Using editorial discretion, I am referring to the course in this post as Rising Star rather than its full name – “The Links at Rising Star Casino.” The course deserves better.
Along the Ohio river between Kentucky and Indiana, there are a several casinos in Indiana that have golf courses as amenities. Anyone in the Louisville area that wants to play higher quality public access courses has their choice of Chariot Run (Bill Bergin), French Lick (Ross & Dye courses), Belterra (Fazio), and Rising Star (Tim Liddy). Of these, few venture the 1:15 to Rising Star. Until a few years ago, I wasn’t even aware that there was a course there.
A played there with a couple of friends last week. For the most part, the course was in pretty good condition considering the casino revenue tap has been shut for two months. The one exception was with the bunkering. No real playability issues, but you’ll see there are grasses growing in the bunkers in spots and some need more sand. Fully understandable given the financial challenges of operating a course in a town of about 2,500 without the normal visitor revenue. The aerial photos will give a better idea of what the bunkering normally looks like.
From the back tees, the course is 6,752 yards, par 70. We played one set up to a yardage of 6,349. My friends could have easily managed the longer course, but some of the second shots faced were much more fun with shorter clubs in.
Rising Star is very much a second shot course. Liddy did a good job of providing interest on the tee shots, but the need to approach from a certain place isn’t evident from tee. It’s a tougher driving course once you know what to expect from the approaches.
HOLE 1
Par 4, 395 yards
rs 1 and 2 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
The first and second holes parallel each other. From the tee, the large waste bunker is not visible. The player also does not appreciate the need to approach the narrow green from the left side of the fairway. Missing left or right makes for a difficult recovery.
IMG_7107 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7108 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 2
Par 4, 385 yards
The tee shot on 2 requires a bit of a diagonal carry across the waste bunker. Some of the deferred maintenance is obvious from the tee. Thanks to a ridge than runs across the green at a bit of a diagonal, it’s better approached from the right part of the fairway. Cleverly, the tee shot looks harder on that line.
IMG_7109 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7111 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 3
Par 4, 440 yards
rs 3 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
Not a hole anyone would immediately love. The first fairway bunker is about 230 from the tee, so a longer tee shot must either carry the edge of the bunker or be threaded between the bunker and water. It’s an imposing tee shot. On the approach, it’s easy to play safe just left of the green for a pitch on. This is also the most receptive angle.
IMG_7112 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7114 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 4
Par 3, 158 yards
rs 4 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
This green is 40 yards deep but only about 15 wide and is subtly angled to the left from the tee. Hard target to hit.
IMG_7115 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 5
Par 4, 312 yards
rs 5 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
This all-star hole is a great example of why short par 4s are the most fun. Those playing from all the way back would have a 424 yard hole instead of this wildly entertaining one. The fairway is split a pair of centerline bunkers. It’s about 230 yards to the bunkers, and 270 to carry them. There’s more width to play left of the bunkers, but it’s probably an easier hole to be further back if you’re not in line with the green. The green is two tiered and slightly hour-glassed shaped.
I should note that I had the best approach angle, but my playing companions made the birdies from less desirable spots. We talked a bit about how much fun it is to have recovery options. The hole corridor is about 80 yards wide, but the pitches get more challenging as you stray.
IMG_7116 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7117 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7118 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 6
Par 3, 137 yards
rs 6 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
The 6
th offers a short shot to a wide but shallow green, and the tee is angled slightly to confuse. With significant back to front slope, this green makes for tough recoveries. Reminds one a bit of Augusta’s 12
th, but the water is less of a threat.
IMG_7119 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7120 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 7
Par 4, 375 yards (does not match the card, but more typical tee)
rs 7 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
Before moving to the 7
th tee, I should note that when the casino is open, there is regular ferry service from Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Rabbit Hash is noteworthy for its general store and having elected a dog as its first mayor. Not a bad choice.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/most-unique-town-ky/ The 7
th is a dogleg left with the landing area obscured by a large roll in the fairway. Ideally, an approach would be from near the left side bunker, but that’s a visually imposing line.
IMG_7121 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7122 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 8
Par 4, 421 yards
rs 8 and 9 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
It takes multiple plays to attain any sort of comfort with the tee shot here. The fairway shaping and large bunker on the right provide just enough blindness to confuse, and a tee shot played on the wrong line can easily run through the fairway. Almost all approaches will have to carry the waste bunker to an elevated, diagonal green. Like Dye, Liddy excels in making the player question how to best play a hole.
IMG_7124 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7125 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7126 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
HOLE 9
Par 3, 175 yards
The 9
th plays alongside a water hazard to a kidney shaped green. The mounding around the left bunker helps conceal some of the green surface from the tee.
The first 9 is finished at a par of 33. My playing partners are younger guys and thought that was weird. Then we talked about Elie (16 par 4s) and Town & Country (7 hole run with four par 5s ad two par 3s), so all of a sudden this didn’t seem so unconventional.
IMG_7127 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr
IMG_7128 by
john mayhugh, on Flickr