend this course
18 out of 20 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
71 Reviews (71)
5 Stars
44
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.6
93.0%
Recommend this course
66 out of 71 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Island Pointe's layout along the French Broad River delivers consistently fast, immaculate greens and fairways that keep golfers returning across the region. Exceptionally friendly staff and smooth pace of play round out an experience that offers outstanding value near Knoxville and Gatlinburg.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7001 yards
Slope 133
Rating 75.4

Championship Layout by Arthur Hills. Links Style course over 175 acres traversing the French Broad River. Play along and over the river.

#10 Ranked Public / Private Golf Course (Golf Magazine)

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Island Pointe Golf Club (FKA River Islands)
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Course Details

Year Built 1991
Fairways Zoysia Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Arthur Hills (1991)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required. Shirts must have collars and shorts must be Bermuda length. Tank tops, t-shirts and denim are not permitted.

Food & Beverage

Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

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Reviews

4.5
1415 Reviews (1415)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 12
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 74
Bunkers 54
Undulating Greens 51
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 60
Advanced Golfers 40
Locals 35
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 64
Convenient to the City 28
Near Local Attractions 23

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

MLH

Course is in great shape, definitely challenging on some holes. Beautiful scenery since a river runs around & through course. No houses on course makes for a quiet round, would recommend to everyone.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

The course was in great shape Fairways and the greens were great grains were as good as I've seen them and I've been playing the course for over 25 years

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 34
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Mark H.

Beautiful course, French Broad River runs through course. Great scenery, course in good shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 59
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Major Improvement

The Course is really coming around .. Major Improvements since March 2020

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Island Pointe, worth the trip

I like to play different courses wherever I vacation. My trip to the Smokies in Tennessee was no exception. My last stay I played Gatlinburg and Sevierville which were nice courses with two different styles. The first being quite hilly and leaving you with tough lies that test your directional ability, the latter being kind of flat but with excellent conditions. Island Pointe was more of a combination of the two. Some areas hilly, some flat.. The greens were cut a little high, probably to help them to stay healthy in the heat. Of course that caused them to run slow, probably a 6-7 on the stimp meter. All in all the island greens were fair for the directionally impaired, but you had to hit your number because they were a bit narrow front to back. The fairways were wide and forgiving with little trouble. My only concern with the course was the lack of attention given to property maintenance. It is a very broken up course needing signs to direct you to the next hole. Some signs were on the ground, others missing. There were wood rails on the sides of bridges that were broken or missing, and the two plank bridges needed to be replanked badly. The place definitely needs an infusion of cash to bring it back to its original glory. Great place for a fun informal round. Very friendly staff.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Awesome course layout

Loved the course, couldn’t have been better. Very challenging!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Must play in this area

Excellent course especially for the price. Incredible layout, greens were very healthy if not overly fast. About 9 on stimp I would guess. Rest of the course was also in excellent condition but man, DO NOT miss in the tall grass. Ball is GONE. No joke. Played here 5 years ago and would definitely recommend playing here if you are near by. But, bring your straight game. Lol

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Neat course. A couple of beautiful holes just not taken care of very well.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Love the staff. My wife and I were in the pro shop when this nut job came in.

This guy came in jumps the man behind the desk in the pro shop. Told him that he was never going to play here again. The man behind the counter said that’s up to you and that’s all he said. My wife was so embarrassed , he use GD and The F word . He was out of control. He said his mother was taking chemotherapy, and he had her out in 95° heat ,not smart. He wasn’t too worried about Covid 19 while he was ranting and raving he didn’t have a mask on. I’m sorry my wife had to witness this and I’m sure the staff wishes he never comes back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/28/2020

#1 I did have a mask on

#2 My mother is taking chemo therapy and was definitely not with me on the golf course.

#3 I was charged an additional $14.31 on top of $52 to ride in my own cart to prevent exposure to the virus

#4 The golf courses website says they are deploying covid precautions daily.

#5 Only the pro shop manager and a gentleman in his 20’s were in the clubhouse, no ladies were present for my foul language.

