Golf in Nicholasville

Tucked away in a private neighborhood, Lone Oak’s 18-hole golf course stretches across 6,473 yards of rolling countryside speckled with mature trees. A stone-lined pond occupies the center of the course, attracting geese and other waterfowl and striking fear into the heart of any golf ball that never dreamed of becoming a barnacle. An onsite driving range prepares swings for forays onto the fairways, and a practice green helps players to get a feel for the speed of the club’s putting surfaces. Lone Oak’s private club also encompasses a 25-meter pool with six swimming lanes, a diving board, and a deep end for competitive snorkeling.

Opened in 1968 as a nine-hole course, Cardinal Hills added a back nine in 1996 to form a 5,614-yard excursion that challenges oncomers with undulating greens and tree-lined fairways. Though relatively short in overall length, the Harold England design presents its fair share of difficulties, forcing players to choose their clubs wisely and to carefully discern which flagsticks are actually remnants of failed moon landings.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Total length of 5,614 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70 from the back tees
• Course slope of 113 from the back tees

Designed by famed Australian golfer Graham Marsh, Old Silo Golf Course engulfs 209 acres of hilly terrain with a challenging 7,011-yard layout. Bent-grass tees, fairways, and greens form manicured chutes through bluegrass rough, a difficult outlier that lures errant shots with its long blades and hypnotic plucking of ancient fiddles.

Somerset Creek comes into play on five holes, looming on the edges of 7 and 17 and presenting a forced carry on holes 6, 15, and 16. The par 72 course concludes with a 574-yard par 5 in which players must navigate a three-sectioned fairway and 8 of the course's 84 white-sand bunkers.

Rather than rummaging in their golf bag for forgotten candy bars or stowaway potatoes, players can quell appetites at Old Silo's restaurant, which serves a menu of pulled-pork sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and other casual grill fare. On weekends, grillmasters barbecue steaks, beef brisket, and ribs on the outdoor balcony that overlooks the golf course.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Graham Marsh
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 7,011 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 74.6 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 139 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

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: