Lexington Golf Trip Planning Guide
Lexington is an underrated golf trip that Tour de Fore tested in 2023 and loved. The courses are solid and affordable, but the real draw is what you do between rounds: bourbon distillery tours on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, horse farm visits, and a surprisingly good food and bar scene downtown. It's a trip with built-in variety that keeps everyone engaged.
5 courses · 5 restaurants · 4 bars · 5 activities
Quick Facts
Spring, Fall
LEX (10 min drive)
$35–$125
$400/night
2 of 5
~$340/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Lexington. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Keene Trace Golf Club - Champions Course — parkland, $75–$125 · 4.6★
Arthur Hills design through horse country. Rolling hills, creeks, and pristine conditioning. Semi-private, guest access available.
Malone's — steakhouse, $$
Lexington's premier steakhouse. Prime steaks, great bourbon selection, and a private dining room for groups.
Ethereal Brewing — brewpub
Best craft brewery in Lexington. Great taproom with a rotation of Belgian-inspired and experimental beers.
Day 2
University Club of Kentucky - Big Blue — parkland, $65–$115 · 4.5★
UK's championship course. Hosted NCAA championships and SEC events. The area's best pure test of golf.
Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour — 2-3 hours, $0–$25/pp
Free tours and bourbon tastings at the legendary Buffalo Trace in Frankfort (40 min from Lexington). The National Historic Landmark distillery makes Pappy, Eagle Rare, and Blanton's. Book ahead — slots fill fast.
County Club — southern, $$
Southern comfort food and creative cocktails. Hot chicken, pimento cheese, and bourbon flights.
Bluegrass Tavern — whiskey bar · Open late
200+ bourbons behind the bar. The definitive bourbon bar in the bourbon capital of the world.
Day 3
Cherry Blossom Golf Course — parkland, $35–$60 · 4.4★
Jack Ridge design in Georgetown. Wide fairways, mature trees, and excellent public-course conditioning.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail — full day, $50–$150/pp
Hit Woodford Reserve (30 min), Buffalo Trace (40 min), and Wild Turkey (45 min) in a single day. Book a van.
Winchell's Restaurant — farm to-table, $$$
Chef-driven farm-to-table in a cozy setting. The best fine dining in Lexington.
The Burl — dive · Open late
Live music venue and bar in a converted warehouse. Great local acts and cheap drinks.
Course-by-Course Guide
Lexington has 5 courses worth playing. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Kearney Hill Golf Links
SolidP.B. Dye links-style muni with great bones. Rolling terrain, fescue, and the best value in Lexington.
Cherry Blossom Golf Course
SolidJack Ridge design in Georgetown. Wide fairways, mature trees, and excellent public-course conditioning.
University Club of Kentucky - Big Blue
PremiumUK's championship course. Hosted NCAA championships and SEC events. The area's best pure test of golf.
Keene Trace Golf Club - Champions Course
PremiumArthur Hills design through horse country. Rolling hills, creeks, and pristine conditioning. Semi-private, guest access available.
Griffin Gate Golf Club
SolidRees Jones design at the Marriott resort. Convenient location and solid conditioning. Good for day 1.
Where to Stay
Lexington has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $400/night for the whole house.
$500–$1500/night
Sleeps 12–18 · Lexington suburbs and horse country
$400–$1000/night
Sleeps 10–16 · Downtown Lexington / University area
Group Dining Guide
5 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Malone's
$$Lexington's premier steakhouse. Prime steaks, great bourbon selection, and a private dining room for groups.
County Club
$$Southern comfort food and creative cocktails. Hot chicken, pimento cheese, and bourbon flights.
Winchell's Restaurant
$$$Chef-driven farm-to-table in a cozy setting. The best fine dining in Lexington.
Ramsey's Diner
$Meat-and-three with massive portions. The beer cheese is legendary. Perfect post-round fuel.
Tony's of Lexington
$$Old-school steaks and seafood since 1952. No-frills, big portions, and a loaded baked potato the size of your head.
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Ethereal Brewing
Best craft brewery in Lexington. Great taproom with a rotation of Belgian-inspired and experimental beers.
Bluegrass Tavern
Late Night200+ bourbons behind the bar. The definitive bourbon bar in the bourbon capital of the world.
The Burl
Late NightLive music venue and bar in a converted warehouse. Great local acts and cheap drinks.
McCarthy's Irish Bar
Late NightDowntown Irish pub. Pool tables, darts, and a solid late-night crew. Good for the inevitable 1am session.
Activities Beyond Golf
5 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour
Free tours and bourbon tastings at the legendary Buffalo Trace in Frankfort (40 min from Lexington). The National Historic Landmark distillery makes Pappy, Eagle Rare, and Blanton's. Book ahead — slots fill fast.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Hit Woodford Reserve (30 min), Buffalo Trace (40 min), and Wild Turkey (45 min) in a single day. Book a van.
Woodford Reserve Distillery Tour
The most photogenic distillery on the trail. Stone buildings, copper pot stills, and excellent tastings.
Keeneland Race Track
World-class thoroughbred racing in April and October. Even without races, the grounds and morning workouts are special.
Horse Farm Tours
Tour working thoroughbred farms and see retired Triple Crown winners. Uniquely Kentucky.
Getting There
Fly into Blue Grass Airport (LEX) — it's a 10-minute drive to Lexington. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Bluegrass Party Bus and Mint Julep Experiences). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.