Kentucky Trip

I spent a lot of time in Kentucky in the mid 2000's.  My aunt lived in Florence, Kentucky, which is just south of Cincinnati.  I tried to visit her at least once a year and managed to play quite a few courses over the years.  After she passed away in 2017, I focused on other parts of the country.  This trip was about playing all the courses I hadn't had a chance to visit yet.  

Louisville Country Club

Day one of the trip began in Richmond, Kentucky.  Home of Eastern Kentucky University, I was there to play Gibson Bay Golf Club.  I began right after sunrise on the eighteen hole course designed by Michael Hurdzan.  As a designer, Hurzdan typically likes big cloverleaf like bunkers, but that wasn't what I saw at Gibson.  The course used the topography more, and relied less on bunkers for its challenge.

Gibson Bay Golf Club, Par four 10th hole

I followed up my round on the big course with a trip around the short course at Gibson Bay, also designed by Hurdzan.  

Gibson Bay Par Three Course, 8th hole

I headed to Lexington for my last round on day one.  Griffin Gate Golf Club is owned by Marriott and was originally designed by Rees Jones in 1981.  Jones completed a renovation of the course in 2015.  The routing felt a little squeezed in on the front, but overall the course was quite fun.

Griffin Gate Golf Club, Par three 4th hole

The second day of the trip also took place in the Lexington area.  First up was Kearney Hill Golf Links located in the northern part of Lexington.  Kearney Hill is a municipal course designed by Pete & P.B. Dye in 1989.  The Dyes knew their audience with this course and made it more playable than the average Dye course.  The routing is very creative, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this course.

Kearney Hills Golf Links, Par three 12th hole

I headed south to the town of Nicholasville for my next two rounds on day two.  The Golf Club at Widow's Watch was my destination.  Google says the course is now called Golf Club of the Bluegrass, but the scorecard and flag still say Widow's Watch, so I'm going with that.

Golf Club at Widow's Watch, Par four 18th hole

The last course I played on day two hosts a PGA Tour event every year.  Champion Trace Golf Club typically hosts the tour event opposite the Open Championship, but this year it is opposite the Scottish Open.  They keep the rough very long, so accuracy is very important.  I thought the course was pretty hard, but of course the tour pros destroy it, with the winning score always being in the 25 under ballpark almost every year.

Champion Trace Golf Club, Par three 2nd hole

Unfortunately, the theme of day three was rain.  It took place in the Louisville area with off and on rain showers providing a challenge for decent pictures, but it was still a wonderful day of golf with the surprise of the trip coming late in the day.  I began the day at the nine hole Crescent Hill Golf Course, which has been around since 1926.  The hill part of the name is appropriate as the course is very undulating!

Crescent Hill Golf Course, Par four 9th hole

Next up on day three was the city owned Seneca Golf Course.  I started with the par three course at Seneca.

Seneca Par three course, 2nd hole

I tackled the big course at Seneca next.  Wonderful use of the topography made this a delightfully fun experience.

Seneca Golf Club, Par four 18th hole

The final course on day three was the biggest surprise of the trip.  I knew that Louisville Country Club would be good because it was designed by Walter Travis.  Travis is a Golden Age designer who was well known for his eccentric bunkering and bold greens.  The course he built at Louisville is full of character, and is placed perfectly on the severely undulating piece of property.  Travis handled the transitions with some very bold uphill and downhill holes to absolute perfection.  I would love to play there every day.

Louisville Country Club, Par four 10th hole

Golf in the Louisville area continued on day four of the trip.  Heritage Hill Golf Club is located about 25 miles south of Louisville in Shepherdstown.  The course opened in 2007, and was designed by Douglas Beach.  The par threes are the real star on this course, as two are of the dramatic drop shot variety.  

Heritage Hill Golf Club, Par three 11th hole

On the drive back up to Louisville, I decided to check out Penn Run Golf Course.  This basic course uses the elevation for its challenge and variety.  

Pennsylvania Run Golf Course, Par four 10th hole

The third course I played on day four was Lake Forest Country Club designed by Arnold Palmer.  This is a very typical housing development course with long cart rides between holes and houses on both sides of every hole.

Lake Forest Country Club, Par four 5th hole

The final course on day four was a highlight of the trip.  The University of Louisville Golf Club, formerly called The Cardinal Club, was designed by Spencer Holt and opened in 2001.  Mr. Holt returned in 2014 to renovate the course.  The front nine is on a very tight piece of property next to the interstate, but I was very impressed by the variety of holes he was able to fit in such a tight property.

