Barren River Lake State Resort Park

This is a challenging course but it’s peaceful (deer come out to watch sometimes), the employees are awesome, and the pace is perfect.

Good, challenging course with front nine being pretty open while back nine had narrow fairways and a number of blind shots. Did get behind a six-person group which I doubt clubhouse knew about but they let me play through. Staff was extremely nice!

To start, the normally friendly staff was marred by the late arrival of the lady in the clubhouse. At 655, she was taking her sweet time putting coins in her drawer while 7 people wait in line...including the folks with a 7a tee time. There is no excuse for this, other than a young lady who doesn’t play golf...or care about her job. The first few people all got under her skin for one reason or another. Get to work on time, or bring a far better attitude to the job young lady.

But that’s not a review of the course. I teed off at 710, and it was wet, I mean not just normal dew patrol wet...I mean haven’t mowed in a few days wet. Greens are diseased, so definitely take a 2-putt rule for many of them.

We played Mineral Mound 2 weeks ago, so we could compare the two courses ostensibly managed by the same people. This one is a hot mess. Fairways were ok, but tees, greens, and rough were all in very bad shape. Not how a course should be on Labor Day weekend.

Layout is good, not great. Mineral mound wows you...this is more annoying. No roll (did I mention it was wet?) and 12 of 18 holes feature some sort of dogleg right. My son played the tips, I played tee 2. We both should’ve played up, since the course plays longer than the yardage due to conditions. Choose a yardage about 400 yards shorter than your normal...especially if wet. Greens were about an 8 and soft. There is a lot of maintenance needed on this course.

We finished in 3 hours, but I think it was slower for most folks due to an early morning beginner group just behind us.

Have been playing this course for a few years now. Just to be Up Front it is one of the least favorite place to play. Seems like your always on the side of the hill except a couple holes. Greens have lost a lot of ground. Play #1 as 2 putt rule for sure. A lot of trouble finding balls just off of the fairway as the rough is soft and the ball sinks deep into it. I know stay in the fairways and you don't have that problem.

Always friendly staff, Nice!

New carts are very nice.

While the fairways and rough are in fantastic shape, the tee boxes were butchered and need to filled in and moved more frequently. The greens were also in poor shape. Too many rough spots and divots are horrendous. At times it appeared that the greens were too wet as they appeared to be over watered.

Was a very humid/hot day, but the course was open and conditions were great!

Golf course was in excellent shape. Friendly golf staff. With a state resort many people are on vacation so they tend to play. The 2 groups in front of mine were not real skilled but tried to move along best they could. Will definitely go back and play again

Truly enjoyed the round. Thought weather might be a problem, it rained all morning,but the course was in great shape. 90 degree with the carts made for a great round. We will definately be bad soon.

I didn't realize the Ryder Cup was this weekend, but that's what I discovered as I made the turn at this Kentucky State Park Course. There were 3-4 foursomes who decided to form 2 large groups and play the back nine together! We waited on 10 tee for 10 minutes before driving up to see why there were so many people, only to find carts with stereos and Ryder Cup flags draped from their carts. Went to 11 tee and found a second group there with the same situation. That was the end of my day. I did speak to the clubhouse guy and he offered a rain check, but the course is 2 hours from home, so that wouldn't have done any good. Was nice of him to apologize and offer to help, he genuinely felt bad.

As for the course, it was ok. I've played a number of the Kentucky State Park courses and this one doesn't really measure up. Quite a few blind shots, shots to extremely elevated greens (9 especially), and heavily sloped fairways so flat lies are less common than normal. I did not care for the greens, as they were extremely shaggy and did not putt well, especially compared to the new ones at Mineral Mound. It was scenic, and on a beautiful fall day the nine holes we played were enjoyable enough. No idea, though, if the Euros retained The Cup.

It is late In the season, so the course had some wear and tear.. weather related problems,. Some areas too wet others loss of grass. But overall it us a very nice course/ challenging . Carts were very nice as was staff in club house. Would golf here again

Great value for the price. Course is in the best condition I've ever seen it and I've been playing it for over ten years. The club pro, Tommy, is awesome and very accommodating. The back nine requires precision with many holes you should keep the driver in the bag. Would highly recommend giving the course a try.

I've always loved playing this course..my only complaint is that the bunkers aren't in very good shape on most holes, good size rocks in them and they are very hard as in packed. Greens are excellent!