MWC713

I have played at Fincastle many times and it used to be a fantastic test of your game. Undulating fairways and very fast small greens. The course is no longer a
Country Club, it is now a municipal course which opens it up to the masses that were previously unable to play this mountain gem. The golf course is still a great layout and requires shot making skills to score. The conditions are not what they used to be but they are still good. The fairways are a bit shaggy and the greens no longer run at 12s but more like 9s. That being said...we generally make a 2+ hour trip to play a few times a year and are generally not disappointed. However, at this point in time, the staff failed to advise that the course was undergoing a major renovation and that ALL of the bunkers were out of play and 3 of the greens were temporary! I would have to say that we were more than a bit miffed upon finding this information out after reaching the course. The course is well worth playing, but, wait until the 3 greens are rebuilt and all of the bunkers have been renovated. Maybe put this place on your to do list for 2021. I know we won't return until then.

We always enjoy playing Hidden Cove because we like the layout of the course. The Bermuda fairways are in great condition and the lies are perfect. The greens were rolling around 9 and they were smooth and in good condition. The sign of a good course is using every club in your bag to navigate through your round...Hidden Cove fits into that category. My only complaint is the lack of attention to the many bunkers on the course. None have been groomed and many are simply unplayable. I will give Hidden Cove a pass on this at this time due to COVID 19, there a no rakes on the course and it appears that they do not even want you to go in the bunkers. Even though they are strategically placed and they are in play
With that being said, I will be back to enjoy the rest of the course later in the season. I just will just have to make sure to avoid the bunkers.

I have played Rock Barn several times and have not been disappointed. Somehow, I have managed to play this track during the off season each time when the fairways are dormant and have missed out on the greenery but it is always worth the drive. At almost 7200 yards from the back tees with ample elevation changes, this is all you want...and then some. The Greater Hickory Classic has been played here on the Senior Tour since 2002 and the pros like the place! I concur! The Jones course is a fun, well designed 18 holes that makes you want to play more. Even in the off season, the place is well manicured and the greens are well maintained. Put this one on your to do list and make a tee time! You can then tell your friends that you played a GREAT layout that even makes some of the senior tour players shake their heads in dismay at times. You won't be disappointed.

This is another one of those often overlooked tracks that at first glance appear to be pushovers...but in fact actually have substance. I had played Green Hills several times in the distant past and was pleasantly surprised at the teeth this little gem has grown. The course, at a little over 6200 yards , appears to be a pitch and putt. However, once put to the test, it requires a little finesse, some good shot making skills and an adept putting stroke...all good attributes to have in your bag anyway! The trees have grown exponentially since I last graced the fairways and the conditions have improved greatly. It was always a fun place to play but now the immaculate conditions and the new growth have given the course a little more bite. The par threes always required good shot making skills as they all play in the 200 yard range and several of the par fours demand good position layups from the tees. I was very pleased with the great conditions and was happy to be able to play the ball down. My outing was only marred by a Memorial Day foursome in front that had no idea that other groups on the course were there to play and not just ride around and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature on a golf course as was their idea for spending the day! With that being said, I am going to put this destination back on my list of fun, well conditioned places to play...as long as it's not an all day affair on a holiday.

At just under 6900 yards from the back tees, the course is well designed and very playable with a 138 slope. The greens and fairways are well bunkered and the greens have enough roll in them to test your mettle. The fairways are well shaped and have ample driving areas with no tricks-what you see is generally what you get. We played in early March and the fairways were still dormant which led to some bare tight sandy lies and tee shots that seemed to roll forever. This place should definitely find its way onto everyone's bucket list , but I would play when the turf is in season to really enjoy the sheer beauty and mastery of this great layout.

Prior reviews from friends had pointed me in the right direction to this gem and I was not disappointed. The course is a fun layout to play and is all you want from the tips at a little over 7000 yards. There are plenty of elevation changes and even in December, the course was in very good shape. The fairways are fairly wide and the rough was not overly long but the greens have enough roll to them to make it interesting. The course shows its teeth on the long par threes and several uphill par 4's and par 5's. There seems to be a constant prevailing wind from the west that blows up the valley that gives the course enough of a bite to make you consider moving up a set of tees. This one has made the list of top 50 under $50 for good reason-it will be in my rotation from now on and I suggest you give it a try.

