[Brad Tufts]

Hi guys,

Headed to Indiana next week for work.  I will be working my way across/down the state, and probably have time for a round each day, as it doesn't get dark till almost 9PM.

Plans are as follows:

Monday...Flying into Chicago...going to check out Ravisloe, as it's on the way to South Bend, where I am sleeping...

Tuesday...South Bend...Warren Course.

Wed...I will end up west of Indy, so I was thinking the Trophy Club or Harrison Hills.  Kampen is on the radar too I suppose.

Thurs...Indy area...was thinking of Purgatory.

Fri....Donald Ross at French Lick b/t Evansville and Louisville airport.

Am I on the right track here?  Looking for any other public ideas that might trump the above...  I see Tom D's Quail Crossing in Evansville as well...their website doesn't exactly display pictures that would make one think it's a must play.  Is it worth a shot over the DR course at French Lick?

Thanks for any advice!

-Brad

[Frank Sullivan]

Hey Brad!

I would recommend Trophy Club on Wednesday.  It has a lot of variety and is very fun to play.

On Thursday, you could play the Fort, or Purgatory.  To me, the Fort is more enjoyable to play.

In Southwest Indiana, you will LOVE the Ross course at French Lick.  You should also seriously consider playing Sultan's Run in Jasper.

Please take some pics and post them when you return...sounds like a fun trip!

(I have not played Quail Crossing, so I can't comment)

[PCCraig]

Brad-

Do your best to play the Fort, a Pete Dye Design on (I believe) the northwest side of town. The Trophy Club and Purgatory are both very nice, however I think Prarie View in Carmel is alot better and closer to where you will be. Of course there is also the pretty darn good Brickyard Course. (I believe the Brickyard and PV are on the expensive side of publics in town).

If you have time on your drive down from South Bend I would check out the Kampen Course for a quick round, but only if you have time as I think the Fort, Priarie, and Brickyard are better overall. However I do very much enjoy the Kampen Course.

Otherwise it sounds like you have a nice trip planned. Rav and the Warren course are a couple nice picks.

[JLahrman]

I personally would recommend Purgatory ahead of The Fort, both are worth a visit but if I had to pick one I would take Purgatory.

Definitely play the Ross course at French Lick, I played it before the renovation and it was a ton of fun.

[John Burzynski]

Around South Bend you have it right, for public golf the Warren Course is probably the best, especially from well known architects.  Blackthorn (Hurdzan) isn't too bad either, if you have extra time.

[Brad Tufts]

Thanks guys, all good info.  I will be doing this trip every May, so eventually I will probably get to try all of these...

Any reviews of Quail Crossing?

Or different advice?

Or hidden gems?

[Matt_Ward]

Brad:

Be sure to play The Trophy Club -- one of the best designed public courses with the best price tag associated with it in the greater Indy area.

If you play Purgatory -- be sure to avoid the tip tees at #13 -- the course is better served without that monster tee pad.

If you want to see a good old fashioned RTJ layout -- head to Columbus, Indiana for a round at Otter Creek.

The ones Pat C mentioned are also good -- albeit a bit more expensive.

If in Terre Haute and you need a cheap but good play you might want to consider Hulman Links.

[Ken Fry]

Brad,

If staying in South Bend, bypass trying to head to Lafayette for Kampen.  It's one of those "you can't get there from here" situations.

I'll echo comments for Trophy Club (about 25 miles NW of top side of beltway for Indy) and The Fort (on the northeast side just outside beltway).

Drop me a note if you'd like to connect for a few minutes at Warren.

Ken

[Chris_Blakely]

If you have timie for 9 holes or just want to play 9 holes, I recommend the Langford & Moreau designed Culver Academy GC in Culver, IN.

In the southern corner of the state Chariot Run GC is very good.  I also liked Tim Liddy's Grand Victoria - many built up green pads that remind me of Langford & Moreau.

Chris

[Mark Pritchett]

Brad,

I played Harrison Hills, Brickyard Crossing and French Lick last August and would happily recommend all of them. 

Harrison Hills has some really fun holes with some interesting bunkers.  Very inexpensive course to play and well worth the drive from Indianapolis.

We played Brickyard Crossing on the same day we played HH and teed off after 4PM, with a twilight rate of around $50 and easily finished before dark.  Good course, good shape, worth doing once, glad we played it, but I don't necessarily need to do it again.  Great way to play a fun course and take in the race track.

I loved the Ross Course at French Lick as it had a good variety of holes with interesting greens on a good piece of property for golf.  After our round we walked some of the then under construction Dye course.  I hope to get back and play the Ross course again and look forward to checking out the Dye course in person.

Have fun!

[Peter Ferlicca]

Being born and raised in good old Carmel, Indiana I have played my fair share of public golf in the state.  The Trophy club is an absolute must play on your trip.  I don't know what route you are taking south down to Indy but if you are taking the 31 south, you might want to stop for a quick round at Rock Hollow in Peru, which is another great Tim Liddy track.  And IMO I personally liked Purgatory better than the Fort, but both are great tracks.  Prairie View is going to be the best conditioned course, but also the most expensive (good if you can get a twilight rate).  Brickyard Crossing is a cool course especially if you are playing around May, you will definitely hear some car racing by.  Heartland Crossing is a great course too, I played it a couple of times when it first opened, I don't know if it is covered by houses know or not.  It sounds like your trip is pretty good, hope you enjoy it.

[Scott Sander]

I wish I had something profound to add, given that I'm sitting right in the middle of your map - but the gentlemen above have all given you outstanding guidance.  I don't see a misstep in the bunch. 

