Review Of Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Golf Course

Great golf, tremendous scenery, friendly people, dang good food, extremely fair prices. That’s just a few of the phrases that come to mind after having played Dale Hollow’s fairly new golf course.

I drove down ( 3 hours ) and got there in time for a 2 PM tee time. My friend Ken Collova from Lexington ( KY ) had business in the area, so we jumped on the chance to play this jewel.

We played it from the tips, 7023 yards, and the first hole was a little 376 yard downhill par 4, like a lot of the holes on this visually stunning jewel of a golf course. We both bogeyed, me with a 3 putt and Ken with a wedge that went over the green and down into what could only be described as a wooded ravine. If you visit, be sure to look behind the first green and check out this scenery. Daniel Boone would’ve been at home down there !

The first par 3 hole was #3 and from the tips it was 240 yards, all downhill and almost all carry. My local pro, Mike Franklin had told me to hit 4 iron and believe and that’s what I did. I hit it and it sunk about 3 inches into the front part of the green when it came down like an asteroid ! Ken tried 3 iron and went long, into the woods and took a 5. Don’t go long here, as there’s really a landing area that you can’t see from the tee and you can hit about 50 yards short and be fine for a pitch on and putt for par.

Here’s a shot to show you what the green and the landing area looks like. From 240 yards above, you can’t see this at all.

And for a view from the tee, click here.

The fourth hole was a 533 yard par 5 and I hit driver and 3-wood to about 20 feet and 2 putted for a nice birdie. It was extra sweet with Ken’s bogey and me grabbing a couple of strokes.

Here’s a view from where my ball sat before that 3-wood. Tell me that ain’t a long way and a great view !

And here’s shot of some of the natural stone that the golf course architect, Brian Ault, left in place while designing this true test and true delight of a golf course.

This shot show’s you that even though the view from the tee’s sometimes looks tight, there’s actually a very w-i-d-e o-p-e-n golf course down below that is a real treat to play. This shot’s from the fairway back towards the tee on the par 5 12th hole, 618 yards of fun and beauty.

The 15th hole is 194 yards, all carry and with some of that natural stone left in place to terrorize you to no end ! I cut a hybrid 3-iron in to about 25 feet and 2 putted for a very fortunate par. Poor Ken was a tad long and left and took a double bogey.

And here’s the prerequisite shot of The Travelling Golfer, in his UK blue hat, after 18 holes, 7023 yards, 3 hours and 15 minutes and more strokes than I wanted to remember. That’s 250 lbs of Hillbilly Golf Star out of control !

The guys in the Pro Shop, Bruce and Kent, were two of the friendliest guys and most helpful guys you’ll ever meet. The food at the Mary Ray Oaken Lodge was absolutely fine ! Good catfish and smooth sweet-tea ! The people along Highway 90 are also very nice, so stop in and visit some of the general stores and local shops.

I will be going back for their Stay-n-Play, Tee’s-N-Zee’s golf package…very soon.

There’s a reason that they were ranked #8 in Kentucky by Golf Digest Magazine in 2005 and ranked #6 in the Best New Affordable Public Courses category in 2004 by Golf Digest Magazine.

Related posts:

1. Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Here's another golf course in the Kentucky State Parks...
2. Mineral Mound State Park Golf Course Review I recently had the good fortune to play the...
3. Headed To Dale Hollow State Park Golf Course This is where I'll be on Monday, April 30th....
4. New And Improved Mineral Mound State Park Golf Course I've said it before and I'll say it again -...
5. Ray Cook Extreme Aim 3 Putter Review Just bought myself a new putter for Father's Day....