Friday

Hickory Woods (click here for maps)
1240 Hickory Woods Drive
Loveland, Ohio 45140
Architect: Dennis Acomb
Year Opened: 1984
Par 70
Yardage/Rating/Slope:

Blue: 6,105/69/122
White: 5,790/67.5/118
Red: 5,115/69.4/113

This is a fun public course with rolling hills on the front nine and tree lined fairways and creeks on the back nine. The yardage looks benign but with six par threes the course is long enough for everyone. It is very walker friendly though the back nine is pretty hilly.

O'Bannon Creek Golf Club (click here for maps)
6842 State Route 48
Loveland, Ohio 45140
513-683-9100
Architect: Dennis Acomb
Year Opened: 1976
Par 70
Yardage/Rating/Slope:

Blue: 6,519/71.5/125
White: 6,026/69.3/120
Red: 5,460/70.7/120

I like to describe the course as six holes of pain followed by twelve holes of challenging golf. Don't let that assessment scare you away, though. This is an excellent course that is always in great shape. Some local knowledge is important but enough people in the outing will have played it before so that should not be a problem. O'Bannon hosted the 2005 Ohio Senior Classic.

Saturday

Lassing Pointe (click here for maps)
2266 Double Eagle Drive
Union, Kentucky 41091
Architect: Mike Hurdzan
859-384-2266
Year Opened: 1994
Par 71
Yardage/Rating/Slope:

Gold: 6,724/71.7/133
Black: 6,256/ 69/129 (tees used for the tournament)
White: 5,784/66.8/125
Gray: 5,153/63.9/119

Lassing Pointe is consistently rated as one of the top courses in the entire state of Kentucky. It is an easily walkable parkland design. The course is not near any housing developments and a few holes run along some horse pastures so be sure to bring along an apple or two. The greens are quite large including the 18th green that is 100 yards from front to back.

Sunday

The Willows (click here for maps)
3908 Richardson Road
Independence, Kentucky 41051
859-371-3200
Par 72
Yardage/Rating/Slope:

Blue: 6,697/72.6/137
White: 6,363/71.1/134
Red: 5,487/67.1/126

The Willows is a public course operated by Kenton County, Kentucky. The front nine is fairly innocuous and an easy walk. The back nine, however, is a full 325 yards longer and plays much longer than that with some severe hills. It is certainly walkable but considering the typical heat you may want to grab a cart for the back nine.