The Backstory
Most golfers who have followed the PGA TOUR are familiar with the name Kenny Perry. After all, he’s won more than 20 professional tournaments on the PGA and PGA Champions Tours. They may not be aware of a golf course that Kenny designed and built; he still owns it to this day. I’m talking about Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course in his hometown of Franklin, KY.
Perry grew up at Franklin Country Club; his family lived on the golf course. While it was great to have easy access to the course, it frustrated Kenny that it was a private club, which prevented him from inviting friends that weren’t members. He vowed that if he ever made it as a professional golfer, he would build a public golf course in Franklin, KY, where everyone would be welcome.
Kenny spent his high school years golfing at Paxton Park in Paducah, KY, a local municipal course he loved. When building Country Creek, his goal was to create a course like Paxton Park in Franklin, KY. Perry designed a friendly, enjoyable course that the average golfer could play in a reasonable amount of time.
The golf course began in 1992 and officially opened for play in 1995. Country Creek is built on 300 acres of rolling Kentucky hillside in Franklin, KY. Fairways and greens are vibrant green, lush, and healthy. As Perry says, “There are some tough holes, some drivable holes, and some easy holes. The golf course won’t beat you up; at least it’s not designed to.” Because it is designed for high handicappers in the 15 – 30 range, there is very little trouble on the right side of most holes, making it very slicer friendly. He accomplished his goal of making the course affordable and accessible to everyone with a weekend rate of only $42.00 and an average 18-hole play time of 4 hours and 15 minutes.
Country Creek offers golfers three sets of tees. From the Blue Tees, Country Creek plays 6,633 yards with a course rating of 71.3 and a slope of 122. The White Tees play 5,870 yards (67.8/116), and the Red Tees play 4,901 yards (67.7/113). No matter your talent level, you’re sure to find yardage that will make your round enjoyable.
Course Highlights
Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Couse has several memorable holes. If I were naming holes, Number 2 would be called “Deception.” It’s a short, 294-yard par 4. The thing about this hole is that the fairway slopes to the right, and there are several trees in the landing area that tend to keep golf balls. Keep your ball in play off the tee, and you’ll be looking at a short pitch shot into a well-elevated green. There are only a few bunkers on the course, and two guard the right side of this green!
Number 7 is a short, 470-yard par five dogleg left. Most amateur golfers will be best suited to play their tee shot down the right side of the fairway. That will leave a downhill approach shot with a long to mid-iron into a green that slopes front to back. There is a lake behind the green so going long is not an option. From the White Tees, the hole is short and will give up low numbers.
Course knowledge is everything. When I finally caught up with Kenny Perry, he was heading to the 7th tee. To the left of the fairway are a lot of large trees and a barn that has been there since before he bought the property. For most players, your tee shot is a blind shot – unless you’re the guy who built the course and knew where to hit it. Perry took a line directly over the barn and the trees, and after he hit it, he knew it was somewhere up around the green. It was a line that the average golfer wouldn’t consider – let alone try and pull off!
The par three 8th hole plays 199 yards from the Blue Tees. From here, there doesn’t seem to be anything between you and the green; it’s just a long tee shot. Move up to the White Tees (137 yards), and the lake in front of the green comes into full view. Regardless of where you play from, hit a good tee shot, and you’ll say, “What water?” The green is shallow, so distance control is essential. Par is a good score here.
Number 10 is a legitimate par 5. This 473-yard (White Tees) dogleg left starts with a tee shot over a ravine, then two more shots straight away to the green. Hit it directly, keep the ball in play, and you can score well.
Number 12 is an exciting tee shot from an elevated tee over a ravine and downhill to a wide-open fairway. From there, it’s a short chip shot to an elevated green.
The finishing hole is a 399-yard par 4, a slight dogleg left. Your tee shot plays downhill, and your approach is slightly uphill into a giant green that slopes back to front. It’s a fitting end to a great day and rated the most challenging hole on the backside.
Planning Your Visit
The Director of Golf Operations, Marty Sharer, is who Perry credited for resurrecting the golf course during some lean times. Sharer also serves on the County’s Tourism board. The Franklin area is primarily known for three things: The Mint Gaming Hall, which also features a horse racing track, the Dueling Grounds Bourbon Distillery, and Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course.
People come from all over to play this golf course, and why not? It’s a lot of fun for the average golfer. According to Sharer, they get a lot of play in the spring from northerners looking to get on a course after being cooped up for the winter without having to drive to Florida. And with gas prices the way they are these days, who can blame them?
Sharer is often asked about the stay and play packages, but unfortunately, they are not aligned with any other courses or hotels at this time. But look for that to change in the future. Sharer’s parents own The Arling, a wedding and event venue next door, and they plan on building a few cottages for their wedding business. Golf packages could help keep them occupied during the week.
The golf course is open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas, weather permitting. Winter golfers are typically Canadians and those from the northern states that drive south just far enough to play golf without making the pilgrimage to Florida. The course is right off Interstate 65, about 45 minutes from downtown Nashville.
For more information on Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course or to book your next round of golf, visit them online at www.kpcountrycreek.com.