#6 I won’t be back. Nor will anyone in my group. We all have played out there for 15+ years and it’s not worth the drive anymore. Poor course management, NO WATER to drink on the course, the cart girl only had BEER, no covid precautions, CONTRARY to the claims on the golf course website.

#7 Have a nice day, guy.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

One The best courses around

It’s always a pleasure to come out and play Island Pointe. You won’t find a better layout in this area and the course is in great shape. The staff is always very friendly and makes us feel welcome every time we are there. If you are new to the area or coming from out of town this course is well worth the trip. You won’t regret it!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Solid Golf Course

Great Course layout. Really good shape! Greens are on the slow side but understandable for summer heat.The bunkers are in need of some more sand. The cart path's are particularly rough from 16 to 17 tee box. Over all you can't beat this course for the money.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Previously Played

Avoid this golf course and the people who work here!

First off: I have been playing this course every summer for the past 20 years, so I’m familiar with its links style layout and pace of play. The new owners have really let this place go to pieces. Where should I start....Arrive for 9:22 tee time at 9:15, pay $52 for cart and greens fee, no issue with that other than this is a 40-45 dollar course at best. Since it’s covid-19 season myself and the other 3 of our group go down to each get our own cart. Starter gentleman informs us if we want our own cart, it will be an additional $12.99 cart fee (WHAT!!!??) So I go back to the clubhouse to see if this is the deal, and the man tells me, “yep, if you don’t want to ride with your buddy then you gotta pay for another cart fee.” Since my mom started chemotherapy this week, I pay the additional 12.99 + tax for my own cart. So now I’m $66 into a round of golf, but whatever it’s Saturday and golf with the boys is worth it. The starter guy is definitely techno challenged and can’t seem to operate the iPad tee time scheduler and gives us a run down of the rules (no carts on the greens, carts on path number 2 only, 90 degree rule, yada yada) and sends us on our way. For those of you keeping up, it’s 9:22am and we just tee’d off. Get to second hole tee box after an epic birdie on hole number 1, and we are behind a foursome who is waiting on the tee box for a foursome to get off a green 450 YARDS ahead of them!! Slow play, but we figure it will work it’s way out by the next hole or two. We spend the next 5 HOURS behind this atrocious group of teenage kids hacking their way all over the place, foraging for extra balls, waiting inordinate amounts of time for group ahead to get off 400+ yard holes (not one of these guys could even hit 200 yards on a good day) On hole 12 we asked them to pick up the pace or let us play through to which they declined. On hole 13 we called the pro shop to ask for a ranger to come out and straighten this mess out. Ranger guy comes out while we are on 14 and tells us we need to pick up our pace cause they’re getting reports of slow play. We explained to him WE CALLED the pro shop and it’s the group ahead of us causing the delays!! Then he tracks them down and talks to them finally just as the rain and lightning arrived. Long story short, paid $66 to play 14 holes, got soaked, and spent almost 5 1/2 hours doing it!!! Ridiculous!!! I returned my cart during the storm since we all had to abandon our rounds, explained to the gentleman in the pro shop that they are doing a very poor job of course management, and that after 20 years of playing multiple rounds each summer that I WILL NEVER BE BACK!! His reply was simply, “so what guy?” Well, guy, if you don’t have golfers coming out to play, you won’t have a golf course for long!! Simple as that. I love River Island and it’s been my favorite course for over 20 years!! But for that kind of money I’ll take my business to Egwani Farms, Willow Creek, or Avalon. Poor management, even worse customer service, and not taking care of the players health during a pandemic are 3 strikes for me. Sorry River Island, or whatever you call yourself these days. But you just lost the business of 4 loyal golfers and I’m sure more will follow. Avoid this place, I know I won’t be caught dead there EVER AGAIN!!!

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/28/2020

I was in the clubhouse when this gentleman was explaining his displeasure. However, when he escalated to cussing at the man behind the counter is when he was politely asked to leave. Take what he says with a grain of salt because he was very disrespectful to the employees who could not control what he was frustrated about.

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
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 Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful hole layouts

Very challenging course, was a lot of fun. Greens were a little tough to read as they were watering different greens so speed was not uniform from hole to hole. Hole #3 is a beautiful par 3.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
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