Lexington Outdoor Activities

Designed by architect Buck Blankenship, the fairways of Shelbyville Country Club's 18-hole course circumnavigate a horseshoe-shaped lake and they gently rise and fall over the rolling hills of Shelby County. Narrow fairways lined with mature trees offset the course's relatively short 6,400-yard length, setting the tone for a round that rewards accuracy and course management over flashy drives and flame-decaled golf bags. A fully stocked pro shop lies at the course's trailhead, offering players the latest in clubs and gear, and a staff of two resident aces stands ready to adjust swings and impart strategic advice during private and group lessons. Along with the immaculate landscape, Shelbyville Country Club boasts two outdoor tennis courts and an Olympic-size pool featuring a gated kiddie pool and play area, all of which are patrolled by a lifeguard and Mark Spitz's mustache.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, 6,331-yard course

• Course rating of 70.2 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 122 from the farthest tees

• Four tee options:

Two 18-hole courses form a verdant wreath around the Bardstown Country Club grounds, inviting clubbers of all stripes to drive, pitch, and putt their way across the Kentucky countryside. The Maywood Course—the club’s signature fairway chain—begins with a traditional, parkland layout before transforming into a Scottish links-inspired design on the back nine, replete with thickets of heather, subtle contours, and flagsticks bemoaning English imperialism. The ingenuity of course designer David Pfaff is on full display at the 16th hole, a 210-yard par 3 where tee shots plummet 70 feet before coming to rest on a green flanked by a pond and a stately stone wall. To prepare for rounds at the Maywood Course or its 18-hole sidekick, the Woodlawn Springs Golf Course, clubbers can pelt balls into the horizon at the grass-tee driving range or feed 9-irons a protein-rich meal at the club’s bar and grill.

Sequestered in 151 acres of rolling hills and immaculate greenery, Woodford Hills Country Club whisks patrons through a bucolic landscape that features amenities both recreational and relaxing. Nimble golf carts take clubbers slaloming the fairways of the club's picturesque, 18-hole golf course, which runs alongside a horse farm and caters to golfers of all abilities with a player-friendly layout and strategic equine caddies. Outstretched toes test the waters of the club's outdoor pool, and the outdoor tennis courts sate racket-wielders' competitive spirits and affinity for yellow fuzz. Woodford Hills Country Club Grill and Bar invites midday or after-hours revelry amid burgundy walls and mahogany accents with Friday night dinner specials and crisp, cold drinks.

Eight bags. Two platforms. Two six-inch holes. One distinctly American game. The origins of cornhole are shrouded in mystery. Some say it derives from a German game, while others claim it is a descendent of a similar sport played by Native Americans. But one thing is certain—it's serious business. That's why the American Cornhole Organization was formed in 2005. By setting the rules, establishing annual tournaments and competitions, and firmly banning the practice of using trained birds to dunk bags, these referees have codified the sport and elevate it to a professional level.