We started the Big Blue Tuesday afternoon, but a nasty thunderstorm chased us away until the following morning. The Big Blue course was designed by the property's original owner, but was renovated by Arthur Hills when it became the University Club. He redid all of the greens and bunkering, but reportedly did not alter the routing. The tees are 7013, 6505, 6059, and 5596. Here are some highlights...
*The first few pics were taken on Tuesday afternoon w/ an approaching Tstorm so they aren't the best quality...
from L to R - Yours Truly, my dad, and my brother
Hole 1 (par 4 419 from the tips)Nondescript slightly downhill par 4.
the approach to a green with a back half that runs away
Hole 3 (par 3 206) You can't tell from the pic, but there is a slope short right of the green that feeds your ball on nicely
Hole 5 (par 5 481) Short par 5 with a difficult green and surround. There is a really effective illusion bunker short right that messed with our minds a little while going for green in two.
Hole 6 (par 4 410)One of the best 4s on the course with a rolling fairway and interesting green setting.
You can risk flirting with the deep bunker left, or use the pronounced right to left slope to feed the ball into the green
Hole 7 (par 5 524) A down then up par 5. The tee shot plays downhill to a wide fairway surrounded by trouble...
Going for the green in two, the shot plays considerably longer than the yardage due to the uphill nature. Bunkering requires precision on a lay up as well.
Hole 8 (par 3 179)An island green par 3. This green is probably the smallest island green I've played and the yardage is longer than most island green holes. However it is about 1 club downhill. As you can see in this pic, the Univesity Club does a good job incorporating texture in the course with their fescues.
Hole 9 (par 4 326) Very short par 4 driveable for some. Awkward as you can't see much fairway for your layup and if you're attempting to drive the green, all you see is rough and bunkers.
uphill approach to the green
Hole 10 (par 4 386)Hit your tee shot into the uphill slope. This green had more slope than most on the course and a litte false front.
Hole 11 (par 4 407) This hole really struck me as the epitome of the Kentucky golf aesthetic. It has an open feel with a horse farm style picket fence running up the left hand boundary.
Hole 12 (par 3 194) Beautiful setting. Tee shot all carry over water to a large green.
shot from behind the green
Hole 13 (par 5 548) Dogleg left par 5 with thick woods on the left and a long bunker complex running down the right side for the last 100 yards or so.
Hole 14 (par 4 370) Here is the start of a difficult section of the course. I feel water is used too much in this stretch, but it definitely increases the difficulty. This hole is a layup tee shot w/ an approach to a green with water in front and behind.
approach with water everywhere
Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of 15 which is the most difficult on the course. A long par 4 with a narrow drive, junk right and water left, leaving an uphill approach to a green guarded by deep bunkers.
Hole 16 (par 5 565) This long par 5 swings dramatically to the right around the slope containing a very large bunker complex. The green you see in the distance is not the 16th, but rather the 14th. 16 green sits well to the right and out of sight.
Wedge to green over more water
The Big Blue course was in excellent shape especially when you consider all of the recent rain. They had heavy Tstorms the day before, but only the lowest of spots on the course were damp. The greens were not the most imaginative, but there were several interesting green surrounds. This is the course that the UK golf teams use has their home turf, and I imagine it presents a pretty good test although it is not overly long. Paired with the Wildcat course this is an enjoyable facility. It has an excellent low key grill room and clubhouse, and good practice facilities. Again, the Wildcat is public, but the Big Blue is private. We played both for a flat fee of $100 which I think they're open to doing as long as the tee sheet allows.