Union, Kentucky
Triple Crown Country Club brings championship-caliber golf to rolling Northern Kentucky, defined by demanding tee shots, subtle bentgrass surfaces, and high-stakes risk-reward holes. Routinely ranked among Kentucky's best and notorious for its punishing finish, this Gene Bates design is where club champions and aspiring pros go to test their nerve.
Course opens as centerpiece of new horse-racing-themed community
Hosts Kentucky Open; J.B. Holmes wins
Hosts Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Open, Kentucky Amateur, Steve Flesch Pro-Am
30th anniversary; hosts Kentucky Open again
Course refinements by Steve Flesch; bunker and drainage adjustments
Community expands with additional neighborhoods and amenities
In 2003, future PGA Tour power-hitter J.B. Holmes roared to victory at Triple Crown, launching his pro legend on one of Kentucky's toughest layouts. Holmes’ bold play on the demanding final stretch became local lore for conquering this championship test.
Tour winner Steve Flesch’s fingerprints are all over Triple Crown. As a local champion, he’s led ongoing course tweaks—moving bunkers, tightening angles, and fine-tuning drainage—to keep the course sharply competitive for every major event.
Entrepreneur Don Poynter’s vision fused the spirit of thoroughbred racing with championship golf to create Triple Crown, turning a swath of Boone County into one of Kentucky’s most prestigious communities. The horse-racing lore still lives on every tee box and street sign.
Ask local pros and they’ll warn you: the closing holes at Triple Crown are a true gauntlet, with narrow corridors, water hazards, and shallow greens demanding heady shot selection. Survivors of the back nine earn serious bragging rights.
Triple Crown Country Club is a purebred Gene Bates test: brawny, strategic, and sharply conditioned. Routed over rolling Kentucky hills and laced through an upscale horse-racing-themed residential community, the course punishes careless drives and rewards decisive shotmaking. You’ll face narrow, tree-lined corridors, water on ten holes, and bending doglegs—especially right-to-left—and be challenged by predominantly shallow, subtle bentgrass greens that demand perfect distance control. Frequent tweaks, including adjustments by Steve Flesch, keep hazards relevant for the modern player and the setup fresh for major regional events.
Gene Bates, known for championship-caliber layouts and refined routing, crafted Triple Crown as a true test for elite and club golfers alike.
Nicklaus-credited; Bates played key VP design role
Assisted Nicklaus as VP of Design
Solo Bates regional design
Public, regional Gene Bates work
This par-5 signature hole doglegs through mature trees before tempting the bold with an approach to an island green guarded front and back by water. Heroic players may go for the green in two, but the reward is perched on a razor's edge.
Position yourself with a straight tee shot, then decide: lay up safely or attack the island green with a precise long iron.
A mistimed approach leaves you wet—more double bogeys than eagles are made here.
Pure bentgrass surfaces, well-maintained fairways, firm running but receptive greens.
Steady private-club standard; generally unhurried but not sluggish.
Upmarket family country club with championship tradition and a dash of horse-racing flair.
Collared shirts and tailored shorts/pants; no denim or gym attire; soft spikes required.
Affordable 27-hole local favorite just minutes away
Widely regarded as the best public option in Northern Kentucky
Classic muni with great city views, Gene Bates connection
Another top-tier private in the area with championship credentials
Downtown Cincinnati or Florence, KY for access to golf, dining, and the region’s horse-racing legacy.
Water threats and narrow fairways mean you’ll lose a few if you press—bring more than usual.
Work the right-to-left shot; the routing rewards it and keeps you out of trouble on several pivotal holes.
Shallow, flat greens demand dialed distances on approaches and sharp touch for tricky up-and-downs.
Get a feel for firmness and pace early; subtle reads are worth their weight in pars.
Back-to-back host of the Kentucky Open—J.B. Holmes won here before turning pro.
Water hazards factor in on ten separate holes, including a dramatic island-green par 5.
Every neighborhood and street pays homage to the legacy of Triple Crown-winning racehorses.
Renowned PGA Tour pro Steve Flesch lives nearby and regularly shapes the course setup.
It's been awarded 'Most Difficult Course in Greater Cincinnati' by local press.
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