The River

• Format: 18 holes; par 72; 7,120 yards from the back tees; approximately 74.5/136–140 depending current scorecard source.
• Course character: Plays along and across the Little Pigeon River. Most holes involve water, with substantial bunkering, wider fairways, larger greens and a generally flatter routing than Highlands.
• Access: Public daily-fee with a separate online booking path.
• Current price: Seasonal/dynamic; no reliable static official rack rate surfaced.
• Facility amenities/policies: Shared Sevierville range, putting/chipping areas, rentals, pro shop and Mulligan’s. The four-player maximum, 4:20 target pace, own-clubs requirement, dress expectations and outside food/alcohol prohibition apply.
• Maintenance: Current city information schedules River spring aeration March 30–31 and both courses’ fall treatment August 24–25, 2026. Verify before travel.
• Contact/location: 1444 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville, TN; 865-429-4223.

GolfPass shows a strong 4.8/5 from 282 River-specific reviews. The shared 18Birdies facility record is 4.5/5 from 584 reviews. Golfers generally favor the layout and complete experience; older reports also show occasional pace and cart-geofencing frustration, which should be treated as checkable operational signal—not a permanent course trait.

The River is the bigger, meaner brother at Sevierville. Wider fairways invite the driver, then the Little Pigeon River and a pile of bunkers remind everybody that wide does not mean consequence-free. From 7,120 yards, this is plenty of golf even before the water starts collecting sleeves.

For a one-course Smoky Mountain trip, River has the stronger destination case and the better course-specific review signal. Highlands may be more varied; River is the one to choose when the boys want the full championship test.

Our Call: PLAY IT. WORTH THE EXTRA DRIVE and the first Sevierville pick for groups wanting the tougher full-size round.

• Buddy trips and strong public-course itineraries
• Confident drivers who still understand what water does to a scorecard
• Groups choosing one Sevierville course and wanting the longer test

Verify the live rate, course-specific tee time, aeration, cart restrictions/geofencing, pace outlook and weather-related river conditions. Do not accidentally book Highlands if the group chose River.