Any road trip through Indiana won’t be complete without following the trail of golf courses. Seasoned golfers will find a history of golf that will help them enjoy the game more. Casual golfers will have plenty of courses to challenge them to better their game.
Golf in Indiana has been a proud tradition since 1900. Today there are more than 250 courses offering play for golfers of all skill levels. Ace Golf Netting knows a golf destination trip is ready and waiting across all areas of the state. Along with great golf, this Midwest state offers a connection to history and current events that will surprise you.
Pete Dye Golf Trail
Chief among golf excursions across Indiana is the Pete Dye Golf Trail. Dye is considered the father of modern golf design. Indiana stakes its claim as having more of his courses than anywhere else.
Courses designed by Dye are famous for the Scottish influences of twisting fairways, deep bunkers and small greens. Dye weaved his designs into courses around the country with Indiana sporting seven courses.
Dye was famous for designing courses that don’t provide a “fair” playing field. He concluded that golf isn’t fair, so his courses would be more than a challenge for even the hardiest of players. He left a trail of great courses across Indiana.
Scenic Views, Colleges And Race Cars
First on the Dye trail is in French Lick, IN. This award-winning, sprawling course has five tee levels so any golfer can enjoy the adventure. It’s an amazing course with scenic views of Hoosier National Forest from its layout atop the highest point in the state.
West Lafayette and Purdue University host the Ackerman-Allen Course that Dye helped transform into a premiere golf destination. You’ll need to navigate the rolling hills and avoid the many trees and bunkers filled with white sand.
Only in the Hoosier State will you find the blend of golf and fast cars at Brickyard Crossing. This Dye course features four holes nestled inside the oval of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Celebrities and international racing events are hosted here along with PGA, LPGA and Champions tour events.
The Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette features the Dye-designed Kampen Course. The course hosts a variety of collegiate tournaments and challenges golfers with an array of ponds, a bog, huge bunkers and grasslands.
Other Pete Dye inspired courses include Maple Creek Golf and Country Club in Indianapolis, Mystic Hills Golf Club and Lodge in Culver, and The Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis. All are challenging courses for any level of golfer, each with a unique history to enjoy as well as the links.
Unique Courses Abound
Starting in the north, Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame testifies to the quality of golf in Indiana. Heading south, Rock Hollow Golf Club provides long tees in a classically designed course. Bouncing west, Harrison Hills Golf and Country Club in Attica is one of the highest-rated courses in the state.
Nearby are Rivercrest Golf Club in Covington, Oak Grove Country Club in Oxford, and The Ravines Golf Course in West Lafayette, All are public courses with celebrated features such as challenging layouts, water hazards and beautiful trees you don’t want between you and the flagstick.
Golf Loves Celebration And Misery
Many courses in Indiana are surrounded by serene rural communities. When traveling through Indianapolis, there are plenty of golfing options to entice all golfers.
Kick your game into gear at Smock Golf Course, Morning Star Golf Course, Pleasant Run Golf Course, Southern Dunes Golf Course (18 holes and 9 holes), and Coffin Golf Club.
You can close your Indiana golf adventure with the challenging “sweet misery” of Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville. The course features “Hell’s Half Acre” at the bunker-surrounded 17th hole. It’s just a taste of the more than 100 bunkers throughout the course.
As we’ve experienced at Ace Golf Netting, Indiana golf is one adventure after the next. Get there as soon as you can.