It started with a dog, a farmer and a golf club. No, this is not a bad joke. It’s a true story of how a former golf clubhouse came to be Frankfort’s newest hangout — complete with a neighborhood bar, a farm-fresh kitchen and family-friendly golf simulators. Rocky’s Pub, Farmcut Kitchen and Willy Whacks Golf Shack have teamed up to offer fun for the family in a single location.
The dog: Rocky’s Pub
Nathan Doyle is the kind of person who knows a good gathering place when he sees one. The bar he had for 13 years in Carmel, Indiana, became a neighborhood pub where people knew each other and were comfortable. But Nathan fell in love with Grace, a Frankfort native, and he moved south to be closer to her. They settled in Frankfort and started their family. Their twin boys are almost 1 year old.
A couple of years ago, Nathan drove past the former Duckers Golf Course clubhouse and became curious.
“I’d been looking for a place to open a bar in Frankfort,” Nathan said. “It was a little rough, but I could see it — a place where people could really gather for a good time.”
So, he bought the Duckers clubhouse and turned it into a pub that he named Rocky’s.
Enter “the dog.” The bar’s namesake is Rocky, Nathan and Grace’s 70-pound golden doodle. Rocky worked as a therapy dog with Grace at Peaks Mill Elementary. When she left for another position with the Department of Education, the school asked if Rocky could stay.
“Several Peaks Mill staff members have been trained to be Rocky’s handlers,” Nathan explained. “Rocky looks forward to going to school every day. I drop him off in the car rider line.”
About once a week, Rocky visits the bar that bears his name and greets customers like he owns the place. In a way, he does!
Rocky’s Pub offers a place to relax, have a drink and listen to live music.
“We also see this as a great venue to rent for events,” Nathan said. “Birthday parties, weddings, office get togethers, bachelor parties — there’s something for everyone.”
A farmer: Farmcut Kitchen
While Nathan was setting up Rocky’s Pub, Cody Brenneman, of Brenneman & Buck Farms, was busy raising grass-fed cattle and pastured hogs. He grew up on a farm in Maryland but, like Nathan, moved south for a Kentucky girl, Chelsea.
“When we moved here, we bought a farm and had a couple of hogs,” Cody said. “People kept asking us how they could buy our pork. We added some cows and when COVID hit, our sales went through the roof. It’s been that way ever since.”
What began as a passion project in 2016 to raise high-quality, sustainable pork and chicken for their own family, the farm has grown into a trusted name in local food. From farmers markets to their own Farm-to-Food Truck, Cody and Chelsea have built a reputation for fresh, flavorful food rooted in care, quality and Kentucky soil. Their motto is, “Real food. Raised right. Ready when you are.”
Their food truck — the old Jim’s Seafood truck they found and revived — has become a hit at concerts and school events. People love their food because it is grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and non-GMO.
“When Nathan called to ask if we’d be interested in basing our kitchen at Rocky’s, Chelsea and I talked about it and decided to do it,” Cody explained. “We all kind of fell into Nathan’s lap. It was no big romance story. But, I think it has worked out.”
Farmcut Kitchen now runs out of the kitchen next to the bar, with Chelsea leading the cooking. The menu is simple, seasonal and fresh.
Cody joked, “I’m the farm guy. I just bring Chelsea the parts of the cow.”
Farmcut Kitchen takes its orders online. Customers order ahead of time for carry-out or at the restaurant on their phone. Once the customer’s food is ready, they decide whether to sit inside the bar, take it to the dedicated dining room, spread out on the patio or enjoy their food out on the lawn. Sweet G’s Ice Cream, made by the Brennemans, is also available to purchase.
The couple have five children ages three to 15.
“Our kids help us a lot,” Chelsea said. “We have sons who are 15 and 12 and a 10 year old daughter. They love to help on the farm and in the kitchen. Then, we also have three year old twins.”
The couple has their hands as full as they expertly juggle between the farm business, the food truck, Farmcut Kitchen and their large family.
The golf club: Willy Whacks Golf Shack
There’s a barn on Rocky’s Pub property and Garrett Hamilton thought it was perfect for Willy Whacks Golf Shack — a fun-filled space with golf simulators and a small arcade. Garrett’s vision is to create a place where people can come for good clean family fun.
“Golf is something you can do for the long run,” Garrett said. “With a simulator, there’s no walking or hunting for your ball. I like Frankfort. It’s a community that brought me up and gave me opportunities and lifelong friends; and I like the idea of giving back to the community that has given to me.
“When this barn became an option, I thought, yep. Let’s make something fun.”
Willy Whacks Golf Shack has two full Trackman simulator bays, a small arcade including Golden Tee and plans for 24/7 member access. It’s family-friendly, rainy-day friendly, bourbon-trail-bachelor-party friendly. It’s a relaxed, come-as-you-are place to practice and play.
Getting “Kentuckied”
With his background working in pubs, Nathan knows how to build community.
“This place just builds connection,” Nathan commented. “If you sit two strangers at opposite ends of the bar long enough, they’ll find something in common. I call it, ‘You just got Kentuckied.’”
Rocky’s, Farmcut Kitchen and Willy Whacks Golf Shack are working together with the hope to create a hometown feeling for local residents and visitors alike. Check their respective websites and social media for more information, menus and hours of operation.