University of Louisville, Par four 18th hole

Day five of the trip took place in Indiana.  First up was Sultans Run Golf Club in Jasper, Indiana.  The course was designed by Indiana local Tim Liddy, who built many courses for Pete Dye.  You can see the Dye influence in the design.  I loved the course, but my one regret was trying to hit driver too much off the tee.  Accuracy is very important on this course and I was not disciplined enough to play the smart shot sometimes!

Sultans Run Golf Club, Par three 12th hole

I headed north to Bloomington for the next few courses.  Taylor's Par 3 in the northern part of Bloomington is a very easy walk, and a great place for people new to the game.

Taylor's Par Three, 1st and 2nd holes

Practically down the road from Taylor's, Cascades Golf Club has three nines, Pine, Quarry, and Ridge.  A junior tournament was taking place on two of the nines, so I headed out to play the Pine nine.

Cascades Golf Club, Pine Nine, Par four 9th hole

The reason for my trip to Bloomington was up next on day five.  The Pfau course at Indiana University opened in 1957, but Steve Smyers completed a major renovation in 2020.  The course is one of the hardest I have ever played with extremely punishing rough just off the fairway.  Balls hit 5 yards off the fairway are lost in the thick grass.  I really didn't understand the decision to maintain the course this way for everyday play.  I understand it for a college tournament but the difficulty really took away from my enjoyment of the course.

Pfau Course at Indiana University, Par four 6th hole

I needed a palate cleanser after my round at Pfau, so on the drive back to Louisville I stopped at Covered Bridge Golf Club for a quick nine.  The course is owned by Masters Champion Fuzzy Zoeller and he co-designed the course with Clyde Johnston in 1994.

Covered Bridge Golf Club, Par four 7th in foreground, Par three 8th in background

I began day six of the trip just north of Lexington at Houston Oaks Golf Club in Paris, Kentucky.  A mix up in the tee time resulted in my having to wait almost an hour for somebody to show up.  Even though I had booked a 7 am tee time, when the tee time system hit June, the first tee time was changed to 7:45 so my time was moved back.  Of course nobody told me this, so I just had to sit there.

Houston Oaks Golf Club, Par three 7th hole

Two Kentucky State Park courses were next up on my agenda.  First was General Burnside Golf Club which is located on an island in the Cumberland River about two hours south of Lexington.  The course was designed by Brian Ault, who also designed the State Park course at Dale Hollow.

General Burnside Golf Club, Par three 14th hole

The State Park theme continued in Eastern Kentucky at Wasioto Winds Golf Club in Pineville.  The course was designed by Michael Hurdzan.  While it is mostly flat, the design uses the Clear creek very well, featuring it on several holes on both nines.

Wasioto Winds Golf Club, Par four 7th hole

On the drive to my hotel in Morristown, Tennessee, I decided to stop and check out Woodlake Golf Resort in Tazewell, Tennessee designed by John Salyers.

Woodlake Golf Resort, Par five 1st hole

On the last day of the trip I returned to my home state of South Carolina.  I spent some time playing courses in the upstate.  I began at Pickens Golf Club which used to have 18 holes but now has nine with the other nine being converted to housing.

Pickens Golf Club, Par five 2nd hole

Saluda Valley Golf Club was my next destination on this final day.  I found out when I got home that the theme of this day was courses designed by William B. Lewis.  He is a local SC architect who designed Pickens Golf Club, Saluda Valley, and Southern Oaks.  

Saluda Valley Golf Club, Par four 10th hole

Southern Oaks Golf Course in Easley was up next on this final day.  I found this to be a fun design that moves its way through the trees with some wonderful par threes.

Southern Oaks Golf Club, Par three 14th hole

Ware Shoals Golf Course in the town of the same name was my final destination of the trip.  This nine hole course is a mostly basic design that features some real standout holes, like the pictured par four sixth hole.

Ware Shoals Golf Course, Par four 6th hole

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SCORECARDS

Tennessee Trip

Tennessee is a state I have enjoyed many excellent trips to in the past.  The trip I took in May of 2024 was motivated by trying to get to the significant courses around the Nashville area that I had yet to play, including a Donald Ross course.  I also enjoyed some golf in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, and made a side trip to Kentucky to check out a brand new course, and a highly rated state park golf course.  

