Andy Lyons
Overview
The Champion Trace course at Keene Trace has ranked inside the top five in Kentucky in most of our rankings since the Arthur Hills course opened in the late 1980s. Routed on the rolling hills you'd expect on the site of a former horse farm, Champion Trace hosted the 1993 NCAA Championship and the 1994 U.S. Senior Amateur—and after new ownership took over the property in 2015, the course underwent some significant improvements ahead of hosting the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship for the first time in 2018.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked fourth, 2021-'22. Ranked fifth, 2011-'12, 2015-'16, 2019-'20, 2023-'24. Ranked inside the top 5, 1989-2010. Ranked sixth, 2013-'14. Ranked eighth, 2017-'18.
2023-'24 ranking: 5th.
Previous ranking: 4th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“This is a very nice course in the rolling hills of Kentucky. It has a nice variety of holes with woods and lakes used strategically in the hole routing. The finishing holes on each nine are challenging due to their length and water that comes into play."
Read More2022
Review
“Long and interesting. A mixture of horse country and nice houses. Some water and bunkers with good greens. It's a PGA Tour stop now so that adds extra interest."
Read More2019
Review
“Great layout. One of Arthur Hills' best designs, especially the green complexes."
Read More2018
Review
“This course has been up and down over the years with some financial problems, but I believe it is one of the better course designs in Kentucky. Just on the outskirts of Lexington in a growing community, Champions is going to be featured this year on the PGA tour in an opposite field event to the British Open. The course has bent grass fairways and greens that are now in great condition. The practice area is very good and the bar is just a great place to hang out. Their are some notable holes on the course that feature water carries that are long. The holes near the clubhouse have a lake that is featured on all the holes. The par three over the water with a brick retaining wall is spectacular with no place to bail out. You need to hit quality shots on this course to score. It is a great place to play golf."
Read More2018
Readers
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