Courses in Knoxville TN

[matt_thatsme]

Played River Island yesterday. The course was surprisingly dry and was in very good shape. The cold wasn't too bad until we reached 13 and 4 groups were on the hole. Amazing how much more things bother you when pace of play comes to a screeching halt.

On an unrelated note, does anyone else think that Fairways and Greens is incredibly over priced? Unless you get locked into a 3 year contract, you are looking at a little under a $100 per month. I guess I could see it if you had time to go out there 4-5 times every week (hitting several buckets each time), but who has time for that and actually playing golf? Unless you are an aspiring pro or junior golfer, I just don't see it. Even then, why not pay a little more and get a membership at a local course or country club. Most clubs are really struggling for members and have slashed monthly dues and initiation fees. Thoughts?

[Knoxvillan]

I live out in Seymour and work in Kodak, so the drive is just too far for me to make fairways and greens an option. I do find myself at Sevierville Golf Course 4 days a week in the summer, hitting golf balls, putting and etc for an hour or so on my way home from work.

[matt_thatsme]

Which brings me to another point. Chipping and putting practice is free at public courses.

[Knoxvillan]

Definitely, I am fortunate to have a great public facility on my way home, If it were between say, Dead Horse or Fairways and Greens though and distance being the same, I would pick Fairways and Greens

[matt_thatsme]

True - F&G is typically in good shape, unlike Deadhorse, Whittle, Knox Muni. etc. But I would rather spend $0 chipping and putting there than $100 per month at F&G. Granted, if I were to hit balls at any of the above referenced goat ranches, I am going drop drop $5 a bucket. Also, I would likely be hitting a mishmash of water logged and cut up balls.

[Knoxvillan]

I'm dedicated lmao

[Knoxvillan]

Ruggles Ferry was in good shape, but quite soggy on Wed. (2/18) They were path only and still had standing water in quite a few fairways. Just a heads up. The weather was great though.

[matt_thatsme]

Played Centennial today. It is in rough shape. The greens appear to have an issue with fungus or something. If this is a sign of things to come, I doubt I will be playing Centennial much this year.

[matt_thatsme]

Anyone want to play 9 tomorrow afternoon?

[gb350]

Anyone play warriors path yet this year. Was it wet cart path only?

[Knoxvillan]

I've never played Warrior's Path, Looks like a nice course and Kingsport isn't a terribly long drive. Thanks for mentioning it GB

[Knoxvillan]

[quote name='matt_thatsme' timestamp='1393201184' post='8730636']
Played Centennial today. It is in rough shape. The greens appear to have an issue with fungus or something. If this is a sign of things to come, I doubt I will be playing Centennial much this year.
[/quote]

Centennial has had some bad luck around their greens the passed few years. A couple of years ago, I remember the burrowing bees that bored holes in the greens. Now they have issues again this year, and lets not forget the lady that uses binoculars that tries to catch people using trees as a restroom lol

[PhillyMac]

Heading to Pigeon Forge Friday morning (3/7/14). Debating on bringing the clubs, would really like to play Bent Creek or try Sevierville GC. I played Bent Creek about 10 years ago and really like the course, especially the back 9. Haven't played SGC, even though we pass every time we come that way. Just wondering how busy these courses would be this time of year. My wife is new to game and do not want to overwhelm her with a packed golf course and 5.5 hour round.

[cardia10]

Sevierville is pretty empty during the week, look for good deals on Golf Now. The River Course is longer and straight away, the Highlands is shorter and more like the back nine at Bent Creek.

[Knoxvillan]

I'm heading out to Sevierville Wed. It is in great shape for the winter weather we have had. Like posted above, It is pretty open through the week. You won't be disappointed by either course at Sevierville. If you really like Bent Creek's back 9, you may check into Gatlinburg Golf Course in Pigeon Forge also. Gatlinburg will likely be path only

[matt_thatsme]

At various times over the last couple of years, I have heard rumors that Tennessee National will on occasion allow public play. I haven't personally tried to get on there, but I may do so this summer. Anyone here played Tennessee National or know anything about whether public play is allowed?