Belle Meade Country Club

My trip to Tennessee began in the Smokey Mountains.  I was driving there from home, so a stop to enjoy some mountain golf was absolutely necessary.  The first stop was Smokey Mountain Golf Course in Newport, Tennessee.  The course is everything we love about mountain courses, lots of elevation changes, dramatic tee shots through shoots of trees, and greens perched on top of a hill.  

Smokey Mountain Golf Course, Par four 10th hole

I headed a few miles down the road to Dandridge, Tennessee for my next two rounds on day one.  First up was Dandridge Golf & Country Club.  The course has designed by Dan Maples, most known for his work in North Carolina.  He designed the original 18 holes and another nine was added a few years later.  

Dandridge Golf & Country Club, Par four 9th hole, Red Nine

I headed a mere few miles down the road for my last round on day one.  Patriot Hills Golf Club opened in 1997 and is more of a championship course at 6700 yards then it's sister course I had just played at Dandridge.  

Patriot Hills Golf Club, Par five 18th hole

Day two of the trip was centered in the area around Crossville, Tennessee.  A dew sweeping round at The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain kicked off the day.  Part of the Bear Trace collection of courses in the Tennessee State Park system, Cumberland Mountain is probably the toughest of the collection.

Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain, Par four 7th hole

Day two continued at Lake Tansi Golf Course.  Part of a resort and planned community, I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful mix of flat holes along with some holes with dramatic elevation changes.

Lake Tansi Golf Course, Par three 15th hole

The final course I played on day two was Cumberland Cove Golf Course just north of Crossville.  Designed by local architect Gary Baird in 1996, the course is laid out over some pleasantly rolling hills.  Generally flat greens and few bunkers make this an ideal course for people that are new to the game.

Cumberland Cove Golf Course, Par four 9th hole

I spent day three of the trip just over the border in Kentucky.  The day began at Dale Hollow State Park golf course in Burkesville, Kentucky.  The course was designed by Brian Ault from the popular Mid-Atlantic design firm of Ault/Clark & Associates.  

Dale Hollow State Park Golf Course, Par four 9th hole

I continued the Hollow theme for my next round on day three.  Fox Hollow Golf Club, in Glasgow, Kentucky is a shotmakers course at only 5300 yards, but is a ton of fun to play with the hills and lakes that extenuate the design.

Fox Hollow Golf Club, Par three 7th & 9th holes

I headed to the Park City area to continue my day in Kentucky.  Diamond Caverns Golf Course is part of an RV Resort and is a sporty little course on a very undulating piece of property near Mammoth Cave National Park.

Diamond Caverns Golf Course, Par four 8th hole

The last course I played on day three would prove to be the highlight of the trip.  Park Mammoth Golf Club was recently completely renovated by architect Brian Ross and the result is spectacular.  Ross took down trees, re-routed holes, and made a links style course that is destined to be one of the best in Kentucky.

Park Mammoth Golf Club, Par four 4th hole in foreground, Par three 5th hole in background

I headed to the Nashville area for the next few days of my trip.  Day four began very early in the morning at one of the many fine city owned courses, Ted Rhodes Golf Course.  The course, originally called Cumberland Golf Course, opened in the 1950's and is located on the banks of the Cumberland River.

Ted Rhodes Golf Course, Par four 4th hole

I headed a little south of town for my next round.  Towhee Club was originally designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 2005.  The owners have undertaken some recent upgrades to the bunkers and greens.

Towhee Club, Par five 17th hole

I returned to Nashville for round three on this very long day of golf.  Harpeth Hills is another fine city owned facility that features more elevation change than some of the others closer to the city center.

Harpeth Hills Golf Course, Par four 1st hole

The final course I played on day five will soon be the site of an LIV Tour event.  The Grove in College Grove is located Southeast of town and was designed by Greg Norman in 2012.  The club has experience hosting tournaments, having hosted a Korn Ferry Tour event in the past.  To give you an idea of how in demand golf in Nashville is, my tee time was 4:30 and there were people teeing off behind me for two hours!

The Grove, Par five 2nd hole

Day six was focused on things other than golf, but I did manage to get out and play a couple times.  First was an improtu round at The Little Course at Conner Lane.  This par three course is the home of the Tennessee Golf Association and is surrounded by Vanderbilt Legends Club.  The course was designed by Bob Cupp and is a wonderful place for juniors, beginners, and families to have a fun round.

