TheGolfGuy75

I didn't realize the Ryder Cup was this weekend, but that's what I discovered as I made the turn at this Kentucky State Park Course. There were 3-4 foursomes who decided to form 2 large groups and play the back nine together! We waited on 10 tee for 10 minutes before driving up to see why there were so many people, only to find carts with stereos and Ryder Cup flags draped from their carts. Went to 11 tee and found a second group there with the same situation. That was the end of my day. I did speak to the clubhouse guy and he offered a rain check, but the course is 2 hours from home, so that wouldn't have done any good. Was nice of him to apologize and offer to help, he genuinely felt bad.
As for the course, it was ok. I've played a number of the Kentucky State Park courses and this one doesn't really measure up. Quite a few blind shots, shots to extremely elevated greens (9 especially), and heavily sloped fairways so flat lies are less common than normal. I did not care for the greens, as they were extremely shaggy and did not putt well, especially compared to the new ones at Mineral Mound. It was scenic, and on a beautiful fall day the nine holes we played were enjoyable enough. No idea, though, if the Euros retained The Cup.

So this course has potential, but that's about all.
The course was recently rerouted, I guess, so the yardage books and the scorecard and layout do not match up. I know most people have GPS of their own, and the yardage book was free (much appreciated) but it was still unnecessarily confusing. And it seemed as though some groups started on #3, which I assume was the old #1.
The pace of play was absolutely dreadful. Apparently, Tuesdays are Locals Day and anything goes. On #1 we were behind a 5some that was painfully slow. They were kind enough to let us go through on 2, but by #4 we were behind a group that slowed up the entire course. With no exaggeration, it took their 4some 23 minutes to play the Par 3 9th. It was dreadful.
The course layout is pretty enjoyable, with some scenic holes. But the par 3s are all pretty mundane, with the exception of the par 3 9th, which is by far and away the best. Most of them are virtually the same distance and play very similarly. Par 4s and 5s were very playable and offered opportunities to score, as long as you were playing from the fairways.
Green conditions were unplayable though. Recent reviews blamed this on aeration, but there are bigger problems than that. A number of the holes had dirt on the greens and were simply unputtable. Very frustrating. Luckily, I got a Hot Deals through GolfNow, or else I would have had to speak to someone in the clubhouse about some type of refund. I don't expect a great deal in a golf course, but greens with grass seems like a basic necessity. In the course's defense, there were workers trying to improve #11 or #12, so the course is working on this.
My wife and I drove two hours to try this course based on the recommendation of some friends, but I can't imagine I'll return any time soon.

I have been playing this course once or twice a year since it opened. I live outside the area but it has always been worth a visit each summer. Not anymore. The state seems to have cut the budget for its golf courses and Hidden Cove has really paid the price. Tee boxes are lost. They aren not entirely dirt, but the grass they do have is mainly weeds/crab grass. The fairways still look good but are terribly shaggy. The clubhouse said they were down two maintenance workers, and it shows. The rough is utterly atrocious. Even right off the greens the grass is nothing but weeds and in spots it's above your ankles, even up to your shins. And folks, I'm not talking about legitimate, challenging rough. I love this course and hate to see it in this condition. The mosquitos are terrible, but that's not surprising given how tall the grass is. Greens are in average shape, but are slow, and many bunkers are unplayable. It's really a shame because Eastern KY doesn't have many good courses and this was always the best course you could play. Not sure where golfers in the area will go now, but I can't see coming back to this once great track.