Close Menu
Midwest Golf Magazine
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Subscription Program
  • MGM/WCGT Golf Outings
  • News
  • Advertisers
  • Media Kit
    • Distribution
  • Contact
    • About
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Latest News
  • Muttontown Club – A Special Place in New York Golf’s History
  • DON’T LOOK DOWN – ANNOUNCING CLIFFHANGERS, THE MOST DRAMATIC PAR-3 GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD TO OPEN JULY 4TH AT BIG CEDAR LODGE
  • AJGA’s ROLEX GIRLS JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TEES OFF JUNE 17-19TH AT SENTRYWORLD
  • Watertown Country Club Begins Exciting New Chapter Under New Ownership
  • SuperStroke’s Groundbreaking REVL Line of Golf Club Grips Debuts
  • The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida– 54 Holes of Golf and a Lifetime of “Wow!”
  • From Small Town Roots to National Stage: PGA of America Vice President Nathan Charnes and Rules Chair Dave McAtee Thrive
  • The Sagamore Club in Indiana – Country Club Living on a Course That Jack Built
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Midwest Golf Magazine
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Subscription Program
  • MGM/WCGT Golf Outings
  • News
  • Advertisers
  • Media Kit
    • Distribution
  • Contact
    • About
Midwest Golf Magazine
You are at:Home»Travel Articles»Raven Rock Golf Club in Eastern Kentucky– A Fun Golf Course with Breathtaking Views
Travel Articles

Raven Rock Golf Club in Eastern Kentucky– A Fun Golf Course with Breathtaking Views

David TheoretBy David TheoretOctober 26, 2023Updated:October 26, 2023No Comments5 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Raven Rock Golf Club is arguably Eastern Kentucky’s most breathtaking championship golf course. It’s part of a remarkable strip mine reclamation project that encompasses over 2,000 acres. The course was originally built by Jack Fykes for TECO Coal in 1995 as a 9-hole layout and 8 years later was expanded to 18 holes. It’s a stunning combination of Mother Nature’s handiwork and manmade features all blended together to create a golf course that will thrill and entertain golfers of all abilities.

The golf course plays around a very large quarry and has wide fairways lined with prairie grasses that lead to well-manicured greens and give the course an open, links-like feel. This once-scarred property has become a model of sustained development that will last for generations to come. Compared to other courses in the area, the greens are very small and therefore don’t need a lot of protection. You can almost count the total number of bunkers on both hands; there are maybe ten sand traps on the entire course and a few of them are fairway bunkers.

Even though the course is short by today’s standards, don’t let that fool you. From the back (Black) tees, the course plays 6,160 yards with a rating of 69.8 and a slope of 131, which translates to a good test of golf. Members typically play from the Whites Tees (5545/67.3/118), while most ladies enjoy the Red Tees (4546/65.7/117). Pick the set that best suits your game and you’re sure to have a great time.

Your round starts with a par 3; one of three on the front nine. Number 1 plays slightly downhill, about 150 yards from the White Tees. It’s virtually all carry over thick ugly rough into a small green that slopes back to front. Hit a good tee shot and get your round off to a great start!

Number 2 is a dogleg right, par 4 that plays 363 yards from the Blue Tees. Tee off from an elevated tee box over a ravine to a fairway with native rough and woods on the right. From the tee, the pine tree on the left side is a good aiming point. Trying to cut the dogleg can land you in one of the two fairway bunkers at the corner. Your approach shot is going to play uphill into a green with a lot of mounding around

Number 5 is the second par 3 on the front nine and confirms the fact that a golf hole doesn’t have to be long to be a challenge! From the Black Tees, the hole plays a mere 127 yards, however, a small grove of trees creates a blind tee shot for right-hand pin placements. The small green is almost an island and leaves little room for error.

