Lexington Kentucky, where to play?

sharkman6 · August 21, 2011

something in good shape and fun

Will be in Lexington, KY for a few days soon and looking for 2 or 3 good courses to play. Looking for challenging layout in good shape, if choosing one over the other, would prefer course in good shape. Does anyone know, can you get on valhalla or persimmon ridge in louisville without a member during the week? Thanks in advance.

Frohlich · August 21, 2011

[quote name='sharkman6' timestamp='1313956236' post='3507298']
Will be in Lexington, KY for a few days soon and looking for 2 or 3 good courses to play. Looking for challenging layout in good shape, if choosing one over the other, would prefer course in good shape. Does anyone know, can you get on valhalla or persimmon ridge in louisville without a member during the week? Thanks in advance.
[/quote]
I don't live there but have been down twice in the last five years on long golf weekends. I liked Houston Oaks and Old Silo quite a bit...worth playing in my book. Cherry Blossom and The Bull were also nice but not as good as the other two. Kearny Hill has a good reputation but we played right after the greens were aerated (and they didn't tell us ahead of time so really ruined the round for us).

golfgoob · August 21, 2011

Check out this site.
[url="http://www.golfkentuckylinks.com/phpBB/"]http://www.golfkentuckylinks.com/phpBB/[/url]

golfNashTN · August 22, 2011

I will second Old Silo in Mt Sterling KY. Also Kearney Hills is a fun links style course thats in Lexington and usually in good shape. Also wont cost an arm and leg as well.
Also
Golf Club of the Bluegrass / Widows Watch is a good one.
The Bull at Boones Trace is good
Gibson Bay in Richmond KY is another option.

And no you cant get on Valhalla during the week w/o a member and dont bother with Persimmon Ridge (awful condition as usual during the summer)

chuck_schalch · August 22, 2011

Houston Oaks! I live in the area. Best course.. You'll walk out of there wishing it was your home course!

Wildcatmike · August 25, 2011

Been told Valhalla is having issues with the greens since the PGA Sr's.

In Lexington, I would check out Kearney. Also, if you are looking for old time Country Club feel golf, I would check out Gay Brewer at Picadome. Picadome is a public course with bermuda fairways with true bent greens. Very inexpensive (walkable) and a fun course. Keep in mind, tees are in so/so shape...but the fairways and greens make up for it!

Old Silo trying to get fairway sand traps fixed, but the course is in decent shape and well designed by Graham Marsh.

University Club of Kentucky would be another great option...they recently opened to the pubic and course is always in great shape.

BamafaninKY · August 29, 2011

[quote name='Wildcatmike' timestamp='1314321628' post='3519710']
Been told Valhalla is having issues with the greens since the PGA Sr's.

In Lexington, I would check out Kearney. Also, if you are looking for old time Country Club feel golf, I would check out Gay Brewer at Picadome. Picadome is a public course with bermuda fairways with true bent greens. Very inexpensive (walkable) and a fun course. Keep in mind, tees are in so/so shape...but the fairways and greens make up for it!

Old Silo trying to get fairway sand traps fixed, but the course is in decent shape and well designed by Graham Marsh.

University Club of Kentucky would be another great option...they recently opened to the pubic and course is always in great shape.
[/quote]

I believe Valhalla is now closed. They brought in sand to topdress greens and tees and unfortunately, the sand contained a fungus which caused heavy damage.

chrislindy · August 30, 2011

[quote name='Wildcatmike' timestamp='1314321628' post='3519710']Old Silo trying to get fairway sand traps fixed, but the course is in decent shape and well designed by Graham Marsh.[/quote]

Kinda soft-selling those bunkers, aren't ya? We played out there a couple weekends ago and the bunkers were in REALLY bad shape. I've heard that they are planning to abandon a handful in the off-season and let them grow as grass bunkers or just fill them. Based on what I saw, that rumor seems legit.

If you can play Big Blue at the University Club, I would do that. Kearney is my favorite public course in KY (haven't played the Parks courses) unless Big Blue has indeed gone public. I also enjoyed Houston Oaks when I played it many years ago.

jallstar23 · August 30, 2011

The greens at Houston Oaks are unreal. Super fast

chrislindy · August 30, 2011

[quote name='jallstar23' timestamp='1314735343' post='3530672']
The greens at Houston Oaks are unreal. Super fast
[/quote]

Haha, I remember that. First hole I played, I got on in regulation and proceeded to putt clear off the green and into the rough. Chip back on and two putts later I had quite the embarrassing double.

Probably shoula checked out the practice green that day.

Wildcatmike · August 30, 2011

When I was out at Old Silo about 2 months ago, they were working on the traps...and yes, they need a lot of work. And I heard as well, they may just let some go.

Right now, I have to say the best condition course I have played this year is Andover CC...the super is from Houston Oaks and he has the green rolling fast and true...the fairways are in awesome shape as well as the tee boxes, but did have a handful of traps they are working on that are under ground under repair. It is a damn shame they have rows of houses that are crammed on top of the layout.

Played Kearney past weekend, some greens have some trouble, but over all, it is in decent shape. Gay Brewer at Picadome is still in decent shape with all the play they have been getting.

2muchclub · August 31, 2011

I was on a short golfing trip last fall to Lexington and really liked Old Silo and Houston Oaks. The greens were really nice. However, what I really liked was the turf. It was really black topsoil. Playing in Tennessee, even the top layouts, do not have that kind of soil, rather it is typically a clay based soil.