Idle Hour Country Club

The only Donald Ross design to be found in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky, the course at Idle Hour Country Club still retains many elements of the old master’s handiwork, thanks in no small part to a recent upgrade by Ron Prichard, when he added some length to the layout and refurbished all the bunkers.

The long par three 2nd and short par four 5th, in particular, have benefitted tremendously from the renovation work that was carried out. The 503-yard 8th is another well bunkered hole and the 168-yard 13th (which may have inspired Augusta National’s 12th) is a fine one shotter, played to a pond-protected green.

Down the years, the routing has been changed, a few holes added (such as the 7th) and several holes in front of the clubhouse moved to make way for a pool, tennis courts and other country club amenities but, by and large, many of the original holes at Idle Hour remain intact.