
General Burnside Island Course
General Burnside Island State Park


About this course
General Burnside Island sits within General Burnside Island State Park on the shores of Lake Cumberland in south-central Kentucky. The course was designed by Brian Ault, a regional architect who has worked on several public and resort layouts in Kentucky and neighboring states. The property occupies a wooded island setting connected to the mainland, where the routing takes advantage of the natural topography shaped by the lake's creation in the mid-twentieth century. The layout moves through rolling, forested terrain typical of the Cumberland Plateau region, with elevation changes that provide variety in stance and shot requirements. Several holes play along or near the lake shoreline, incorporating water views and the occasional forced carry, while interior holes wind through stands of hardwood and pine. The design reflects the practical constraints and opportunities of a state park course, balancing playability for a wide range of visitors with strategic interest for more accomplished players. As a state park facility, General Burnside Island serves both tourists visiting Lake Cumberland and local golfers from the Burnside and Somerset area. The course operates within the broader recreational offerings of the park, which include camping, fishing, and boating access to one of Kentucky's largest reservoirs. The setting provides a wooded, relatively secluded golf experience distinct from the more open farmland courses common elsewhere in the state.
Quick facts
- Location
- Burnside, KY, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1950
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Brian Ault
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,394 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.7/134
- Course Vaults score
- 7.0
Getting there
General Burnside Island State Park is reached via Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, roughly ninety minutes north through rolling Kentucky horse country before the landscape begins its descent toward Lake Cumberland. The drive south on US-27 trades bluegrass pastures for wooded ridges and limestone outcrops, eventually arriving at the shores of one of the South's great man-made reservoirs. The final approach crosses a causeway onto the island itself, a secluded peninsula where the public golf course occupies a quiet corner of Kentucky's state park system, far removed from the resort corridors that line other stretches of the lake.

FAQ
Common questions about General Burnside Island
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
General Burnside Island has a Course Vaults score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 10 logged golfers.
General Burnside Island was designed by Brian Ault.
Yes. General Burnside Island is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at General Burnside Island is 71.
General Burnside Island plays 6,394 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at General Burnside Island is 134.