[Knoxvillan]

(3/5/14) Sevierville River Course was in great shape for the season.

[59Bassman]

Fairways and Greens is pretty steep, but there's a lot there to use if it's close. I know some folks who dropped their gym memberships to use their workout room. Plus that stupidly fast indoor green is nice when the rain is coming down sideways. The "loop" course is fun to mess around on, and normally very under used.

I played Centennial again a couple weeks ago. I hate, hate, HATE that course. Not as much as Goatiesview, but it's #2 for me. I'd much rather scratch around Dead Horse than drive up to Oak Ridge to play Centennial. I'd forgotten about the bees last year. I remember a couple holes that you couldn't get the flag out of because the bees had bored in and dumped sand down in the flag cup. Fun times.

[865golf]

[quote name='matt_thatsme' timestamp='1394103526' post='8809855']
At various times over the last couple of years, I have heard rumors that Tennessee National will on occasion allow public play. I haven't personally tried to get on there, but I may do so this summer. Anyone here played Tennessee National or know anything about whether public play is allowed?
[/quote]

Matt,

I've played Tennessee National multiple times and it is a really good course. They generally don't allow public play, but have a very generous member-sponsored allowance for play. Two ways that you can approach it is to inquire about membership and they will usually comp your round for you and pair you with a member for a round. Another way is to go through the Knoxville Pro-Am tournaments. ([url="http://www.KnoxvilleGolf.org"]www.KnoxvilleGolf.org[/url]) They play on Mondays through the fall - and play at Tennessee National on May 12 - and the cost is very reasonable ranging from $40 to $50. You should check it out as they play just about every course around here.

[matt_thatsme]

Played the River Course at Sevierville GC today. The course was in great shape.

[Knoxvillan]

I am off to Willow Creek Wed. They keep it really nice. I'm glad to see courses turning green :-)

[matt_thatsme]

Anyone on here buy an East TN Golf Card? Looked like a pretty good deal - 7 rounds at various courses (Rarity Bay, Stonehenge, Willow Creek, Tellico, etc.), plus cart, for $149. I intended to purchase a card but forgot to and by the time I remembered they had sold out.

[progolferch]

[quote name='matt_thatsme' timestamp='1398112823' post='9138631']
Anyone on here buy an East TN Golf Card? Looked like a pretty good deal - 7 rounds at various courses (Rarity Bay, Stonehenge, Willow Creek, Tellico, etc.), plus cart, for $149. I intended to purchase a card but forgot to and by the time I remembered they had sold out.
[/quote]

Same here. From the courses that it had on there it was a pretty decent deal. I also remembered about it by the time it was to late.

[Knoxvillan]

I too, missed the boat on that deal :-(

[matt_thatsme]

How was Willow, Knoxvillan? I heard they raised their prices again.

[Minarets]

How is WindRiver this year? Always a fav of mine when in in town. It and Avalon. Haven't played either this year so far. I played in a tourney at Green Medow CC on Monday and the greens were sandy and like a rock.

[Knoxvillan]

[quote name='matt_thatsme' timestamp='1398357127' post='9160935']
How was Willow, Knoxvillan? I heard they raised their prices again.
[/quote]

We had a group of 29 on a Wed. and the rates were $39. The course is ok. still a lot of dormant grass and brown areas, and the greens were still sandy and bouncy. I guess that's just part of it this time of year though

[2muchclub]

Played Avalon today. The greens have pretty well recovered from their Spring aeration and sanding. While they don't look great, they do putt pretty smooth. One surprise - the green on No 6 is closed/torn-up/kaputt. There is now a small temporary, non-puttable joke of a green in the area in front of the former green. Also, on No.10, everybody hits from the very front tee box, all the others are closed.

One last observation, it seems like numerous freeze-thaw cycles this past winter have brought rocks up to the surface in all the "sand" traps- Gravel pits may be a more apt description. A course of this quality really should have better sand in their sand traps.

[Minarets]

Is #7 the par five after the par 3?

[2muchclub]

My mistake - it is No. 6 with the defunct green, the par three hole after the downhill par 4 No 5. Post has been corrected.