Nicholasville, Kentucky
Champion Trace is widely respected as one of Kentucky’s very best—an Arthur Hills design with state-leading stature, pivotal water features, and a tournament-tested pedigree. It delivers a serious, rhythmic challenge where shot placement is king and every approach requires nerve. If you want Bluegrass golf at its highest level, this is the apex.
Course opens on former horse farm designed by Arthur Hills.
Hosts NCAA Men’s Golf Championship.
Site of U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
New ownership group begins significant course improvements.
First PGA Tour Barbasol Championship held at Champion Trace.
Second consecutive PGA Tour Barbasol Championship.
The land on which Champion Trace sits was once a working Kentucky horse farm—a heritage that’s still felt in its sweeping corridors and rolling meadows. Arthur Hills’s vision turned that storied ground into a rhythmic, strategic routing where nature—and danger—are always close at hand.
Hosting the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship reasserted Champion Trace’s place at the top of Kentucky golf. Players faced the pressure of taut fairways and championship conditions, with water and wind shaping the closing drama on nearly every hole.
Club lore says Arthur Hills set out to deliver '18 masterpieces' cut through Bluegrass fields. The result is a pulse-raising test of target golf with each hole offering a memorable strategic twist.
Champion Trace is pure Bluegrass championship—an Arthur Hills parkland defined by strategic doglegs, water hazards, and a routing that translates the feel of a former horse farm into a rhythmic, well-paced golf experience. The design demands accuracy off the tee, as fairways are traced by water and mature trees and approach shots test your understanding of slopes and collection areas. Its blend of forgiving visuals and hidden severity makes it a true test for elite and everyday golfers alike.
Arthur Hills’s signature is present in the course’s strategic angles and ability to demand both boldness and precision; post-2015 refinements by Drew Rogers and Keith Foster subtly sharpened the championship edge.
Mid-long par 4 where the fairway slopes right-to-left, demanding placement off the tee. The approach, often 140–150 yards uphill, is to a green tight from surrounding collection areas and steeply sloped back-right to front-left.
Favor the right side with your drive for a better angle; precision off the tee is more important than distance.
A poor tee shot leaves a sidehill stance and a treacherous uphill approach to a green where misses are punished by slopes.
Tournament standard—bentgrass greens, well-groomed fairways, slick runoffs, and consistently firm setups.
Moderate pace—challenging layouts and tournament prep can slow rounds, especially with heavy play.
Private, championship aura—serious golf with a local’s touch, but always polished.
Bookable, quality daily-fee golf and a strong regional test just minutes from Keene Trace.
Scottish-inspired Lexington muni with tournament pedigree and easy access.
Welcoming daily-fee play with a different flavor—ideal for rounding out your Bluegrass trip.
South Lexington or Nicholasville for minimal drive time and easy access to Champion Trace plus area dining.
Practice finding fairways with your favorite placement club—driver is not always required, but accuracy is a must.
Expect chip and pitch shots from tight collection areas—dedicate a session to low, running strokes.
Mentally prepare for swirling breezes, especially on holes near the lake; factor in extra club and conservative lines.
Brush up on reading subtle slopes—Champion Trace’s greens are understated but can be lightning fast and deceptively tricky.
Champion Trace is built on the site of a working Kentucky horse farm.
Arthur Hills described the routing as creating ‘18 masterpieces’.
Hosted the return of the PGA Tour to Kentucky with the Barbasol Championship in 2018.
Named consistently within Kentucky’s top three since opening.
Water hazards guard four of the most critical holes—your scorecard may depend on them.
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