Golf Travel Guide To Lexington, KY

Looking to plan the perfect golf trip to Lexington, KY? Planning a buddies trip or a romantic golf getaway can be a full time job not to mention pressure filled to deliver a memorable experience. Below is an interview with Niki Goldey, Director of Communications who shares some insider information about golfing and traveling to Lexington, KY, must play courses, a sample itinerary and where you can go for more planning tools.

Give our readers an overview of your destination and why they should consider it for their next golf trip?
Lexington, KY, offers golfers a unique destination with perfect weather for golf throughout most of the year and more importantly, great courses with inexpensive green fees.

Lexington features breathtaking scenic beauty, Southern hospitality, easy accessibility and a thriving urban core offering plenty of things to do when your not on the gold course. Here, there are endless opportunities to discover authentic experiences, from horse farms and Bourbon distilleries to brew pubs and an outstanding cuisine scene. Explore Lexington's signature industry with a visit to the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park or iconic Keeneland Race Course. Kentucky produces 95% of the world's bourbon supply and in Central Kentucky you can tour historic distilleries and new, craft Bourbon Distilleries. Take a break from bourbon tours and hop on the Brewgrass Trail. This collection of craft brewers and the locals who love them say: "Respect the Bourbon, Drink the Beer". Pick up your Passport at any of the breweries or at our Lexington Visitor to start your journey. Regional specialties and farm-to-table dining are staples in the south but, in Lexington you'll also find a booming culinary scene that is home to a wide variety of locally owned establishments serving up everything from top notch sushi and Mediterranean to Thai and West African cuisine. Our Beyond Grits guide will help guide you to the very best culinary experiences in Lexington!

What are the must play courses in Lexington, KY?
Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Golf Club . This is another Lexington course that, like Kearney Hill, previously hosted a PGA Senior Tour stop. Designed by Rees Jones, this semi-private championship course with gentle, rolling hills has been named one of the top 75 U.S. resort courses by Golf Digest magazine. It's one of the more expensive courses in the area, but still a bargain by national standards. Newly renovated with a bunker project led by Rees Jones you can now enjoy new fairway approaches into greens and chipping areas, plus classic bunker lines that reflect those of golf's premier courses. The course adjoins the Marriott resort hotel, and packages including golf and accommodations are available. The course is convenient both to downtown (take Main Street west and turn right onto Newtown Pike) and Interstates 64/75, Exit 115 (the Marriott is just south of the exit on the left). 1720 Newtown Pike, Lexington (859) 288-6193

Kearney Hill has been named the top public course in Kentucky and one of the Top 100 places to play in the country. The course hosted a stop on the Senior PGA Tour from 1990 to 1997. It's an exciting, tough and enjoyable Scottish-style links course, with large, undulating greens and an abundance of water and bunkers . And you're going to love the price. The course is located just a few minutes' drive from downtown off Georgetown Road (U.S. 25 north) and is superbly maintained and run by the Lexington Parks and Recreation Department. 3403 Kearney Road, Lexington (859) 253-1981

What is the hidden gem and/or best value course?
Another Dye masterpiece is found a little over a half hour's drive south of Lexington near Lancaster, Kentucky. Peninsula Golf Resort , a public championship course named as one of the Top 200 in the nation by Golf Digest, features a challenging and enjoyable mix of short and long holes on 200 acres adjoining Lake Herrington. The Dye-sized greens, strategically placed bunkers and mature trees make Peninsula an intellectually demanding course requiring finesse and strategic shot making. The clubhouse is an elegant 9,500-square foot Southern-style mansion, and "Stay and Play" villas are available. To get there from Lexington, take U.S. 27 (Nicholasville Road) south to Route 1845. Turn right and continue to the end of 1845 . Turn left at the fire station and follow Peninsula Golf resort signs. About 22 miles from Lexington. 200 Clubhouse Drive, Lancaster, KY (859) 548-5055 or (877) 249-4747.

Can you provide our readers with an ideal itinerary for a long weekend? Take Friday off! This "mancation" includes options for golf adventures and evening entertainment.

Day 1 Friday
What's a guys' weekend in Lexington without a peek at historic Rupp Arena? A special viewing window at Lexington Center is accessible till 5:30 p.m. (859) 233-4567. Take a tour of the first Bourbon distillery built in Lexington in over 100 years, Town Branch, just steps away from the arena. Nearby Nick Ryan's is a good choice for dinner. Walk across the street after dinner to the Grey Goose (859) 333-1500. If the weather's nice, the real party will be out back on the patio.

Day 2 Saturday
Enjoy golf at one, or more, of our many courses. The Griffin Gate Marriott Golf Club was designed by Rees Jones and was named a top 75 U.S. resort course by Golf Digest magazine. Kearney Hill Links was designed by Pete Dye. Head back downtown to Lexington's gastro pub, the Village Idiot (859) 252-0099. From there, you are close to tons of great bar hopping options: Cheapside Bar and Grill, Parlay Social (859) 244-1932, Belle's Cocktail House, the Henry Clay Public House (859) 368-7754, to name just a few. If you like discovering locally crafted beers, check out West 6th Brewing Company (859) 951-6006, Country Boy Brewing (859) 554-6200 or Blue Stallion (877) 928-2337.

Day 3 Sunday
Get out to Keeneland Race Course early to watch the morning workouts and treat yourself to a Southern breakfast at the Track Kitchen. The grounds of Keeneland are always open for you to explore. You might get to chat with a trainer

After you've watched the horses work out, head down to Peninsula Golf Resort. This Dye masterpiece is found a little over a half hour's drive south of Lexington near Lancaster, Kentucky.

After golf, what are the "must do" things or attractions to see?
The Kentucky Horse Park is the number one attraction in Lexington's Bluegrass Region and was founded in 1978. Located at exit 120 off Interstate 75, the Kentucky Horse Park operates as a working farm and competition facility. The horse is showcased through daily equine presentations, horse drawn tours, carriage rides, horseback riding, two outstanding museums, a movie presentation and special events throughout the year.

Lexington is also home to picturesque Keeneland Race Course, a National Historic Landmark. Keeneland hosts two race meets annually in April and October in addition to several Thoroughbred auctions that draw international buyers and price tags that often exceed the million-dollar mark.

No trip to Lexington would be complete without a visit to one of the nearby distilleries most of which are nestled along the banks of sparkling streams in the countryside. The time-honored methods developed in the early 19th century, when Lexington was a bustling frontier town, are still used in bourbon distilleries today. Four of the eight distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are just 30 minutes from Lexington. Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey and Four Roses offer tours that unlock the mysteries and heritage of the United States' only native spirit. Located in downtown Lexington, Town Branch Distillery, is the first new distillery built in Lexington in more than 100 years. Tantalizing aromas follow you from the fermenting tanks to the warehouses where the bourbon rests until its proper age.

What is the best time to travel?
It is possible to play golf in Lexington twelve months of the year! To take advantage of the best weather Kentucky has to offer plan a trip from March through November.

Where can golfers go for more information to research and plan their trip?
Lexington, KY
800-845-3959
www.visitlex.com