Connemara Golf Course

What Connemara Golf Course does

Connemara Golf Course is a privately held, single-location 18-hole public golf facility located at 2327 Lexington Road in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Built in 1992 on the historic Connemara Farm (which dates to 1833), the course operates seasonally from approximately March 1 through December 23 and serves the central Kentucky / Lexington-area market. The company is staffed by 11-50 employees and is led by General Manager Nick Venditto, Head Golf Professional Shawn Cornetet, Superintendent Justin Browning, and F&B Director Anna Wethington.

The business operates a diversified golf-centric revenue model spanning seven streams: per-round green fees and cart rentals (weekday $46 / weekend $56 with cart), annual memberships ($2,000-$2,200 plus a $75 Shamrock Card loyalty tier), PGA-certified golf instruction ($60/hr individual, $40 junior lessons), Bill's Saloon restaurant and bar, meeting/event room rentals ($50 per room), a driving range ($3-$17 buckets), and a fully-stocked pro shop. Junior golf is a defined vertical, with four age-tiered summer camps and a Youth on Course partnership offering $5 rounds to members ages 5-18.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and operationally focused: a Golf Channel Solutions / GolfNow-powered tee-time booking system, a content website, an E-Club email newsletter, and organic social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Marketing is primarily direct-to-consumer with a corporate/enterprise sales motion for group outings handled through PGA-trained event staff. There are no AI capabilities, no API, no patents, and no app. The company has won the Reader's Choice Award for 'Best Place to Play Golf' in Jessamine County for three consecutive years, evidencing consistent local customer loyalty.

Name

Connemara Golf Course

Legal name

Connemara Golf Course

Website

https://connemaragolfcourse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connemara Golf Course is a privately held 18-hole public golf facility in Nicholasville, Kentucky, serving central Kentucky golfers with green fees, memberships, PGA instruction, junior programs, on-site dining at Bill's Saloon, meeting rooms, and group outings on a historic 1833 farm site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Golf Course Operations

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Golf instruction services
• Golf membership programs
• Corporate golf outings
• Golf event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Nicholasville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Green Fees and Cart Rentals: Revenue generated from per-round golf play, with separate pricing for weekdays versus weekends, walking versus cart, and public versus Shamrock Card members. Twilight discounted rates available.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership programs including 7 Day Membership ($2,200), 5 Day Membership ($2,000), and Family Add On ($600). Includes food and beverage credits at Bill's Saloon. Shamrock Card program ($75) offers discounts and free rounds.
3. Golf Instruction: PGA-certified golf professionals provide individual lessons and junior golf clinics for additional fee per hour or session.
4. Food and Beverage: Bill's Saloon restaurant and bar generates revenue from food service, beverages including Lexington Brewing Company products, and catering for events. Kitchen open 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday with capacity for indoor seating (40) and outdoor seating (200).
5. Event Hosting and Meeting Rooms: Corporate outings, charity events, and meeting room rentals (Ben Hogan Room, Arnold Palmer Room, Jack Nicklaus Room) at $50 per booking.
6. Driving Range: Revenue from driving range ball buckets sold at multiple price points: Small ($7), Medium ($12), Large ($17), and discounted Member bucket ($3).
7. Pro Shop Merchandise: Fully stocked pro shop sells golf equipment and apparel, with discounts offered to members and Shamrock Card holders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Connemara Golf Course operates an 18-hole public championship golf course built in 1992 on Connemara Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky, offering green fees and cart rentals, annual memberships, PGA-certified golf instruction, an on-site restaurant and bar (Bill's Saloon), meeting and event facilities, and a junior golf program. The facility sells these offerings directly to individual consumers, golf members, junior players, and corporate/charity outing groups.

