
Hickory Sticks Course
Hickory Sticks Golf Club


About this course
Hickory Sticks Golf Club sits in the rolling countryside of northern Kentucky, near the small community of California in Campbell County, roughly midway between Cincinnati and the Kentucky River valley. The course occupies terrain characteristic of this part of the Bluegrass region, where gentle hills and natural drainage corridors create varied elevation changes and strategic routing opportunities. The layout takes advantage of the area's native hardwood stands and open pastureland, offering a mix of tree-lined corridors and more exposed holes across higher ground. The course serves primarily as a daily-fee facility for golfers in the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area and northern Kentucky communities. Its design reflects the practical considerations of regional golf course development from its era, balancing playability for a range of skill levels with enough length and challenge to engage better players. The routing incorporates several risk-reward opportunities where elevation changes and natural features influence club selection and shot strategy. Hickory Sticks operates within the competitive landscape of northern Kentucky golf, where numerous courses serve the region's recreational players and local league competitions. The facility includes standard practice amenities and a clubhouse that supports everyday play and casual outings. The course remains a straightforward option for golfers seeking accessible golf in Campbell County, without the formality or membership requirements of private clubs in the area.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in KY
Quick facts
- Location
- California, KY, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1998
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,148 yards
- Difficulty
- 69.8/131
- Course Vaults score
- 5.1
Getting there
The journey to Hickory Sticks Golf Club begins at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, a comfortable forty-minute drive northwest into the gently rolling Bluegrass countryside. The route traces northward through Campbell County, where suburban sprawl gradually yields to pastoral horse farms and wooded ridgelines characteristic of northern Kentucky's quieter corners. As you approach California - a small crossroads community that predates its western namesake by decades - the landscape grows more intimate, the roads narrower, until you arrive at this discreet daily-fee layout tucked into the hills where Kentucky, Ohio, and the river valleys converge.

FAQ
Common questions about Hickory Sticks
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Hickory Sticks has a Course Vaults score of 5.1 out of 10 based on 19 logged golfers.
Yes. Hickory Sticks is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Hickory Sticks is 71.
Hickory Sticks plays 6,148 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Hickory Sticks is 131.
Hickory Sticks is a 18-hole course.



