Keene Trace Golf Club Membership Cost, Amenities & History

This is a premier golf course located in the heart of Kentucky in Nicholasville.  Nicholasville is in the southern part of Lexington.  It offers golfers a challenging game of 18 holes of golf.  

NameKeene Trace Golf Club
Membership Cost$20,000
Established1987
Location20 Avenue of Champions & 5600 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
Websitehttps://www.keenetracegolf.com/
Phone Number859.224.4653
TypePrivate
Gym FacilitiesYes

Membership Cost

Being a private club, the exact costs to become a member are not published.  There are no verifiable sources online that give out information as to what membership in any private golf club in Kentucky would cost.  Looking at private golf clubs near a small city, the general cost for membership is an initiation fee of around $20,000 with a monthly fee of approximately $500-$1,500.

Some of the benefits of being a member of Keene Trace Golf Club are:

  • 36 holes to play
  • There are no membership assessments, green fees, or cat fees
  • Complimentary locker rental and club storage
  • No minimums for beverages and food.

Keene Trace Golf Club History

The golf course was created in 1987 by the late Arthur Hills.  At this time, Keene Trace Golf Club was the youngest course that the PGA used.  In 2007, they added another course, Keene Run.  Every year in July, the Barbasol Championship is played there.  It is an exciting, fresh-stroke play tournament.

History Of Golf

Keene Trace Golf Club Logo
Keene Trace Golf Club Logo

Keene Run, the second course, has many distinctive features including wide fairways, bucolic agricultural surrounds, and plenty of quality Bentgrass on the greens and fairways.  It runs through a beautiful landscape.  It is a course with holes that can accommodate all levels of play.  The highlight of the course is the 4th hole with a par 3.  It is called The Biarritz.  What makes this 4th hole distinct is the long green is flanked by a deep swale and narrow bunkers.  It is also shorter than most of the others.

The main course at Keene Trace Golf Club is called Champion Trace.  It undulates and rolls through a piece of land that had been used as a horse farm.  The holes on the course are challenging but not too hard on the golfer’s aptitude for strategy.  It has been rated as one of the best golf courses in Kentucky.

One of the highlights of this particular course is the 4th hole, which is shallow, sloped green sitting beside a water hazard.  To the right and the left of the fairway are dense patches of rough and bunkers.  Another memorable hole is the ninth one.  Members call it The Brink.

It is called that because the tee shot goes straight across the water.  This makes it very tough if you are playing in windy conditions.  

Amenities & Facilities

Keene Trace Golf Club offers its members a great fitness facility on the club’s grounds.  There are also two hard tennis courts that can be used all year.  While playing tennis, you can keep an eye on your children in the small area with a basketball hoop.  There is also a heated swimming pool with a hot tub and pool deck.  They even have a baby pool that is separate from the larger pool. There is a concession area to purchase snacks.

The Golf Club only has one restaurant but is broken down into two areas, The Champion Trace Grill and Keene Run Bar & Grill.  Both offer members a wide selection of casual bites.  Members and families can enjoy coarse fishing in one of the many ponds there. 

During the summer, there are drive-in movie nights and pool parties.  Keene Trace Golf Club also has Keene Night Live patio parties, Ladies and Men’s leagues, dining events that are themed, Couples 9 nights, family functions, and holiday brunches.

The fitness facility overlooks the 9th hole and is adjacent to the pool.  Inside you will find free weights, machines, and cardio equipment.  There is also the Core Fitness Group, along with classes like cycling, strength training, HIIT, and yoga.

They also offer a wedding venue with the scenery of both beautiful golf courses.  If you want an indoor wedding or reception, there are the facilities of the clubhouse.  They also offer catering services for the reception or rehearsal dinner.  You can even use the golf course for your wedding pictures.  They even have a bridal room for the bride to use to get ready for the wedding and a men’s lounge for the groom and his party.

Guests

At Keene Trace Golf Club, guests fall into two categories.  

  • Sponsored—this is a guest of a member who does not come to the club with the member.
  • Accompanied—this is a guest who has to be accompanied by a member when they come to the club.

They both are allowed to use the same facilities as the member when they come to the club.  They can only play four rounds of golf a year.

Use Of Cell Phones

They are permitted while in the club but have to be set to vibrate or silent.  Guests and members should not take phone calls unless it is an emergency.

Dress Code

Keene Trace Golf Club uses the same dress code as most other clubs.  There is no denim of any type or color allowed.  The men have to wear shirts with collars and keep their shirts tucked in when they use the course.  You can wear shorts but cannot be worn more than four inches above your knee or not below the knee.  You also cannot wear casual clothes like athletic or cargo shorts, sweatpants or sweatshirts, or tee shirts.

Trivia Facts

The Barbasol Championship was the PGA annual Tour Event in Kentucky since the Kentucky Derby Open, which ended in 1959.

Conclusion

Keene Trace Golf Club is a small private club around Lexington, Kentucky.  Although it is small, it offers its members a variety of amenities and fun family activities.  They do offer a ladies’ and men’s league but nothing is mentioned for a junior league.  If you are looking for a family-oriented golf club and you live in Kentucky, this is one to check out.

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