Grayson Lake State Park Golf Course

Hidden Cove Golf Course at Grayson Lake State Park, a Brian Ault 2003 design (despite some older references crediting Pete Dye, the course is an Ault original) carved into the rolling Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky, overlooking Grayson Lake. DB fields for designer and year are stale, the verified record is Ault, 2003. The 7,155-yard par-72 layout earned immediate recognition: Golf Digest ranked it #4 on its 'Best New Affordable Public Courses' in 2004, and it climbed to #6 in Kentucky's state rankings by 2006. The #1 handicap hole is the par-4 8th, 394 yards playing nearly entirely uphill, a gut-check that establishes early whether you'll keep your number on this side of the ridge. A top public pick on the Kentucky State Parks Trail and a smart addition to any Ohio Valley golf itinerary. State-park green fees for the caliber, hard to find better value in the Appalachians.