Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
James D
Knoxville
2014-01-09
$56 (cart included), played on Saturday, October 2013 at noon
I probably wouldn't play Willow if it wasn't so close to my home.
The conditions at the course are average to slightly above average. The layout is kind of boring and not particularly challenging. The best thing about the course is it is one of the more walkable courses in Knoxville. The staff is hit or miss. Some are helpful/friendly, others are rude and act inconvenienced by your presence.
The worst thing about the course is the value. During the summer you can expect to pay around $65 on the weekend. I don't mind higher prices if 1) the course is nice; 2) the high price keeps the hooligans off the course; and 3) the pace of play is decent. During my most recent 18 holes, the tee boxes were a disaster, on more than one occasion the drunken rednecks in front of my group urinated in the middle of the fairway and it took just over 5 hours to play the round.
I may go to Willow to walk 9 if I am in a pinch, but for the most part I avoid the place. There are far superior options: Wind River, Rarity Bay, Avalon, River Island, Sevierville GC, Centennial, and the list goes on.
Would travel: 0-10 Miles, Not Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: Average course for the area, Better courses for less nearby
Difficulty, No Houses on Course
Layout, Price, Ambiance, Pace of Play, Staff, Pro Shop
$56 (cart included), played on Saturday, October 2013 at noon
I probably wouldn't play Willow if it wasn't so close to my home.
The conditions at the course are average to slightly above average. The layout is kind of boring and not particularly challenging. The best thing about the course is it is one of the more walkable courses in Knoxville. The staff is hit or miss. Some are helpful/friendly, others are rude and act inconvenienced by your presence.
The worst thing about the course is the value. During the summer you can expect to pay around $65 on the weekend. I don't mind higher prices if 1) the course is nice; 2) the high price keeps the hooligans off the course; and 3) the pace of play is decent. During my most recent 18 holes, the tee boxes were a disaster, on more than one occasion the drunken rednecks in front of my group urinated in the middle of the fairway and it took just over 5 hours to play the round.
I may go to Willow to walk 9 if I am in a pinch, but for the most part I avoid the place. There are far superior options: Wind River, Rarity Bay, Avalon, River Island, Sevierville GC, Centennial, and the list goes on.