Ambassador at Hickory Valley Golf Club

About
Hickory Valley Golf Club boasts two 18-hole, regulation-length courses, named the Ambassador and the Presidential. The Ambassador Course is the shorter of the two at 6,450 yards but it still offers a fair test. The classic layout is routed through towering hardwoods forests that stretch to over 70 feet high. The tall hickory trees loom over the fairways. The small greens are sloped back to front, presenting a challenge for even the most seasoned players. Water hazards come into play on several holes and there are a few tricky doglegs to contend with. The bunkering is minimal but the abundant trees will be enough to keep you on your toes. The golf course has some challenging holes but it's not overly punishing for the high handicapper.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 71 | 6369 yards | 70.8 | 119 |
White | 71 | 5910 yards | 68.9 | 116 |
Gold | 71 | 5096 yards | 65.1 | 105 |
Red | 72 | 4967 yards | 68.9 | 112 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Championship M: 71.4/128 | 542 | 360 | 132 | 334 | 173 | 379 | 398 | 362 | 617 | 3297 | 495 | 352 | 175 | 465 | 375 | 269 | 172 | 391 | 378 | 3072 | 6369 |
Tournament M: 69.9/123 W: 75.7/129 | 471 | 346 | 120 | 316 | 163 | 351 | 385 | 353 | 531 | 3036 | 440 | 330 | 153 | 413 | 365 | 258 | 164 | 384 | 367 | 2874 | 5910 |
Players M: 65.9/113 W: 71.1/119 | 418 | 284 | 104 | 234 | 130 | 304 | 318 | 283 | 468 | 2543 | 401 | 294 | 150 | 348 | 309 | 253 | 142 | 338 | 318 | 2553 | 5096 |
Forward W: 70.4/118 | 409 | 281 | 89 | 219 | 123 | 301 | 314 | 280 | 454 | 2470 | 397 | 288 | 143 | 340 | 306 | 249 | 132 | 333 | 309 | 2497 | 4967 |
Handicap | 7 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 16 | |||
Par | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 3 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Conference Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Every fairway looked like this Photo submitted by COOcampo3 on 08/23/2025
-
Photo submitted by cDrBv9n7iHmgGbUxd9Oi on 08/02/2025
-
Photo submitted by cDrBv9n7iHmgGbUxd9Oi on 08/02/2025
-
Best Brothers 1st Round of 2.0 Project! Photo submitted by StuKnod on 04/03/2022
-
Photo submitted by ericgrafton on 11/14/2016
-
Photo submitted by ericgrafton on 11/14/2016
-
Photo submitted by ericgrafton on 11/14/2016
-
Par 3 16th Photo submitted by bfalker on 06/16/2013
Good
Fairways in bad shape. Some tee boxes to hard to get a tee in. Greens in good shape
Challenging course
Nice, tight course in good condition. Old sand in bunkers and water hazards edged with rough were tough. Tee boxes were almost impenetrable and undulating greens were fast. One hole was a par 4 at 480 yards- very tough. The gentlemen working were the least friendly we’ve encountered at a golf course. No one to help with bags before or after. No ranger, do play was clogged up at several points. Pace of play guides would help. Halfway house was closed, but decent bathroom access during the round. Excellent service from cart server who passed us twice and was very friendly.
What happened to HV?
I live 40 minutes away and have many courses within 20-30 minutes of me. I have played 6-8 rounds at HV between the two courses. This time was a total waste. Pace of play was excellent, but the course is in abysmal shape. You are better off in the rough than on the fairway. Dirt fairways on almost all holes, and on the back nine, some of the fairways are literally burnt and cracking. The greens are slightly better but some are still terrible. I won’t be back until I hear they have sorted it all out. What a let down this was.
Water damage?
Ok, played here many times. And I know the course can flood and we’ve had a good bit of rain. But it has been several days since it last rained and many of the Presidential tee boxes lacked grass, were wet, and some were slippery. A couple of the bunkers had water in them and several others had not been maintained. I like this layout and will return. But really?
Rough shape
The course is in pretty rough shape, particularly the fairways. Fairways are sometimes nonexistent. It’s like dried mud that reminds me of the crusty top of brownies. It’s a shame because it’s a pretty fun layout with some tough holes. The over hanging branches on some holes really make tee shots much more narrow. Hopefully they can improve the conditions
Not again
The fairways were horrible, moldy, and crusty. We will never play here again.
Cow pasture
Don’t bother. Overbooked and I’m not even sure what to call the fairways and aprons. They were mostly black and full of goose droppings
Awful Conditions (Ambassador)
Course is in very very bad shape. Neglected is an understatement, would not recommend unless you get an insanely low deal.
WORSE CONDITIONS
Not a single fairway that had grass. Everything is torn apart, the course looks abandoned. Rough was even worse, greens… horrible. Patchy mud spots and even a whole beach growing on 13. I should have taken pictures, $65 is a crime for that courses conditions. Unreal.
Dont play here
Worst golf experience of the year.
Showed up early to find out my 6:55am scheduled tee time was pushed back 30 mins “so my duo could be paired up with another group “. Pro shop was very rude when i asked why nobody has reached out to let me know before I showed up at 6:30.
First cart I was given was broken.
Conditions were awful.
Fairways have more dirt and mud than grass. Greens are have large patches of dirt and mud. Overhanging trees block out several tee shots and fairways.
With the rates this course charges I don’t understand how zero money goes into maintenance.
Woman at the snack bar is very sweet. Ham and cheese sandwich at the turn was 9/10.
Good deal if it's a reduced rate
We played this course for the first time. The layout is nice and it wasn't crowded. Got stuck behind a few slow players but no big deal. I think the course was flooded bc it was in really tough shape. Omits a very pretty and scenic course. As long as you get a good rate on golf now uts worth playing. Regular rates are too pricey.
Fairways are in trouble!
Greens were ok, high grass was ok. A lot of clippings around, probably pulled 10lbs of grass from my shoes throughout the round. Fairways are in rough shape, tons of bare spots.
At first the course look nice but it seems as you get down the first he the grass is all burnt up. Seems like they cut the grass and just left all the dead grass on top. Some fairways the grass was 3 inches long so you couldn’t even find your ball in the fairway. Would not recommend this course to anybody I know.
Course is in rough shape
Carts are in bad shape, greens are beat up, fairways play like hazards. Would not recommend, especially for $55.
Heritage Hills Golf Experience Package
