A championship as prestigious as the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Amateur requires a tremendous golf course play host so that the state’s top amateur golfer can be identified, and very few venues can make a case as strong as Country Club of Paducah. For the fourth time, this top layout will host the state’s most prestigious amateur championship, having previously hosted the competition in 1986, 1994 and 2008.

“Everyone at Country Club of Paducah cannot wait for the tournament to get here,” Chad Martin, PGA Head Golf Professional said. “Our membership is very excited; they’re looking forward to showing off their golf course and the west side of Kentucky. Our staff is excited to have people from across the state gather and we’re looking forward to welcoming the players and fans who will make this such a memorable week.”

Founded in 1902, the facility spent its first seventy years as a modest nine-hole layout, but in the 70s, a group of members expressed the desire to have a championship golf course in the area since there was not a top golf course to be found in the Paducah area. World-renowned architect Robert Trent Jones was hired to make those wishes come true and he gave the people exactly what they wanted. Construction at a new site more outside of the city began in 1972 and was finished seven years later. Now celebrating its 40^th anniversary, the Country Club of Paducah has become one of the purest golfing experiences in Kentucky and delighted players ever since.

Rounds beginning on the first tee start with a bang as golfers must negotiate ponds that frame the par 5 first and par 3 second’s greens. Those in the field who are unfocussed at the beginning of their round could find themselves above par early in the proceedings and leave themselves an uphill battle for the remainder of the championship. That second hole is the first of four par 3s players will face, a group Martin considers to be the course’s standout holes.

_{The 2nd hole is the first of the course's par 3s.}

“Each of the par 3s here are very distinct and represent much of the course’s character. If a player gets through them at even par or better for the day, they will definitely make up ground on the field.”

_{The 14th hole is the last short hole at Country Club of Paducah.}

The short holes showcase one of the golf course’s key features which are the closely-mown runoff areas that run alongside the green complexes. Unlike many courses that have thick rough surrounding all corners of the green, Country Club of Paducah demands players to use their imagination when certain greens are missed. Whether it’s a bump and run into a hill, flop shot from a tight lie, or utilizing a club other than wedge or short iron, options are abound for the field when they need to scramble for par. Wrong decisions, however, could prove costly and elicit a big number that crush a player’s hopes for the title.

_{The front of the 7th green demonstrates some of the closely-mown edges that awaits players.}

Country Club of Paducah’s closing holes should produce a lot of fireworks during the final round and leave the competition in doubt until the final putt is holed, according to Martin.

“The 16^th and 17^th holes are a couple of tough par 4s to face at the end of a round. You just need to get out of those holes with two pars and make it to the 18^th which is a gettable par 5. That final stretch offers a little bit of everything so it should be a fun finish.”

_{The approach into the par 4 16th hole.}

Martin predicts that players who top the field in driving accuracy are those most likely to find themselves in contention during the final round. At 6,915 yards, the golf course is not overly long, but is defended primarily by its increased shot values and tricky green complexes. Should the wind pick up at a high level during the championship, Martin believes the course’s difficulty will really shine due to the importance of precision and leave players fighting to salvage a good score. Rain, which is currently in the forecast for each tournament round, would not be as much of a factor because of phenomenal draining at the facility and the fact a short course like this one will not have many yards added onto it when playing soft. In the end, he predicts a 54-hole winning score between even par and five under while the field can expect as good of a challenge as they could ask for in a marquee event for Kentucky golf.

The first round of competition is Tuesday, June 18 and will conclude on Thursday, June 20. There will be a cut after the second round to the top 70 players and ties. Tee times for the opening two rounds have been posted which can be found here. For complete coverage of the 105^th Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Amateur, click here.