Hidden Cove Golf Course at Grayson Lake State Park

The course was in very good condition, except that the greens were much slower than normal. Weather was excellent, although a little windy. :Began play approx 2pm, finished approx 5pm -- good pace of play considering there were a fair number of players on the course. Fairways were solid and well cut -- amazing considering the amount of rain received earlier in the week, Carts were 90-degree rule.

I rated weather fair due to the 20-30 mph winds, temp was high 70's. None of the sand had been raked for quite some time, maybe all year. Green speeds varied hole to hole. Last three holes were very slow.

A billy goat course that was as tuff as I have ever played. But with that said it was fun and a real challenge.

The course is fairly long from the tips and a lot of target golf. It is definitely one of the top 3 courses I have ever played in Kentucky. I HIGHLY recommend it especially for the more advanced golfer.

I'm a 4 handicap and this course is challenging from the tees that played 6400 yards. Tight fairways with deep fescue rough left and right, make driving the ball very important, bad day off the tee spells disaster. Overall a good course that requires some shot making.

This is an amazing golf course built on the ridges of Grayson Lake in eastern Kentucky. A short drive from I-64 is all it takes to play one of the most scenic, well-designed courses in the state. All bent grass from tee to green, the 7,000 plus yard layout can play longer than the yardage due to softer landing drives. Huge white sand bunkers guard greens and landing areas on nearly every hole. The front nine makes its way deeper into the forest before emerging from the trees on the 8th tee shot. The back nine heads back into forest on numbers 11 and 12, then makes its way into slightly more open space for most of the finishing holes. Good tee shots are very important if you hope to avoid (1) penalty strokes, (2) playing long clubs into all the greens, and (3) sand, lots of sand.

Holes to remember:

Number 2, Par 4--Longer par 4 that is very classy. A slightly elevated tee shot plays to a fairway that gently curls to the left. The bunker on the left can be carried, but not easily. The high percentage play is to aim at the bunker on the right, which is farther away. From there it is 150-200 yards to the green, which is protected by a large bunker on the right. A fairway collection area lies to the left of the green. Too far left and you are in the deep woods, too far right and you will have to punch out of the dirt below the smaller trees.

Number 6, Par 4--Dogleg right around the trees with a fairway that slopes to the right and which ends about 100 yards short of the green. Second shot plays over a small creek to a green guarded by sand front left and back right. Trees tower behind the green.

Number 9, Par 4--Short par 4 where, oddly enough, the main obstacle is not trees. A pond protects the right side of the green, and is very much in play off the tee as well. A huge sand bunker frames the left side of the hole, but is generally not in play. A central fairway bunker sits in the landing zone, however. If you can hit it straight over this bunker, you should be about 100 yards out and in great position to attack the green from the left side of the fairway.

Number 12, Par 5--The tee shot takes the spotlight on this medium length par 5. Playing downhill and over a ravine, this hole slopes slightly the left all the way to the green. From the tee you will see a deep bunker short left, and an aiming bunker long right. Playing to the higher ground on the right is the safe option, but a draw that starts at the far bunker would be perfect. The green has a lower front tier and upper back tier.

Number 13, Par 4--Tee shot is slightly blind from back tees due to grass hazard between tee and fairway. Two large bunkers on the left frame the landing zone of this short hole. A good drive will set up a pitch to the interesting green which is open in the front and features an upper front tier and lower back tier. Great for playing lower running shots to back pin positions. Water and reeds flank the right side and back of the green. Birdie is within reach on this hole. The same cannot be said of the holes that follow.

Number 16, Par 5--I don't love this hole, but it is memorable for its ungodly length. Over a third of a mile long (almost 700 yards from the back tees), this hole cruelly played into the wind the day I was present. Also, I believe the green is two-tiered. Be satisfied with a 6 here.

I really enjoyed the course. The par 5's are a little long but overall not extremely difficult. Well maintained and a great value.

The day we played the course was very wet and it seemed longer than the 7100 yards that it was. It is excellently maintained and the greens are perfect. This is not an easy course and because it was wet it was even harder. I would like to play it again when it is dry.

This is a challenging course but it is fun to play.

Overall had a great and enjoyable round. Rained and it was a cart path only day which slowed us down.
Was greatly disappointed in the clubhouse staff. They were not at all friendly and showed no courtesy at all. We will not let that stop us from playing again.

If you hit it less than 250 off the tee, don't even challenge the 1 or 2 tees.... This course plays forever and a day long.... It doesn't help that if you miss left you're in the trees and if you miss right you're in bigger trees.... It is well kept and a really scenic place, with only 1 really hard par 3, but I played it on a day when the driver and the putter were not working, and shot one of the ugliest numbers I have shot in years.... Good luck...

Played this course on a Saturday, and even though there were plenty of people, it felt like we had the course to ourselves. Well maintained and the rolling hills of Eastern KY make for an enjoyable round of golf. Would recomend to anyone in that part of the state to give this course a shot. You won't regret it.

This is my home course play it quite often. In the spring the course is in great shape but by the 1st of July every year it starts to go downhill. By september the fairways are pretty much shot. You cannot play the ball down on these fairways. The tee boxes are by far the best around greens are nice but usually slow. The bunkers are full of rocks and they rarely have sand in them. The layout of the course is beautiful and this could be the best course in eastern kentucky but they really need to maintain this course better. I know it's a state park and money probably gets put toward other things but it's crazy to charge $45 to play a $20 course.

This is a great course. Not only do you get to play golf with your friends but you can enjoy watching the turkeys and the deer. We would definitely make the two hour drive to play this course again.

Staff was very nice. The greens were in good shape. I am assuming it is due to the large amounts of rainfall this year but the fairways were bad. Bald and muddy in about 25% of each fairway.

Really enjoyed playing the course. Have I played it when it is in better shape but still the best course in northeast KY