Bowling Green, Kentucky
Opened: 2006
Evolutionary direction on-going with JDR
Description
The story of how this project came to be is too long to share, but let’s just say that my Great Uncle Bob was involved (God rest his soul), so was my wedding and then the unexpected coincidence of a high school friend of my Dad’s! What materialized is an amazing story that would evolve into the realization of a dream. Client Jim Scott’s directives were to convert 500 stunning acres of rolling, Western Kentucky farmland into the very best golf course in Kentucky.
The Club at Olde Stone would also be the showpiece within a themed, three-neighborhood community development. With such lofty goals from the client, the course was designed to provide a tough test and the very best of playing conditions. His vision was to be the best and to attract the best; including tournaments and prestige.
Local golf hero and PGA Tour player, Kenny Perry was inspired to call Olde Stone his home course. Today, the members are treated with newly converted zoysia fairways, and perfect bentgrass greens. The practice area is one of the best found anywhere, and has ignited a wave of youth participation as well as being a home for esteemed golf instructor, Matt Killen.
Olde Stone also marked the beginning of a long, rewarding relationship with Curtis James - their first course superintendent. We hired Curtis away from Merion Golf Club (with prior stops at Winged Foot and Bel Air, to name a few). Curtis moved on to Chicago where he is now the head man at Old Elm Club - a storied men's only club with an original Harry Colt designed course. In 2010, I starting working with Curtis to restore the course - one of the most impacting course restorations to take place in the US.
Pedigree
AJGA Houchens Junior Open – 2006
2007 Golf Digest Best New Private Courses, #8
AJGA Houchens Junior Open – 2007
Kentucky Senior Open – 2007
2008 Golfweek’s, Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #33
PGA Junior Ryder Cup – 2008
2009 Golfweek’s, Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #34
Kentucky Open – 2009
NCAA Division I Regional Championship – 2009
2010 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Modern Courses, #87
2010 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #32
2011 Golfweek's Top 100 Best Modern Courses, Next 100, #138
2011 Golfweek's Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #31
United States Senior Challenge – 2011
2012 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Modern Courses, Next 100, #139
2012 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #42
NCAA Division I Regional Championship – 2012
2013 Golfweek's Top 100 Best Modern Courses, Next 100, #137
2013 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #42
Kentucky Open – 2013
2014 Golfweek's Top 100 Best: Residential Courses, #59
Kentucky Senior Open – 2014
2015 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Modern Courses, Next 100, #181
2015 Golfweek's Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #64
Southern Junior Amateur – 2015
2016 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Residential Courses, #61
2016 Golfweek’s Top 100 Best Modern Courses, Next 100, #187
LINKS Premier Properties - World's Best Golf Communities - Eastern US, 2018
Southern Amateur - 2018
2022 USGA Girls Amateur
Course Website
Course photography courtesy of Russell Kirk
"When we started planning Olde Stone, my goal was for the course to be recognized as the best in the state of Kentucky. While I had the goal, it was Drew's vision and expertise that ultimately helped us to our spot at the top. We worked closely together on the details, step by step and Drew orchestrated the artistry. His positive demeanor, teamwork and inspiration kept us all on target and set the standards for how we present the course today. Not only are we the best course in the state, we are one of the best venues for golf in the entire country."
- Mr. Jim Scott, owner The Club at Olde Stone
2.jpg "The Club at Olde Stone")
