Golf Courses Played and Reviewed in Kentucky:
Don’t let the breathtaking vistas fool you…StoneCrest packs some serious punch down its stretch of closing holes, as evidenced by the tight par 4 18th.
- Big Spring Country Club, Big Spring Campus, Louisville, KY; Rees Jones, 2004 (redesign)
- Canewood Golf Course, Georgetown, Kentucky; Danny McQueen, 1994.
- Cassell Creek Golf Course, Winchester, Kentucky; Ray Lytle, 1967.
- Champion Trace Golf Club, Nicholasville, Kentucky ♠; Arthur Hills, 1987.
- Cherry Blossom Golf & Country Club, Georgetown, Kentucky – φ Δ; Clyde Johnston, 2001.
- Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky – ♠; Arthur Hills, 2006.
- Eagle Ridge Golf Course at Yatesville Lake State Park, Louisa, Kentucky – ♠ ; Arthur Hills & Steve Forrest, 2005.
- Gay Brewer, Jr. Course at Picadome, Lexington, Kentucky; Hal Price-Headley, Frank Atkins, 1927.
- Gibson Bay Golf Course, Richmond, Kentucky; Dr. Michael Hurdzan, 1993.
- Golf Club of the Bluegrass, Nicholasville; Kentucky; Barry Serafin, 1999.
- Griffin Gate Golf Club, Lexington, Kentucky; Rees Jones, 1981.
The 14th tee provides perhaps the best view of the Knobs surrounding Heritage Hill.
- Heritage Hill Golf Club, Shepherdsville, Kentucky Δ; Douglas Beach, 2007.
- Hidden Cove Golf Course, Grayson Lake State Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky; Brian T. Ault, 2004.
- Houston Oaks Golf Course, Paris, Kentucky; Jack Ridge, 1996.
- Idle Hour Country Club, Lexington, Kentucky – Ç; Donald Ross, 1924.
- Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lexington, Kentucky – φ; Pete Dye & P.B. Dye, 1989.
- Lakeside Golf Course, Lexington, Kentucky; Scruggs & Hammond, Inc., 1970.
- Lassing Pointe Golf Course, Union, Kentucky φ Δ; Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan, 1994.
- Lincoln Homestead State Park Golf Course, Springfield, Kentucky; Press & Perry Maxwell, 1971.
- Links at Novadell, Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Don Charles, 2002.
The tee shot on the par three 16th hole is intimidating and difficult, but beautiful at the same time.
- Longview Golf Club, Georgetown, KY – Buck Blankenship, 1968.
- Moss Hill Golf Course, Versailles, Kentucky; Buck Blankenship, 1967
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Kenny Rapier G.C.), Bardstown, Kentucky; Fred Rux, 2001
- Nevel Meade Golf Course, Prospect, Kentucky; Steven R. Smyers, 1990.
- Old Silo Golf Course, Mount Sterling, Kentucky φ Δ; Graham Marsh, 2000.
- Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, Louisville, KY; Arthur Hills, 1989.
- StoneCrest Golf Course, Prestonsburg, Kentucky; Chris Chrissman, Jack Sykes with Russ Cochran, 2001.
- Tates Creek Golf Course, Lexington, Kentucky; Buck Blankenship, 1958.
- Thoroughbred Golf Club at High Point, Nicholasville, Kentucky; Danny McQueen, 1993.
- Traditions Golf Club, Hebron, Kentucky; Ken Heil and Mike Macke, 1992.
- University Club of Kentucky, Big Blue Course, Lexington, Kentucky; Danny McQueen 1993; Arthur Hills 2001.
- University Club of Kentucky, Wildcat Course, Lexington, Kentucky; Danny McQueen 1992.
- Wasioto Winds Golf Course, Pineville, Kentucky Δ ; Dr. Michael Hurdzan, 2001.
- Weissinger Hills Golf Course, Shelbyville, Kentucky; Jack Ridge, 1991.
It’s not exactly the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, but the island green at the 8th hole is the one everyone talks about on the Big Blue Course.
♦ – Golf Digest Top 100 Public Golf Course; ♣ – Golf Magazine Top 100 Golf Course; ‡ – Golf Course Architects Top 100
♠ – Golf Digest Best in State list; φ – Golf Magazine Best in State list; Δ – GolfWeek Best in State list; Ç – GolfWeek Top 200 Classic
Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.
What was the name of the UK course before the Players Club?
As far as I can remember, it was always The Players Club, then became The University Club of Kentucky. Anything older than that predates my recollection.
Coming to Lexington for 3/4 nights for nothing but golf. Can you please give me some reconnendations for courses and a places to stay?
Gary –
Glad you’ll be in town, throwing a little patronage to our local golf courses. All of these will be within +/- 30 minutes of downtown Lexington.
My recommendations for nice courses would be:
1. Kearney Hill Golf Links (Lexington)
2. Houston Oaks (Paris)
3. University Club – Big Blue (Lexington)
4. Gibson Bay (Richmond)
5. Cherry Blossom (Georgetown)
6. Golf Club of the Bluegrass (Nicholasville)
6. Gay Brewer Jr. @ Picadome (Lexington) *This is my home course. It’s 90 years old, it’s short (~6,500 yards), it’s narrow, and has tiny greens. It’s a throwback that has a soft spot in my heart and I love it.
Wildcard: If you just want to go out, grip it and rip it, and spray the ball all over, check out Longview in Georgetown, and Lakeside or Griffin Gate in Lexington.
All of these courses have reviews on my Blog, and they all have their own websites for more information.
If you want higher end hotels downtown, there’s a Hyatt and Hilton, as well as the boutique 21c Museum Hotel and the Gratz Park Inn. A little more convenient to the outlying areas will be any nicer chain hotel in the Beaumont Circle area (Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard) or the Hamburg Area. Also, the aforementioned Griffin Gate is part of a huge Marriott hotel resort complex, and an Embassy Suites is across the street. I like downtown, with all the food and nightlife options, but it won’t exactly be near the golf courses.
Good luck. And let me know if you need a fourth!
Planning a group golf trip to Lexington in October. I have had a couple locals tell me that Golf Club of the Bluegrass is a good one but i can’t find much about if via Google. Any guidance you can offer?
It is a good one, especially in the cooler months (that’s when our bentgrass thrives). I worked there in college when it was called Widow’s Watch GC. Good variety of holes, nice elevation changes. Houses around some holes, but they don’t interfere with play. If you like a couple drinks during your round, you may have to bring your own, because I’m not sure if they have a beer license.
thanks for the quick response and insight! love your site!