
Idle Hour Course
Idle Hour Country Club


About this course
Idle Hour Country Club sits in Lexington, Kentucky, where its Donald Ross-designed course opened in the 1920s during the architect's most prolific period. Ross routed the layout across rolling Bluegrass terrain characteristic of the region, incorporating natural elevation changes and strategic bunkering that define his design philosophy. The course reflects Ross's emphasis on ground game options, crowned greens with subtle contours, and thoughtful placement of hazards that reward accurate approach play over sheer distance. Bob Lohmann later contributed restoration and renovation work to the course, addressing changes that had accumulated over decades while working to preserve Ross's original design intent. This type of architectural stewardship has become common at classic Ross courses, as clubs seek to reclaim strategic elements and green complexes that may have been altered or lost through routine maintenance practices and evolving turf management standards. The club occupies a traditional place in Lexington's social and sporting landscape, serving a membership drawn from the city's established families and professional community. The Bluegrass region's horse country setting provides a distinctive backdrop, with the pastoral character of central Kentucky visible throughout the property. The course operates as a private facility where members balance golf with the club's broader social calendar and dining traditions typical of established country clubs in mid-sized American cities.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in KY
Quick facts
- Location
- Lexington, KY, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1924
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Donald Ross, Bob Lohmann
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 7,011 yards
- Difficulty
- 76.8/137
- Course Vaults score
- 8.7
Getting there
The journey to Idle Hour Country Club begins at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, a compact and efficient gateway that places you within fifteen minutes of the club's storied grounds. The drive south traces the gentle undulations of the Bluegrass region, where white-fenced horse farms and rolling pastures frame the roadway in a tableau of Kentucky pastoral elegance. As you approach the club, the landscape softens into mature hardwoods and manicured fairways, the transition from thoroughbred country to one of Lexington's most distinguished private sanctuaries feeling less like a departure than a natural extension of the region's quiet refinement.

FAQ
Common questions about Idle Hour
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Idle Hour has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 21 logged golfers.
Idle Hour was designed by Donald Ross and Bob Lohmann.
Idle Hour is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Idle Hour is 71.
Idle Hour plays 7,011 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Idle Hour is 137.