I will echo that Trophy Club is a must-see for the price - especially the par 5's, which are just outstanding.  Purgatory and The Fort are very, very different courses.  If you play Trophy Club, you may want to try The Fort for variety of terrain if nothing else.  Purgatory is on land similar to Trophy Club, while the Fort is heavily wooded and extremely rolling - a rarity in Central Indiana.  Then again, Purgatory comes close to being something truly unique, whereas The Fort is more a fine example of a larger breed.  Either will do ya fine.

Bear Slide could be in that Fort/Purgatory conversation, too.  I'd put Prairie View a clear notch below all three in terms of on-the-ground design, but it certainly is green and pretty if that's what you crave.

Also -and perhaps this goes without saying or is of no interest to you- I'd put Wolf Run and/or Crooked Stick on your list if that's an option.  Crooked Stick is a delight and Wolf Run is not and I mean that as the highest possible praise for both!

[Andy Troeger]

Brad,
I think you're on the right track. Warren would be my pick in South Bend. Try to get to Rock Hollow at some point--about halfway between SB and Indy. Skip Kampen as Ken said--you won't be all that close to it and there are better options. Personally if you're going to play in Culver I'd go to Mystic Hills over CMA unless you're a Langford fan.

Around Indy I'm not a ton of help but did like The Fort quite a bit.

In the southern portion I think French Lick is a good starting point. Make sure to get to Sultan's Run eventually also--I like that one better but haven't seen FL Ross in 10+ years. Will be correcting that later this summer.

[JLahrman]

I will echo that Trophy Club is a must-see for the price - especially the par 5's, which are just outstanding.  Purgatory and The Fort are very, very different courses.  If you play Trophy Club, you may want to try The Fort for variety of terrain if nothing else.  Purgatory is on land similar to Trophy Club, while the Fort is heavily wooded and extremely rolling - a rarity in Central Indiana.  Then again, Purgatory comes close to being something truly unique, whereas The Fort is more a fine example of a larger breed.  Either will do ya fine.

Scott, you make a fair point about the terrain.  I (unfortunately) have not played Trophy Club, but Purgatory is definitely typical Midwest terrain while The Fort is not.  So for variety's sake it might be worthwhile to play The Fort if Trophy Club is also on the schedule.

I played Purgatory once six years ago, and played The Fort once three years ago.  I remember every single hole at Purgatory, can't say I really remember more than five or six from The Fort.  I just found Purgatory to be a much more interesting, memorable course, flatter terrain aside.

[Scott Sander]

HANG ON!!!!

Just realized:  The Speedway's opening day for Indy 500 practice is Wednesday next week.  So you have the chance to play the Brickyard with IndyCars roaring around the track.  Do that.  The Brickyard is overpriced and a bit wedged into the land, but it's certainly a very good course and you are simply not going to get that experience anywhere else.  Four holes are inside the track.  It's surreal enough without the cars, but with them?  To me it's not even a question!

JMO, natch.

[Cliff Hamm]

How good or not is the Warren course?

[Bart Bradley]

Brad:

I am going to re-emphasize two of Andy's suggestions

Hidden Gem:

Consider Rock Hollow in Peru IN on the way south from S. Bend toward Indy...

and Sultan's Run ...I really like it.

Bart

[J_ Crisham]

Brad,  You may want to check that Ravisloe is open on Mondays. Most all of the Chicago clubs are closed on Mondays for maintenance. Just a heads up. Have a fun trip,   Jack

[Criss Titschinger]

If you're looking to save dough, I would replace French Lick with Sultan's Run on that last day.  Can't go wrong either way.

[Joe Bausch]

I see Tom D's Quail Crossing in Evansville as well...their website doesn't exactly display pictures that would make one think it's a must play. 

I think Quail Crossing is very interesting and great value.  Way cheaper than the courses at French Lick.  And I have a photo album of the course as well taken a few years ago on a very hot and humid summer day in the middle of the afternoon (not ideal conditions for photos).

http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Quail_Crossing/index.html

[Matt_Ward]

Brad, et al:

Another option to include is Bear Slide in Cicero. Gets little attention but has plenty of fun holes. I'm not equating it with The Trophy Club and others of that ilk but it's got a good bit worth noticing.

[Brian Joines]

I would do Warren, Trophy Club and the Fort. Rock Hollow is another good option if it's more convenient.

The Fort is my favorite public course in Indiana. I've played most of the public courses in Indy but always seem to want to go back to the Fort and Trophy Club. (about 5 times each now) I'd definitely try to fit both in.

I think Warren is definitely the best public course in South Bend. I wasn't a huge fan of this course initially but after many repeat plays, it's really grown on me. It's a great walk in the evening.

[Chris_Blakely]

Bear Slide is a solid choice - Dean Refram did some interesting things there.  I recently played one of his last courses that he had design input on - Dunmaglas GC in Charlevoix, MI and I noticed many similarities with Bear Slide GC.

Chris

[Keith Buntrock]

Heartland Crossing is a great course too, I played it a couple of times when it first opened, I don't know if it is covered by houses know or not.  It sounds like your trip is pretty good, hope you enjoy it.

Heartland Crossing would be a fine choice. I played it last fall in a college tournament and none of the houses intrude into the golf course much. Many of the houses are across a street and the only holes that actually have houses bordering the hole is number 7. It is definitely not a nature course though.

I also played a college event a Purgatory April 19 and 20. Greens should be running very smooth by now. Can't go wrong with Hell's waiting room.

Otter Creek in Columbus would be a great public track to make time for as well.

[Brent Carlson]

Brad,

Can't comment on the others but definitely check out the Ross at FL.  If you are a Ross fan, you will love it!  Practice your 250 yard shot for the par 3s.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()