Golf Indiana
The Hoosier State isn’t just a great golf destination, it’s also home to Peter Dye, celebrated golf course designer. If variety is the spice of life, Indiana serves up a truly spicy buffet for golfers of all ages and abilities.
The terrain is open in Indiana, the gently rolling farm and woodland soil rich and dark. Some 470 courses have been painted onto that canvas, creations of designers like Pete Dye, Jim Fazzio, Robert Trent Jones, and Donald Ross. They’ve seen to it that your time on the links will be challenging, enjoyable and relaxing all at the same time. Pleasantly unassuming, Indiana’s landscapes and people welcome you and you’re sure to welcome their hospitality.
There really is no one key place to golf in Indiana. The top ten in the state are a blanket of most every region. The most celebrated course is Otter Creek in Columbus, Indiana. Ranked 31st of 100 top public courses by Golf Digest, this course has an interesting story to it. The initial 18 holes were designed by Robert Trent Jones, and opened in 1964. Robert's son, Rees Jones, was asked to orchestrate 9 additional holes which would fit seamlessly with his father's original course. Rees rose to the challenge, and the 27-hole championship course was opened in 1995. Consistently ranked in the upper portion of the top public courses in the U.S., Otter Creek Golf Course provides a natural challenge for each shot, and distinguishes itself from other courses in the unique way that the natural contours of the land are incorporated into that challenge.
Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel, and The Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis earn the #2 and #3 spots, while Brickyard Crossing, also in Indianapolis, takes up fourth place. Rock Hollow in Peru, Purgatory in Noblesville, Bear Slide in Cicero, Heartland Crossing in Camby, Kampen in West Lafayette, and The Trophy Club in Lebanon round off the remaining top ten spots in Indiana. As you can see, they’re all across the map.
The Indiana Golf Association (IGA) is active, hosting tournaments at least every weekend, starting at the end of April and on through October. Their support consists of paid positions as well as volunteers, ensuring a smooth attention to details during the tournaments. The Indiana Golf Hall of Fame, located in Franklin, Indiana, includes PGA tour players Jim Gallagher, Jr., Bill Kratzert, entertainer-comedian Phil Harris, former president of the PGA of America Mickey Powell, and the celebrated golf course architects Pete and Alice Dye. The IGHOF exists to acknowledge appreciation of select individuals for their extraordinary contributions to the game.
Those driving through Indiana will most likely take either I-65 or I-69 on the North-South highways, or I-70 on the East-West axis. Any of these will take you into and through Indianapolis, the hub of the Hoosier State. There are flights into Indianapolis or Fort Wayne. Visitors of the northwest portion of the state may find flying into Chicago’s Midway airport and hiring ground transportation from there to be most practical.
Outside of the main cities, Indiana is primarily farming land, markedly rural and down-home friendly. If you don’t plan on remaining in the city the entire time, you’ll most likely need a car. The scenery is pleasant and the roads well maintained, making travel through the state a pleasure as well. The Hoosier State’s courses remain challenging while offering is a very pleasant, relaxing golf vacation destination.
