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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
1416 Reviews (1416)
5 Stars
722
4 Stars
497
3 Stars
129
2 Stars
33
1 Stars
35
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.8
94.4%
Recommend this course
1299 out of 1416 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
20 Reviews (20)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.9
Layout
4.8
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
90.0%
Recommend this course
18 out of 20 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
72 Reviews (72)
5 Stars
44
4 Stars
20
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
93.1%
Recommend this course
67 out of 72 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
1416 Reviews (1416)

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 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing

Great and poor course

The layout of this course is truly incredible. I have played many of the top rated courses in this country, and almost every single hole here reminded me of holes on the top courses in the United States. Unfortunately the grass and greens were in terrible condition. Almost every green looked like Swiss cheese, with black spots of dead grass all over the place. The fairways had clover and weeds in it. If there was good grass on this course I would rank it in the top 100 in this country. I took many pictures of the great hole layouts

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Excellent

Course was in great condition, greens were a bit rough in places but overall always a great deal

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Excellent time

For the price this course is hard to beat. Challenging layout with scenic views.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Could be a gem!

Really enjoyed the layout and course was set up nicely throughout the river with some fun holes. Unfortunately the bunkers were more like craters with large rocks that damage your clubs when not removed. The greens were in descent condition considering time of year but need some tlc in areas. This course could be a gem with some small investments from management! Sand in bunkers would be a major improvement for course and golfers hitting from them like us hackers do. Hopefully its still available on my next trip to town and improvements are seen

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

Challenging course and great price. Surprisingly dry considering all the recent rains

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Awesome layout.

Unfortunately, the area has suffered from some flooding. With the course being on the river it was still a little wet and damaged. Nevertheless, I could see what the course is. Hope one day to make it back when everything is dried up and repaired. Enjoyed my round despite the conditions that the course had no control over.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

MAKE RIVER ISLANDS GREAT AGAIN..

This review is not meant to rip on this course, but I feel this will be the next course that will follow the fate of Royal Oaks.

I remember years ago this was a jewel to play. Always in tip top shape. Now I understand this is the off season, but what golf course do you play that you can't buy, a bag of tees, a sleeve of balls, a glove? The owners have no interest in making this a good course to play.

The parking lot sits with a mound of sand sitting in it while the course has nothing but mated down dirt in the bunkers. But I can understand because the superintendent is behind the counter. The owners should step up and help out so he could do his job. With Sevierville just up the road you have to do something to bring the people in, but as often as we have played River Island it's obvious that they aren't interested in bringing people in. So I say play it while you can, and if the owners read this get off your can and make this place what it's capable of being. There is a reason Sevierville's parking lot is packed like yours once was. MAKE RIVER ISLANDS GREAT AGAIN.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 59
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful Views and Immaculate Conditions

I have played this course 50+ times through the summer to now. It is a true challenge of your game. Greens roll great and ball sits up on every fairway with the zoysia grass. I will always recommend this course highly and will continue to play it very often as it is my favorite layout in the area by far.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great value

The course was in good condition considering it is late December. We never had to wait to hit a shot and played in 3 1/2 hours.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 72
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Excellence layout

Always enjoy playing this course..graet scenery and enough challenges for intermediste golfers. Staff is always very friendly....

Sand traps need work...mainly dirt... lacking in food .selections.

Still one of my favorite courses in the knoxville area.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Beautiful course

This course is very scenic with the river views. It is in great condition and play is challenging. From the forward tees, it is an enjoyable day of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Enjoyed the round but course needs maintenance

Too many leaves and limbs on the course and the bunkers. Lost a golf ball in the leaves on #9. Need to get away from using Bermuda grass on the greens.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course

Everything is in good shape for this time of the year. A little wet from the rains. Only issue was the amount of leaves on the course. Not the courses fault though. Had rain most of the week before. Great course. Will play again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great day at river island

It was a beautiful day. the course was in great shape. only thing I needed was to hit the ball better. it was a wonderful day on the golf course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful Course

The course layout is beautiful. Conditions were great for the price.. Employees were courteous and informative.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course, clubhouse and amenities are lacking

If you can’t tell from the title, course is in great shape, loved the layout and yardages. Clubhouse was below par and restrooms on course were a little dirty. I would love to play in warmer conditions and after playing once now! Would recommend the course, but go with caution!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful river course

The zoysia fairways are unbelievable and the champion Bermuda greens were great .Unique course layout I really enjoyed my round

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Wow !

I played River Islands today for the first time and all I can say is WOW!

This course is in excellent condition, both the fairways and the greens. The layout is moderately challenging, but fair. Many of the greens are multi-tiered and/or have a lot of contouring and slopes, so well placed approach shots can be crucial to avoid three or more putts. They are smooth and roll true, but accurate shot placement is important.

A special shout-out to Dave in the Pro Shop. He made us feel like family who was in town for a reunion. When we checked in he took the time to chat and give us some local knowledge tips that were invaluable.

I can hardly wait until the next time we are in the area on vacation so I can play River Islands again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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