Experience Island Green Golf

Island Green is a USGA-rated 18-hole golf course in Greenville, New York. Par 71. 6,283 yards from the back tees. Slope rating 120, course rating 69.2. The Birmann family has owned and managed the property for over a century. The course shows that tenure: mature hardwood-lined fairways, settled terrain, and a layout that rewards shot placement over raw distance.

The Signature Island Green

The course takes its name from a par-3 with a green surrounded by water on all sides. You carry the ball over the pond or you lose it. Wind funnels down the valley and shifts club selection by one or two clubs depending on the day. First-time players tend to over-club. Regulars take one less and let the ball release.

This is the most photographed hole on the property. When the Birmann family rebranded from Rainbow Golf Club, the island green made the name obvious.

Playing the 18

The front nine opens with wider fairways and flatter terrain. Holes 1 through 4 give you room to find your swing before the elevation shifts on the 5th. Greens on the front side break in predictable patterns. Play them twice and you'll have them figured out.

The back nine demands more precision. Tree-lined corridors narrow the landing zones off the tee, and the greens tilt more than the front. The final three holes route you straight toward the Catskill Mountain ridgeline. That finishing stretch is the strongest part of the layout.

The greens are bentgrass. The grounds crew works before dawn throughout the season. Morning surfaces roll true and hold approach shots, especially in spring when the turf is dense and the ball tracks clean.

The Setting

The course sits in the Catskill foothills at an elevation that keeps summer rounds cooler than courses on the Hudson Valley floor. Morning rounds in June start in the mid-60s. Afternoon rounds rarely top 85 degrees.

The Catskill Mountains fill the view from most holes on the back nine. In fall, hardwoods along the fairways turn red and gold. In spring, snow lines the ridgeline into May, striping the mountains white against green turf. You play through 100 acres. Deer cross the fairways most mornings. Hawks circle the back nine. The pond at the island green holds bass.

When Is Island Green Open and How Do I Book a Tee Time?

The course opens in April when the ground firms up and runs through October. Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM on weekends. Last tee times go out around 4:30 PM for a full 18.

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Walk-on play is common on Mondays and Tuesdays. Weekend tee times fill faster, especially Saturdays from June through August. Book a few days ahead.

Spring and fall play best. Spring fairways are firm and fast. Fall brings cooler air, lower humidity, and foliage that makes the back nine feel like a different course. Summer is peak visitor season, and the tee sheet shows it.

Your First Round Here

Drive to the pro shop and check in at least 15 minutes before your tee time. Staff will point you to the practice green. Warm up there. The first hole plays downhill, and cold muscles on a downhill drive tend to pull left.

If you're staying at the Lodge, the first tee is a two-minute walk from your room. Guests who book morning tee times eat at the clubhouse and go straight to the course. Bring your own clubs or rent from the pro shop. Cart rental is standard. You can walk the course, but the elevation changes on the back nine earn the cart fee.

Pro Shop and Rentals

The pro shop sits next to the first tee. Cart rentals and club rentals are available for visiting players. Staff know the course: where the blind spots are, which greens break toward the valley, and how much club the elevation changes add. Ask before your first round. That local knowledge saves strokes.

What Handicap Level Is Island Green Golf Course Suited For?

Mid-to-high handicappers will find the course playable and fair. The fairways leave room for mishits, and the 120 slope won't bury bogey golfers. Low handicappers will find the back nine demanding, where tight corridors and angled greens punish loose shots.

The property is a resort, not a country club. The atmosphere is casual. Couples and families play here. After your round, Lil' Piece BBQ sits a short walk from the 18th green.

Membership

Members pay a seasonal fee and play unlimited rounds with no per-round charges. Plans range from $875 for individuals to $1,375 for families. Benefits include priority tee times on weekends and holidays, a pro shop discount, and invitations to member events.

Six rounds per season is breakeven. If you live within driving distance of Greenville and play more than that, membership costs less than paying per round.

Book Your Round

Reserve a tee time online or call 518-966-5343. Walk-ins welcome on weekdays. Weekend and holiday tee times should be booked ahead. Island Green is listed on PGA.com and NY State Tourism (iloveny.com). Address: 3822 County Rte 26, Greenville, NY 12083. Parking is free.