The Club at Olde Stone

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

www.olde-stone.com

 

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

Overall Development Plan

Golfdom Article Club & Resort Business Article

The Club at Olde Stone

Hole #15 & #17

Hole #18

Hole #6

Hole #12

Hole #15