Golfing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
While the innovators of the sport might shudder at the thought of Americans drinking bourbon instead of Scotch, perhaps we should give peace a chance and bond over our shared love of golf and hand crafted spirits. For bourbon enthusiasts, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® offers delights beyond imagination. Collectors of rare bottles will find their jaws slackened just entering a humble KY Liquor Barn, and may need medical assistance on finding what the distilleries have waiting in their gift shops.
But this kingdom of corn and oak barrels offers more than just bourbon and horse racing – its rolling hills and fair weather make it a surprisingly great golf destination. Whether you're planning a golf bachelor party, derby weekend, or a buddymoon (whatever that is), it can't be denied that golf and bourbon make for an alluring combination.
What is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
Although it might seem like a fan-operated list of bourbon and rye distilleries – like a Whiskey Wikipedia – The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a tightly controlled trademark of the Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA). As such, it requires membership and cooperation from the individual distillers in order to 'join' The Bourbon Trail.
If you're not too invested in the world of bourbon, it might surprise you to find that Buffalo Trace (along with the rest of the liquor they bottle at the massive Frankfurt-based distiller) isn't officially part of the Trail. So remember, The Bourbon Trail isn't a be-all-end-all list of "must visit" Kentucky distilleries, but it is a great resource for what's available. And it is based in the heart of Louisville, KY, the undisputed bourbon capital of the world.
The Distilleries
First things first. With nearly 20 major distillers, and a growing number of boutique makers pumping out craft spirits, there's a lot of choice out there (43 official locations!). There's also the geography. The Bourbon Trail is spread across Kentucky – from the southern bank of the Ohio river across from Cincinnati, to just North of Nashville – so it's important to organize transportation accordingly.
Narrowing down which whiskey distilleries to visit, however, is another matter entirely. Good etiquette would suggest talking to your fellow trip mates about which bourbon/rye they like to drink. Are you friends with a real whiskey aficionado? If so, they will definitely have some 'must visit' spots. Other than that, maybe stick to the big ones (Evan Williams, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey, James Beam), or select from one of the Kentucky Distillers Association's pre-planned itineraries to route your trip.
The bulk of famous distilleries can be found in a triangular area between Louisville, Frankfort, and Lexington to the north, and Bardstown to the south. The distance between the corners of this imaginary triangle is about 70 miles, so with appropriate accommodation set up, it's quite casual going between these major whiskey hubs. Of course, you'll also need to arrange safe transportation.
On the subject of designated drivers, there are plenty of businesses set up that offer group tours, buses (party and regular), and all-inclusive packages that require little more than a phone call and a credit card. Kentucky Golf and Bourbon Golf Trail are great options for those of you looking for a hassle free golf trip where everything has been taken care of.
Bourbon barrels aging in the cellar is whiskey nirvana.
Planning Your Kentucky Bourbon Trail Golf Adventure
A lot of the distilleries on the bourbon trail have tours set up which are great for enthusiasts and newbies alike. They'll take you through the history of the site, their process (from mash bills to bottling), culminating with a whiskey tasting, and being herded into the gift shop. This makes for a wonderful afternoon, especially if you're not worried about driving, but can become monotonous if scheduled back-to-back-to-back. How much history are you really going to remember after drinking four tasting samples on three previous tours?
Golf is the perfect activity to keep everyone in your party happy and engaged. Morning rounds followed by an afternoon distillery hop is a fine day, but Kentucky has a lot of other things to offer. Catch a show at The Louisville Palace, celebrate America’s favorite pastime at the Louisville Slugger Museum, bet the horses at Churchill Downs, and eat so much BBQ that you'll be embarrassed to tell your significant other why you haven't stopped sweating since you got home. Whatever your poison, there’s plenty of good times to be had on your Kentucky Bourbon Trail golf experience. And we would be remiss not to mention…
The Kentucky Derby
The first Saturday in May marks one of the holiest days for the julep-loving southern gentleman. Like The Masters for golf, Derby Day represents many things to many people. It's also one hell of a party. Whether you're "slumming it" in the infield, or schmoozing with celebs in the stands, there's nothing quite like it. Imagine a bachelor/ette party centered around The Kentucky Derby, The Bourbon Trail, and golf…we can’t think of anything better.
Golf Courses on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Did all the talk about bourbon, BBQ, and horse racing make you forget that this was supposed to be a golf trip? Kentucky has some absolutely lovely geography, and the limestone-rich creeks, streams, and waterways that have fed the whiskey industry for over a century are also responsible for a host of lush green flora. Even if you wake up a little worse for wear, a few hours in the brisk, Kentucky morning air will sort you right out.
Valhalla
Home of the gods, and host of many PGA Championships (including the 2022 edition). If you're lucky enough to be able to secure a round at this private, Nicklaus Design course, congratulations. Set up on the eastern outskirts of Louisville, Valhalla is a championship course and a popular entry on domestic bucket list golf courses. If you don't know any members that will vouch for you, they have a woefully undersubscribed YouTube Channel with detailed flyovers of each hole that can serve as your consolation prize.
Heritage Hill Golf Club
Located on the Salt River just south of Louisville in Shepherdsville, KY, Heritage Hill Golf Club has five tee boxes to accommodate a range of skill levels and five-star service that makes everyone feel like a VIP. With the river bordering several of the holes and plenty of woodland surrounding, Heritage Hill is great for golfers that appreciate a little wildlife on the course. Voted by Golf Digest as one of the 10 best New Courses 2008, this fantastic par 72 course is open to the public – making it infinitely more playable than Valhalla.
Bardstown Country Club
As the name suggests, Bardstown Country Club is located in its eponymous city 40 miles south of Louisville. Home of bourbon masters Heaven Hill and Willett, any time passed in tiny Bardstown would certainly be well spent. A semi-private course, the links-style Maywood offers scenery aplenty and a nice challenge to golfers. The clubhouse is also open to the public, so getting a post round bite (or a pre round hangover cure) will be easy enough.
You’ll want to pace yourself if you plan to tackle the best of both worlds.
My Old Kentucky Home Golf Course
Another Bardstown icon is the sprawling and historic My Old Kentucky Home Golf Course. Built in 1933, the course claims to be the crown jewel of Kentucky's State Park system – and it's not hard to see why. Because the course is run by the state park system, they have nearby camping, and its plantation setting offers historic tours of the mansion and grounds.
This heritage par-71 course is rated as the second best public course in Kentucky, and has accolades from Golf Digest, regularly receiving four star ratings in their annual "Best Places to Play" lists.
Kearney Hill Golf Links
Located on the northside of Lexington, Kearney Hill Golf Links is a real hidden gem. Designed by the legendary Pete Dye, this public masterpiece can be played for far cheaper than many of the other courses he's designed. A sprawling setup that cleverly places pin locations in order to take full advantage of Kentucky's rolling breezes, Kearney Hill will prove challenging to golfers of all skill levels.
Griffin Gate Resort
Another fabulous Lexington course, Griffin Gate Resort offers everything the bourbon-loving golfer could ever want. With course-side accommodation (by Marriott) that looks out over the lush greenery, a full spa, and self-service "bourbon machine," this is a one-stop shop for all your Bourbon Trail Golf Adventuring needs.
So whether you're heading down to Kentucky to conquer The Bourbon Trail while squeezing in a bit of golf, or golfing across the Bluegrass State and looking for a side of bourbon, there's plenty of fun to be had. Just make sure you bring lots of alka-seltzer, a few energy drinks, and an empty suitcase for all your bottle hunting needs.
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