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Sports and fitness activities in Central Kentucky

BY HERALD-LEADER STAFF

Central Kentucky has been blessed by Mother Nature with a gorgeous landscape and by humans with a wealth of fitness facilities. Here are suggestions for getting some exercise.

• Bicycling
• Golf
• Skating
• Running
• Hiking
• Rock climbing
• Swimming
• Working out

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BICYCLING

One of the best ways to see Central Kentucky is on two wheels. Beyond Lexington's Man o' War Boulevard is the heart of the Bluegrass, a bicycling paradise. The rural areas around Lexington have scenic landscape, gently rolling terrain and back roads wrapped in plank or stone fences. Traffic is light if you avoid the main roads. Motorists are polite to law-abiding cyclists. Here are some ways to sightsee by bike:

Bluegrass Cycling Club: This group sponsors rides during the week and on weekends for cyclists of all experience levels. It also organizes the annual Horsey Hundred tour, which attracts more than 1,400 cyclists each Memorial Day weekend; the Red River Rally ride in October; and racing events. The club's Web site has organized ride info and maps.

City government: The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's site includes maps of urban and country routes, rules of the road and other information about bicycling in Lexington. One map details the suitability of city streets for biking.

Where to ride: The best guidebook to cycling Central Kentucky's backroads is Wheeling Around the Bluegrass by Joe Ward (Butler Books, $14.95). The book has maps and directions for more than two dozen great rides of various lengths, plus background information about local history and sights to see.

Rentals: Although Lexington has several bike shops, none have rentals. You'll have to look into the region for that. Here are two places:

• Capital City Cycles, 475 Versailles Road, Frankfort. (502) 352-2480. Rates: $24.99 a day to $99.99 a week for road bikes, $19.99 a day to $74.99 a week for hybrid; includes helmet.
• Cave Run Bicycle and Outdoors Center, 995 Ky. 801 South, Morehead. (606) 784-1818. Specializes in mountain bikes. Rates: $20 a day. Also rents kayaks and canoes. Call first. Closed January-February.

Borrow a bike: While you're in Lexington, you might see yellow bicycles dotting the streets. Lexington's Yellow Bike Program allows registered users to borrow a bike from designated downtown locations for up to three hours from April to October. To register, visit the Downtown Lexington Corp., 101 East Vine Street, Suite 500; or call (859) 425-2008 or (859) 425-2590.

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GOLF

Central Kentucky has a wealth of opportunities for golfing. Here's a selection of public courses (CLICK HERE to make reservations and get discounts):

FAYETTE COUNTY

• Avon, 5751 Briar Hill Pike, (859) 299-8356. 9 holes, par 36, 2,964 yards. Open year-round except for Christmas. Open 7:30 a.m. until dusk. Tee times reserved seven days in advance.
• Kearney Hill Links, 3403 Kearney Road, (859) 253-1981. 18 holes, par 72, 5,362-6,987 yards. Scottish links-style course. Rated in top 10 best golf courses in Kentucky by Golf Digest. Open year-round except for Christmas. Open 8 a.m. until dusk. Tee times reserved seven days in advance.
• Lakeside, 3725 Richmond Road, (859) 263-5315. 18 holes, par 72, 6,274-7,061 yards. Open 7:30 a.m. until dusk. Tee times reserved seven days in advance.
• Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa, 1720 Newtown Pike, (859) 288-6193. 18 holes, par 72, 6,784 yards. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Meadowbrook, 400 Wilson Downing Road, (859) 272-3115. 18 holes, Par 3 short course, par 51. Open April 1-Nov. 30. Open 8 a.m. until dusk. Play on first-come, first-served basis.
• Gay Brewer Jr. Course at Picadome, 469 Parkway Drive, (859) 288-2990. 18 holes, par 72, 6,272 yards. Open year-round except for Christmas. Open 7:30 a.m. until dusk. Tee times reserved seven days in advance.
• Tates Creek, 1400 Gainesway Drive, (859) 272-3428. 18 holes, par 72, 5,260-6,265 yards. Open year-round except for Christmas. Open 7:30 a.m. until dusk. Tee times reserved seven days in advance.

SURROUNDING COUNTIES

• Juniper Hills, 800 Louisville Road, Frankfort. 18 holes, par 70, 6,186 yards. 7:30 to dusk. (502) 875-8559.
• Cherry Blossom Golf Club, 150 Clubhouse Drive, Georgetown. 18 holes, par 72, 6,842 yards. Open year-round. Open 6:30 a.m. to dusk. Ranked No. 1 public course in Kentucky for five years by Golf Week. (502) 570-9849.
• Connemara, 2327 Lexington Road, Nicholasville. Open 7 a.m. to dusk. 18 holes, par 71, 6,513 yards. (859) 885-4331.
• Golf Club of the Bluegrass, 6000 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville. 18 holes, par 72, 5,000-6,900 yards. 8 a.m. to dusk. (859) 223-4516.
• Planter's Row, 2080 Lexington Road, Nicholasville. 18 holes, par 56, 2,704 yards. 7:30 a.m. to dusk. (859) 885-1254.
• Houston Oaks, 555 Houston Oaks Drive, Paris. 18 holes, par 72, 4,989-6,842 yards. 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (859) 987-5600.
• Gibson Bay, 2000 Gibson Bay Drive, Richmond. 18 holes, par 72, 6,508-7,113 yards. 7:30 a.m. to dusk. (859) 623-0225.
• The Bull Golf Club, 175 Glen Eagle Boulevard, Richmond. 18 holes, par 72, 5,615-6,659 yards. 7 a.m. to dusk. (859) 623-4653.
• The Brook, 2260 Lexington Road, Versailles. 18 holes, par 72, 6,437 yards. 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours shorten in fall. (859) 873-8404.

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