Little Course at Conner Lane, Par three 3rd and 5th holes

I drove to the Brentwood area South of Nashville for my next round.  Richland Country Club was originally designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1988.  Bill Bergin completed a massive renovation recently that removed trees and expanded greens and fairways.  The very hilly course works it's way up and down the property with some very dramatic tee shots and wonderful par threes.

Richland Country Club, Par four 9th hole

The seventh day of the trip took place mostly north of Nashville.  It began about twenty miles away in the town of Springfield.  The Legacy Golf Club was designed by legendary PGA Tour player Raymond Floyd.  This was my first Raymond Floyd design.  I was impressed by his use of angles to reward bold tee shots.

The Legacy Golf Club, Par five 14th hole

A few miles south of Springfield, Joelton was my next destination on day seven.  Nashville National Golf Links is a little short at 6100 yards, but is full of twists and turns, and uses the topography to create some interesting holes.

Nashville National Golf Links, Par three 16th hole

I headed south of Nashville for my last round on day seven.  This course was a rare replay for me.  I played Troubadour Golf & Field Club in 2020 and wanted to play it again to exorcise some demons.  

Troubadour Golf & Field Club, Par four 1st hole

Troubadour is a top notch Tom Fazio course that is managed by Discovery Land, known for their over the top comfort stations.  The first time I played it I had a less than positive experience.  It wasn't the fault of the course or staff.  I had a really obnoxious playing partner that ruined the day for me.  I played my worst round of the last five years and really wanted another crack at the course.  This time I played with a very nice assistant pro and improved on my horrible 84 from 2020 with a very solid 68.  Improved by 16 shots!

Troubadour Golf & Field Club, Par three 16th hole

I was staying in Franklin for the Nashville portion of my trip, so it was mandatory I check out Franklin Bridge Golf Club very close to my hotel.  This links style course opened in the late 1980's and was designed by local architect Gary Roger Baird.  

Franklin Bridge Golf Club, Par four 18th hole

The massive Nashville Golf & Athletic Club was the next destination on day 8.  The course is very long at 7600 yards and was designed by Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge in 1971.  These architects are known for designing difficult courses and this one is no exception.  Heavy rain overnight added another challenging element.

Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, Par three 6th hole

A few miles northwest of Golf & Athletic was a nine hole course called Cheekwood that was next up on this day.  This short par 33 was a delightful walk despite the many puddles from the overnight rain.

Cheekwood Golf Club, Par four 9th hole

The final course I played in Tennessee was the main reason I had traveled to Nashville.  Belle Meade Country Club was designed by Donald Ross and has been reworked by many architects over the years.  There are still some pretty good Ross elements left in the design and I had a wonderful walk around my 267th Ross course.

Belle Meade Country Club, Par four 13th hole

I started the drive back to South Carolina after my round at Belle Meade.  I got up very early the following day to make sure I would have time to get to northern South Carolina by 7 am to begin my final day of golf at Village Greens Golf Course in Grambling, South Carolina.  My experience at Village Greens was unique for one reason.  After playing the first four holes, I hit my tee shot on the reachable par five 5th hole and discovered there was no pin on the green.  This happens to me now and then.  The guy changing the cups will pull the pin and leave it off to the side of the green so the guy mowing doesn't have to stop to pull the pin.  I was shocked to find there was no pin off to the side of the green.  No pin anywhere.  I played the first four holes with pins, but no pin anywhere on five or on the par three 6th hole.  On both holes I drove up, figured out where it was on the green and hit my approaches, but in all my rounds I have never played a course where the maintenance staff took two random pins away. 

Village Greens Golf Course, Par three 9th hole

Less than a mile from Village Greens was my next destination on this last day.  Mountain View par three course is a delightful little course that uses the elevation as it's main challenge.

Mountain View Par Three, 9th hole

A five-mile drive north to the town of Campobello had me at my next destination, The Links O' Tryon.  The course was designed by Tom Jackson, who designed many courses in the Carolinas.  I have played over 30 of his designs at this point.  He is particularly skilled at taking a course with wild rolling terrain and giving you holes that are both challenging and fun.  

Links O' Tryon, Par three 12th hole

The last course of my trip was Woodfin Ridge Golf Club in Woodfin, South Carolina.  The ridge name is appropriate, as the course moves up and down through some dramatic elevation changes.  Both nines finish strong at an almost double green.

Woodfin Ridge Golf Club, Par five 9th hole

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