There are golf trips, and then there are experiences that feel woven into the fabric of a destination. A Kentucky Derby golf trip built around Southern Indiana’s premier courses delivers both. Just minutes from Louisville, Covered Bridge Golf Club and Champions Pointe Golf Club offer championship golf, rich history, and unbeatable proximity to the most iconic week in horse racing.
This is the ultimate way to blend world-class golf with Derby week traditions, bourbon culture, and unforgettable Southern hospitality.
The Fuzzy Zoeller Golf Experience in Southern Indiana
Designed by Fuzzy Zoeller, Covered Bridge Golf Club and Champions Pointe Golf Club together create one of the most dynamic golf experiences near Louisville. Located just minutes apart in Southern Indiana, the two courses offer distinctly different styles while sharing the same championship pedigree.
Covered Bridge Golf Club delivers a refined, private-club feel with immaculately maintained zoysia fairways, rolling terrain at the base of the Floyds Knobs, and memorable design elements like the shared double green on holes 9 and 18. The experience extends beyond the course at Fuzzy’s 15th Club, where memorabilia celebrates Zoeller’s Masters and U.S. Open victories.
Champions Pointe Golf Club provides the perfect contrast with a more open, links-style layout featuring wide vistas, strategic water hazards, and a design that rewards creativity and smart shot-making. Together, the two courses form an ideal “double play” for Derby week travelers looking to experience Southern Indiana golf at its best.
The Ultimate Derby Week Golf Itinerary
Tuesday: Arrival & Downtown Louisville
Arrive and check into your hotel in Downtown Louisville, ideally near Whiskey Row or NuLu. Spend the evening enjoying a classic Derby-week steakhouse dinner and explore the bourbon bars lining Main Street.
Wednesday: Links Golf & River Traditions
Start the day with a round at Champions Pointe Golf Club, enjoying tour-quality conditions before Derby crowds reach their peak. Lunch at The Pointe Sports Bar & Grill keeps things relaxed and convenient.
In the evening, head to the Louisville Waterfront for the Great Steamboat Race, a lively Derby-week tradition featuring riverboats, live music, and festival food along the Ohio River.
Thursday: The Thurby Tradition
Thursday begins at Covered Bridge Golf Club with the signature Thurby Brunch, a Southern-inspired spread that blends breakfast favorites with lunch classics.
After brunch, tee off for a memorable round at Covered Bridge before heading to Churchill Downs for Thurby. Known as the locals’ Derby day, Thurby delivers high energy, live music, and the first major races of the weekend.
Friday: Kentucky Oaks — The Pink Out
Spend the day at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks, where pink attire supports breast and ovarian cancer awareness. The race features the world’s top three-year-old fillies competing for the Lilies.
That evening, dine in NuLu or attend one of the many Derby Eve galas scattered throughout the city.
Saturday: The Kentucky Derby
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before heading to the main event. Whether you attend the race in person or watch from Covered Bridge’s clubhouse broadcast, there’s nothing quite like witnessing the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports.
Sunday: Farewell & Bourbon Souvenirs
Wrap up the trip with a final Louisville brunch and head home!