Number 6 is a risk-reward par 4 that plays 301 yards from the White Tees, but that’s if you make it a dogleg right, and hit the ball out to the fairway on the left. Longball hitters can take a shot at the green and the 240-yard carry over the quarry. Either way, you’re playing into a small green protected with a bunker back left.

The 14th hole may well be the prettiest hole on the golf course. Playing 394 yards from the White Tees, this dogleg left, par 4 requires something less than a driver off the tee. Play your tee shot no more than 195 yards into a landlocked “island” fairway. Anything longer than that and you’re not likely to find it. A good tee shot will leave a long, downhill approach shot over a ravine into a small, elevated green that slopes left to right. Miss the green and you’ll need a good short game to salvage par!

From the back two sets of tees, “blind shot” does not begin to describe your tee shot on Number 15. You tee off high above the tree line, over a small forest, and need at least 200 yards of carry. Successfully finding the fairway off the tee will leave a short iron into an elevated green.

On June 4th, 2023, a week before my arrival, tragedy struck one of Eastern Kentucky’s most scenic and challenging public golf courses when the Raven Rock clubhouse burned to the ground. They lost everything including the restaurant which was known to draw a lot of non-golfers, and the entire contents of the pro shop. Luckily, the golf carts were stored in a separate building.

To their credit, Golf Operations Manager Todd Combs and his staff never missed a beat. They worked out of a makeshift pro shop set up in a gazebo and within 72 hours, had golfers out on the course. A large golf tournament that was scheduled for the following weekend went off without a hitch – other than dinner which was catered. Raven Rock is currently working out of a temporary pro shop and other than no food service, it’s business as usual. Plans are to start the construction of a new clubhouse in the spring of 2024.

Raven Rock Golf Course is the perfect choice for a round of golf or as a new destination for you and your golf buddies when visiting the Jenkins, KY area. Todd Combs and his staff can offer tips and tricks for playing your best round on this scenic and challenging golf course. To book your next round at Raven Rock, give them a call at (606) 219-4499 or visit them online at www.ravenrockgolfcourse.com.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
David Theoret
  • Website

The Golfin’ Guy aka David (or Dave, but never Davey) Theoret grew up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, where it was naturally assumed he would play hockey. Beginning at the age of 3 and continuing into his late 30's, he did just that. However, after one too many pucks to the head, he realized that golf was a lot easier on the body and took the game up. Whoever said hockey players were slow? Since that time, golf has become his passion – just ask Belinda. From 2003 until 2009, David ran the sales and marketing department of TravelGolf Media and took his team to over $1M in annual advertising revenue. While at TravelGolf, an editor told him he had a flair for writing and the lightbulb came on. He started writing articles about anything golf related: courses, destinations, resorts, shoes, apparel, equipment and training aids and sending them to websites and magazines. At first, his articles were picked up by a few golf websites and magazines, but the number steadily grew – enough that he could call it a career. Most days he’s on a course somewhere, either working or playing. Actually, to him playing IS work. Occasionally you’ll find him on the practice range reinforcing bad habits. David plays to a 12 handicap - unless there is money involved in which case it goes considerably higher. He currently resides in Lakeland, FL with his wife Belinda and their two "kids", Louie and Molly.

Related Posts

Muttontown Club – A Special Place in New York Golf’s History

The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida– 54 Holes of Golf and a Lifetime of “Wow!”

The Summit Club at Armonk in New York – The Future Looks Bright

Comments are closed.

Current Issue
Online Issue
Receive Special Golf Offers By Email

Web Sponsor
Follow
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Subscription Program Courses

Subscribe to Midwest Golfing Magazine for only $50 and receive free rounds of golf. Cart not included with the free rounds and must be purchased. View Details >> banner banner MajesticOaks-Blue banner banner Platteville banner trappersturn Whispering Springs northernbay oldhickory northbrook banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner

Follow Us
Midwest Golfing Magazine
Mission

Covering golf in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Copyright © Royle Publications - Greater Milwaukee Golf Show || Greater Madison Golf Show

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.