Hidden Cove is a very playable, well laid out, very good test of golf for any level of player. That being said, I was a little disappointed that the course had suffered the ravages of quirky summer weather. The new Bermuda fairways have filled in nicely and we were able to play the ball down, but the rough was sparse with a fair amount of bare spots. The greens rolled well, around 9 on the Stimp, but again, there were bare spots and minor issues on several greens- it didn't impact the play-ability, but it was a distraction. Even with the minor issues we encountered, Hidden Cove should be on a short list of places you want to play in eastern Kentucky-it is definitely worth the the trip!

At first glance, a tipped 6630 yard golf course with plenty of elevation changes would appear like a pushover....THAT is definitely not the case at this track! As is always a caveat, if you keep it in the fairway the course is very playable and quite fun. However, if you fail to accurately execute the proper shot, your day will be spent looking for balls in a myriad of nearly inaccessible places! That being said, the golf course is in reasonably good condition with new well groomed Bermuda fairways, good tees and undulating greens (the day we played they rolled about 9 on the Stimp). The tees, greens and rough have suffered the drought and hot temps this summer and have a fair amount of issues but the course remains playable and if nothing else, very picturesque. For one to fully appreciate Eagle Ridge you will need to play it several times as there are a fair amount of shots that require prior course knowledge to accurately navigate some of the holes. The staff is always friendly and seem genuinely happy to see players as the course is a little off the beaten path and downright scary to a high handicapper! It is worth the price of admission to go partake in the sheer beauty of this layout...but don't expect to set a course record your first time around...unless that record is for the number of balls that managed to disappear from your bag!

I, personally, like the layout of the course and I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon and berate the conditions. Sure, the bunkers are unplayable at this time and are all considered ground under repair but the rest of the course is a gem. It may need a little polishing but it is still a good test of golf. The fairways are well groomed and the greens are smooth and playable-not too fast, rolling around 9 the day we played, and the rough is well, rough. Yes there are some weeds and clover but the course is still a great test from the tips at 7,000 yards. Sure it is a shadow of its former persona, as the number one public course in Kentucky, but it is still worth playing. Do yourself a favor and book a great rate on Golf Now and go play this course with an open mind. I imagine that you will be able to overlook a few of the shortcomings and see the beauty of the layout. Who knows, if more people come out to play maybe there will be more money in the maintenance budget and the bunkers will get fixed. Until then, I am still going to make the 2 hour trip to play this diamond in the rough several times a year-I'm just going to avoid hitting it in the bunkers!

Tot Hill Farm is a shining example of the great vision course architect Mike Strantz had. The layout incorporates many elevation changes, a lot of natural rock formations and a diabolical meandering creek that seems to come into play on every hole. This beautiful course is wickedly picturesque and presents ample challenges for even well seasoned players-after all, it was rated as the top ten hardest in the U.S. several years ago. Keep it in play away from the rocks and the creek and you will have an enjoyable, memorable round. However, if you hit it a little sideways, you will want to take a few extra balls and try the Moonshine Lemonade-it will cushion the blow to your ego. This is a track you will want to go see and play -just so you can tell your friends that you played golf on the rocks!

Eagle Trace is a challenging yet fun course to play. The course is well maintained and the greens are in good shape. The fairways were just a bit furry and the greens could have stood a little more speed but it had rained all week prior to our round-so I will give them a pass on this. The layout requires some placement and the ability to shape your shots but will not overly tax your game. The par threes are very challenging and require some shot making skills. At 6900 yards from the tips, you will have a pleasant round without beating yourself up. It has earned a place in our road trip rotation and we will definately be back!

The Resort At Glade Springs has 3 very different, very well maintained golf courses. Woodhaven, the most challenging of the 3, has something unique to offer at each hole. The course is in pristine condition and each tee entices the player to be the very best that you can be! Though you may be captivated by the sheer beauty of this layout-you had better bring your "A" game (or at the very least some extra balls!). Beware, from the tips it is very difficult, but you will want to come back again and again! It's worth the trip, but you will leave questioning your ability... and your game!