Enquirer reporter Dustin Dow waited for the rain to stop for a few hours and managed to get in 18 holes at Devou Park Golf Course, which has been a Covington landmark since the 1920s.

 

Golfers can enjoy a great view of downtown from the fifth hole. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

Location: 1344 Audubon Road, Covington; (859) 431-8030.

Greens fees: Weekday - 18 holes with cart, $33; 9 holes with cart, $19.50; 18 holes without cart, $21; 9 holes without cart, $12.50. Weekend prices same.

Convenience: Devou couldn't be more convenient with its location in Covington, less than five minutes from I-75/71. Access from downtown is particularly nice for an after-work or lunchtime round. Call ahead to the pro shop to see if the course is busy, and if you need to make a tee time a week in advance, either call the pro shop or go to www.Landrumgolf.com.

Rain or shine: Greens fees are pro-rated per holes played.

Clubhouse atmosphere: The 19th Hole Grill has plenty of seating with three rooms, the walls of which are covered with golfing decor. If the crowd is small, the servers will have time for conversation.

Food and drink: A hamburger or cheeseburger is your best bet; combine it with a basket of fries and a soft drink for less than $6.

What we like: The view from the fifth green. About 50 yards out, as you approach the green (hopefully that's where your ball is sitting), the top of the Carew Tower appears between the trees. Standing on the green, you get a nice view of downtown, which makes a three-putt a little more bearable. We enjoyed the par-3s as well, which featured elevated tee boxes for extra drive length.

What we don't like: In a word: hills. There are plenty of them - big ones, small ones and steep ones. This makes for a lot of "blind" shots on the backside. Don't even try to walk this course. You'll be fine on the first nine, but the backside will be rough. A word of caution on the cart: Obey the "slow" signs heading downhill.

Overall impression: Devou rates a 3.5 out of five. You'll have fun playing the course, but you'd better keep it straight. There isn't much water to compete with, but the hills add plenty of difficulty.