Dale Hollow State Park Golf Course (Burkesville, KY)

Dale Hollow is my 350th post. I originally wanted to go somewhere well known, a place that would really make a splash, but instead I choose this relatively hidden gem that is starting to get some national recognition. In Golf Digest’s 2021/22 best courses in each state, Dale Hollow was the only public course listed. This out of the way place is located in a remote area about two hours east of Cave City on the Kentucky/Tennessee border. 

Designed by Brian Ault in 2003, Dale Hollow occupies a rugged piece of property chocked full of rock outcroppings and severe elevation change.The routing will take you along ridge lines, across side slopes, and over deep ravines. One will definitely say wow several times during the round. 

(The 374/342 yard opening par four is a great chance to start with a birdie. The hole plays downhill and a draw off the right bunker will scoot down the slope into flip wedge range.)  

(After two short par fours to start, the 240/228 yard par three third will make your palms sweat as you try to decipher the exact yardage the hole is playing. Fairway short of the green makes that the obvious miss as anything long is a lost ball. Enjoy the view!)

Dale Hollow has bent greens and zoysia fairways which are beautiful surfaces to play on. The zoysia grass has a larger blade so the ball sits up higher. This produces a little bit more carry from the fairway shots and more spin with the short irons. Chipping becomes easier too since sits up so nicely.  Zoysia is a prominent grass in the southeastern states because it’s drought resistant and handles traffic well. It does brown up when the temperature goes down but I love the brown hue, especially against the bent grass greens.

(The 533/511 yard par five fourth plays downhill before doglegging right. The fairway bunkers are perfectly positioned to force a decision on the second shot…

…as this view shows, most pin positions can be attacked with aggressive play, but a rear right flag must be treated with caution. Even putting from the center to that section is tricky.) 

(The 197/187 yard par three fifth is a long carry over a deep ravine. It plays slightly uphill with fairway covering the front. A couple swales make for interesting recoveries…
…the two forward tees play from a completely different angle. The left trap should be taken out so the ladies can run the ball onto the green but otherwise it’s a terrific solution given the carry would be too far even from the front of the men’s tee. ) 

This is my first Brian Ault course and I’m duly impressed. It was a difficult piece of property and he did a tremendous job coming up with an engaging yet fair golf course. I’m sure the purists will point out the almost nonexistent ability to walk it but with topography like this, I’m willing to give him a pass. The par threes are fantastic! They’re four different holes but each one is memorable with its own personality. The fifteenth is considered by many as the best par three in Kentucky! All the par fives play downhill from the tee, giving the long hitter an opportunity to reach them in two shots. Meanwhile, the par fours come in all sort of lengths, playing uphill and downhill. This is one of the times where the saying “you’ll hit every club in your bag” applies. 

(The 441/389 yard uphill par four sixth plays on a hog back fairway. It’s a very demanding tee shot followed by a long iron to an accessible green.) 

(The 363/326 yard par four seventh should be a birdie opportunity, but look at that drive over the valley! The left is the best angle but it’s also the longest carry.) 

(The 371/349 yard par four ninth is a slog up the hill. Note the severity between the two levels. It plays a good 2-3 clubs longer on the approach. It’s one of the few mediocre holes) 

The two sequences that really stand out at Dale Hollow are 3-7 and 12-15. The first sequence is highlighted by two great par threes. The second sequence is even better, and by this time, one expects the golf to be superb. Dale Hollow not only meets that expectation but exceeds it. 

(The 618/564 yard par five twelth plays completely downhill while doglegging left with rock outcroppings guarding the inside of the turn. The player must keep his ball right to get a peek of the green for his third shot. Anything hit left is at the mercy of the rocks.)

(The 462/435 yard par four thirteenth doglegs left with a green cut into a little shelf in the hill. It takes two well struck shots to reach this in regulation and cutting the corner is not recommended. Par here is like a birdie.) 

(The 528/492 yard par five fourteenth is a beauty! This is the view from the ladies tee. The men’s tee is higher up the hill and more to the right. It challenges the player to take the aggressive line and carry it back over the water to wide part of the fairway…

…the second shot is then uphill to a green just beyond a rock wall and bunkers. If one hits a successful drive then it’s only 180-210 yards to the green. It’s a great chance for birdie or possibly an eagle, but it takes confidence to snag it.) 

(Considered the best par three in the entire state of Kentucky, the 194/184 yard fifteenth plays over the tree tops to a green perched atop a finger of land. It’s a slightly downhill shot, and being short is no-man’s land. It’s a euphoric feeling watching your ball soar through the sky and land safely on the putting surface…
…for the ladies, the forward tees play above the green adjacent to the right. If this was the regular tee box, the hole would still be terrific! It’s such a cool concept and I’ve never seen such attention given to make the ladies shot as cool as the men. I love it!!)

Dale Hollow is part of the Kentucky State Park golf system and is one of twelve courses. They’re not all of this caliber, but each one is well kept and several are very good. (I wish Ohio placed as much emphasis on golf at their state parks.) Being part of this golf trail, Dale Hollow comes at a very affordable price. I paid $25 with a cart to play eighteen holes. I believe it’s still under $50 in the summer months. This is a tremendous value! 

(The 371/332 yard par four seventeenth is a nice birdie chance before the daunting eighteenth. The player can either layup to fairway bunker or try to skirt it and run the ball closer to the green. Note the bunker renovation. They’re putting all new sand in them. Personally, I think they could fill 80% of the traps and the course would still be fantastic. The natural features more than challenge the player.) 

I know Kentucky doesn’t scream golf destination, but if one ever wondered how good it is, Dale Hollow has a resounding answer. I am really shocked how good the course is, and I need to credit golfclubatlas for giving me the incentive to play it. The one gentleman from Cincinnati raved about Dale Hollow and I’m very happy for seeking it out. I wish courses like this were given more recognition. I give Dale Hollow a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play).

(The view looking back on the long par three fifth.) 

[Last year at this time, I was blogging my 300th course. It’s amazing to think I’ve blogged 50 more courses in a years time. It’s a lot of fun and I’m having an absolute blast doing it. Many times the journey is as exciting as the golf. It’s a really great experience that I wish more people would do. As for me, I’m sure I’ll be at 400 before you know it!]