Product overview

Connemara Golf Course is a single-location golf facility offering an 18-hole championship golf course as its primary product, complemented by golf instruction services, junior golf programs, restaurant/catering operations, event hosting, and membership programs. The core offering is the golf course itself, which is supported by Bill's Saloon (on-site dining), three themed meeting rooms for private events, comprehensive golf instruction through PGA professionals, and a Shamrock Card loyalty program. The facility positions itself as a destination for both individual play and group events including corporate outings and tournaments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 18-Hole Golf Course Public 18-hole championship golf course with bent grass greens and fairways, a driving range, and practice green. Open for the March 1 - December 23, 2026 season for individual play, Shamrock Card holders, and members. Green fees and walking/cart rental priced separately for weekdays, weekends, and twilight.
• Golf Instruction PGA-certified golf instruction for adult golfers, with individual lessons at $60/hr led by PGA Head Golf Professional Shawn Cornetet and General Manager Nick Venditto (specializing in the One-plane swing with 10,000+ hours of teaching experience). Instruction covers swing mechanics, short game, course management, and mental game strategies.
• Junior Golf Program Junior golf program offering individual lessons ($40), US Kids Golf certified coaching, four seasonal summer camps across three age groups (Little Linksters ages 4-6 at $50, Junior Divots ages 7-10 at $150 with lunch, Birdie Bunch ages 11-16 at $175), and a Youth on Course $5 subsidized green fee rate for active members ages 5-18.
• Meeting Rooms Three golf-themed private rooms available for rental at $50 per booking: Ben Hogan Room (boardroom style, 10-12 seats, AV/projector), Arnold Palmer Room (fine dining, 8-10 seats), and Jack Nicklaus Room (intimate, 6-8 seats). Used for business meetings, luncheons, private dining, showers, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, and holiday parties.
• Bill's Saloon Full-service on-site restaurant and bar with indoor seating for 40 and outdoor seating for 200. Kitchen open 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday. Serves Lexington Brewing Company products, Pepsi, wine, specialty cocktails, and concessions. Accepts walk-in diners and direct catering reservations.
• Catering Services Catering services for events including weddings, anniversaries, bridal and baby showers, holiday parties, and rehearsal dinners, coordinated by F&B Director Anna Wethington.
• Golf Memberships Annual golf memberships valid March 1 - December 23, 2026: 7 Day Membership ($2,200 with unlimited play any day and $100 F&B credit), 5 Day Membership ($2,000 Monday-Friday only, excludes holidays), and Family Add-On ($600 with $25 F&B credit). All include food and beverage credits at Bill's Saloon.
• Shamrock Card Loyalty Program $75 loyalty/rewards card valid March 1 - December 23, 2026 offering every 5th round free with cart, $4 off each green fee round, $3 off small range balls, 15% off pro shop merchandise, and 10% off golf equipment. Drives repeat play among non-member golfers.
• Group Outings and Tournaments Corporate and charity golf outing services for groups, with PGA-trained event staff handling planning, execution, food and beverage, scoring, and recap. Includes access to prizes, gifts, and a fully-stocked pro shop with major manufacturer products and outing discounts.
• Pro Shop On-site fully-stocked pro shop at the clubhouse selling golf equipment, apparel, and accessories from major manufacturers. Members receive discounts and Shamrock Card holders receive 15% off merchandise and 10% off golf equipment.
• Driving Range Practice driving range selling ball buckets at four price points: Small ($7, 36 balls), Medium ($12, 72 balls), Large ($17, 144 balls), and Member Bucket ($3, 36 balls). Available to the public during course hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Best Place to Play Golf award for three consecutive years in Jessamine County

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Youth on CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide program designed to allow kids ages 5-18 an opportunity to play golf for $5 or less. Connemara offers a $5 green fee rate for any junior who is an active member of Youth on Course. The foundation also funds junior caddie programs, paid high school internships, and college scholarships. This partnership addresses accessibility and youth development in golf.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Topgolf: Tech-enabled golf entertainment venue chain targeting casual and non-traditional golfers. Represents a structural competitor for entertainment-driven golf spend and the next-generation customer Connemara courts through its junior programs.
• Drive Shack: Owner-operator of tech-enabled golf entertainment venues (Puttery, Topgolf competitor). Represents a longer-term competitive threat for casual golfer wallet share and entertainment-oriented F&B spend.

Direct peers

• University Club of Kentucky: Private golf and country club in Lexington, Kentucky, serving an overlapping central Kentucky catchment. Comparable clubhouse amenities, membership structure, and tournament hosting capabilities.
• Big Spring Country Club: Established private country club in Louisville, Kentucky, with comparable full-service golf, dining, and event hosting model. Direct competitor for Kentucky-based corporate outings and upscale member events.
• Kearney Hill Golf Links: Public 18-hole golf course in Lexington, Kentucky, operating in the same central Kentucky market as Connemara with comparable green-fee pricing structure and GolfNow tee-time distribution. Direct competitor for individual rounds, memberships, and corporate outings.
• Cardinal Club: Private golf club in Louisville, Kentucky, and the prior employer of Connemara's superintendent Justin Browning. Comparable championship-layout Kentucky golf operation with similar conditioning, membership tiers, and banquet/event offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Troon Golf: Largest third-party golf course management company in the world, operating hundreds of public and private facilities. Representative of how a single course like Connemara could be operated, branded, or benchmarked at scale.
• American Golf Corporation: Multi-course golf operator running public, private, and resort facilities nationwide. Provides a comparable operational template for a portfolio of public-access courses with F&B and pro shop verticals.
• Invited (formerly ClubCorp): Largest owner-operator of private golf and country clubs in the United States. Comparable membership-driven golf and event business model, though at much larger scale and predominantly private.

Others

• GolfNow (NBC Sports Next): Tee-time booking marketplace and distribution partner powering Connemara's online booking. Functions as a customer acquisition channel and a transparent pricing platform where Connemara competes head-to-head with local peers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connemaragolfky
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnemaraGolf
• Instagraminstagram.com/connemaragolfcourse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connemara-golf-course

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connemara Golf Course