Top public and private courses in Kentucky

Lassing Pointe Golf Course, the top-ranked public-access layout in Kentucky, shines a spotlight on municipal golf.

Designed by Michael Hurdzan and opened in 1994, Lassing Pointe in Union is owned by Boone County in the far north of Kentucky and, despite green fees that top out at $41 for 2022, sits at No. 1 in the state on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list.

Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with the list of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for Kentucky is likewise included below.

MORE: Best Modern | Best Classic | Top 200 Resort|
Top 200 Residential | Top 100 Best You Can Play

(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960
Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses.
* New to or returning to list

Best public-access courses in Kentucky in 2022

Heritage Hill in Kentucky (Golfweek files)

1. Lassing Pointe
Union (m)

2. Kearney Hill
Lexington (m)

3. Cherry Blossom
Georgetown (m)

4. Heritage Hill
Shepherdsville (m)

5. Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa
Lexington (m)

Best private courses in Kentucky in 2022

Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky (Golfweek files)

1. Valhalla
Louisville (T74m)

2. Idle Hour
Lexington (c)

3. Olde Stone
Bowling Green (m)

4. Hurstbourne
Louisville (m)

5. Big Spring*
Louisville (c)

How we rank courses

The hundreds of members of the Golfweek’s Best ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce these rankings.