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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
1425 Reviews (1425)
5 Stars
729
4 Stars
498
3 Stars
130
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
1308 out of 1425 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.0
Layout
4.8
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.3%
Recommend this course
24 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
58 Reviews (58)
5 Stars
37
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.8%
Recommend this course
55 out of 58 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
1425 Reviews (1425)

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
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Public Course

This was a super fun and challenging course. The greens and fairways were in good condition! You hit across or next to water on several hole. The cart paths are rough in some areas due to the 2024 flooding. They do seam to be working on repairing them and fixing damage. Overall, a great course and I would play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful and tough

This is the best public course anywhere near knoxville with perhaps centennial or avalon as a close second.

Play here, it's worth it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Sad at condition

Island Pointe (AKA River Isle) has been a favorite whenever we go to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. The devastation due to Hurricane Helene was disheartening.

I could see the progress being made to put things back to normal, and I look forward to my next round there.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Best greens

Only complaint would be the bunkers having no sand.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun Course

Fun Course - Fun course with many holes on large island in river. interesting layout with several par 3’s over water. Some tight fairways on Par 5’s. Par4’s more open. Quite a few holes with side slopes or interesting topography. Staff friendly - not much of a club house. Overall course is 4.5. Would definitely play again.

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

This course has many interesting features

Great layout nice greens-still coming back from the flood but overall great course

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout; under some remodeling

The course is playable for all skill levels. If give the tee boxes a 4 or of 5. Fairways, were 5 out of t, greens 4 or of 5. The greens were uneven, mostly fast. Course under some construction but very scenic and fun to play. Bunkers were not maintained. If play it again and recommend others to play it but hopefully the course is repaired the next time I'm there. The carts need upgraded.

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

Great challenging course.

Great challenging course but fun!

Will definitely be back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Flood Waters

Flood waters from the past Hurricane has done some damage to the course. $50 is a little high. The greens need some work, tee boxes needed to be mowed. I sure it will be back to its prime in no time.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great layout, tough course, condition pretty poor

Vacationing in east TN and Island Pointe was showing up as one of the better public courses in the area. Figured with it being an Arthur Hills design, it’d be a nice track.

We booked online for our twosome, the gentleman in the pro shop was extremely nice, and informed us when we arrived that several of the holes were under repair due to the extreme weather. We were able to get started with in a minute or two, the started was extremely helpful and told us about some of the damage to the course.

We really liked the course layout, I can see the potential of this course if/when the condition improves. Pace of play was excellent for us, we were told that we had another twosome in front of us, there no delays through the entire round, nor did we have anyone behind us at any point.

So, it was explained that there were areas that were in pretty bad shape, but all of the greens were good. Overall the greens were decent. One thing I’ve never seen before are huge tarps rolled/folded up on the sides of greens. Of course, my ball happened to bounce into one of them. The hazards were probably in the worst condition. Bunkers flooded or packed wet sand,,I remember seeing one bunker that had some sort of big river rock in the middle of it, I can’t imagine it was put there on purpose.

Overall course condition besides the greens seemed to be pretty poor. I would hope that’s all due to the weather damage and not a course management issue. The only other issue was that hole 9 doesn’t return to the clubhouse. There’s a snack truck on the ninth hole, along with two restrooms (one was out of order). Unfortunately, when we got to the ninth hole, the snack truck wasn’t open yet. A bit frustrating not to be able to get anything to drink halfway through the round. It be great to have a vending machine, water cooler, or a roaming beverage cart when the snack truck isn’t open. Its something I’d expect from any course at this level that has a layout that doesn’t bring you back to the clubhouse at the turn.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 112
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Elite Course Option for East Tennessee

I cannot recommend Island Point enough! New club house is super nice and the staff was very kind. Course was in immaculate shape even with ongoing construction. Overall a 10/10 experience I cannot wait to go back to this beautiful course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing value!

This course was hit by Helene and showed true resilience! A great value! Friendly staff and amazing views!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course but it's under renovation

Nice course once the renovation work has been completed! The course was damaged by flooding. Many cart paths are temporary and very bumpy. I think when you play it next summer it could be looking good !

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/04/2024

Thank you for your review.

We are VERY fortunate that the flooding from Hurricane Helene only impacted the cart paths between our islands. The playing surfaces were spared, for which we are very thankful! Our team worked hard to haul stone and gravel to temporarily rebuild those paths, and we apologize the path has become bumpy again. Since receiving your feedback we have already smoothed out the gravel. Once we complete our Winter work we will start a permanent solution for those cart paths.

In addition to the Winter work, we have begun our Clubhouse renovation too. We hope to have everything ready for April!

Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing Layout - beautiful river views - challenging course

The course had been highly affected by the recent horrific flooding that took so many lives.

It is remarkable that the course is actually playable.

It is a truly wonderful layout, with many very challenging and beautiful golf holes. A true masterpiece design that follows the river both on front nine and back nine.

I would highly recommend playing this course, being a skilled golfer will help you appreciate the course even more. I will definitely be back

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course appears to be doing some work and hopefully in the future it’ll pay off for them. But for what’s going on right now they should be charging less for the course. The young guy in the pro shop was standoffish when asking questions about the course. We were told the food truck was open on the turn and turns out there was no one there working it. Have played this course in the past and it’s been enjoyable, but doubt that I’ll return to play it anytime soon with lots of other options in the area.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 12/04/2024

Ryan,

Thanks for taking the time to offer a review of Island Pointe.

You are correct that Winter work has begun around the golf course, and our Clubhouse renovation is beginning as well. Each of these projects are designed to improve the customer experience and do not directly affect the playing conditions of the golf course. Based upon customer input, we are continually reinvesting in the course and thrilled with all of the positive feedback on these improvements. This is the time of year when we seek to complete larger scale projects for the upcoming golf season. We apologize if you feel these improvements negatively impacted your playing experience.

Specifically addressing your other concerns, it appears you purchased a HOT DEAL from Golf Now on Nov. 20th (a great rate), and the day itself was overcast with light drizzle at the course. While we wish you would have experienced the course on a better weather day, we hope you understand we remained open for the patrons (like yourselves) who still wanted to play. Since it was a bad weather day with limited golfers, the operators of the food truck decided to not open and this was communicated to all 10 golfers that played that day. In addition, it is posted on our daily board in the ProShop. Knowing there were so few golfers on the day you played, we are confused as to how pace of play could have been slow. Please help us understand as it appears you started at 11:10am and the closest group to you was one hour ahead. We take reviews seriously and appreciate that you have also played in the past on July 7, 2024, and welcome the chance to discuss your opinions further. From your comments, it seems we could've made your experience more enjoyable and we want to know more. Please accept our apologies and give us a call at 865-933-0100.

Thanks again for the feedback.

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