Indianapolis

[JLahrman]

I will most likely be in Indianapolis for a couple of days in October.  Any suggestions on what my best options would be for golf?

I've played Purgatory, which I thought was actually a pretty strong layout despite the gimmicky name and concept.  It had a lot of good holes.  I've also played Coffin which was kind of a fun track.

The two I've heard about are The Trophy Club and The Fort.  Has anybody played these courses?  Any other recommendations for courses in the area?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Chris_Clouser]

JAL,

Shot me a PM and we can discuss.  I think it depends mostly on where you are staying at in the area.  There are several options.  Indy is one of those few areas of the country where the public golf is equal stature as the private, if not better.

Trophy Club and The Fort are both pretty good.  
Purgatory as you know if solid.  Bear Slide and Prairie View are in the same price range, but maybe a notch below it depending on what you like.  

I've heard some good stuff about several other courses around town like Westchase, Heathland Crossing and a few others.  

Chris

[Tim Taylor]

I had a great time last summer at Heartland Crossing, just south and west of the airport. It's a Steve Smyers design with some cool holes. It was firm, fast, and in fabulous condition when I was there. It's in a development but the housing doesn't really encroach on the course.

The wind comes into play big time and the greens have some nice movement in them. Neat bunkering too.

http://www.heartlandcrossinggolf.com/

TimT

[Bob Barriger]

As has already been mentioned, those public tracks are all good. Within 45-50 miles of Indy is some other great public tracks, i.e North course at Purdue Kampen GC, Rock HOllow in Peru, IN owed by Chris Smith's family, south of INdy Otter Creek in Columbus a 1960 RTJ Sr. course, Harrison Hills in Attica, IN has some interesting holes. Send me a personal message before you come and if I'm available, I host you at my home course, Wolf Run GC. Other privates if you have some connection and access, Crooked Stick, Sagamore, Bridgewater are the best.

[JLahrman]

Thanks guys.  I played Otter Creek while in grad school at IU, had a good time there.  I also got down to French Lick Springs which is a ton of fun.  I've been meaning to get up to Purdue, I hear that's a good track.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

JAL, take Bob up on his generous offer, Wolf Run is quite a place.  It has been a few years since I have been up there, but it is a wonderful place.  A real retreat, and a tough test of golf.

On a side note, I was in Indy a few weeks ago, and finally played Brickyard Crossing which I had always wanted to see.  I was expecting a gimmicky day with not much architectural merit, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Other than the kind of strange par 3 inside the track I thought the holes were pretty decent.   When you finish the holes inside the track I was expecting a letdown after the themed portion of the round the holes actually get stronger.  

I am glad I finally got out there, probably not one I would play everyday, but something you should do once.  The Indianapolis Motorspeedway is a piece of Americana.

[JLahrman]

Turboe, I forgot all about the Brickyard which from what I hear is a quality track as well.  I went to the Formula One race at Indy in 2003 and got a quick look at a couple of the holes inside the track.  I imagine they'll play a lot differently without the drunken Europeans scattered about on picnic blankets but that's just a guess.

Too bad about what happened with the race this year.  Indy is a good place to get a look at an F1 race for a much cheaper ticket that I understand it costs at other locales.

[Rob_Waldron]

I was fortunate enough to play Wolf Run and Crooked Stick during a "fly by" last October. Two great choices!

I was amazed by Steve Smyers' routing of Wolf Run. The course looked as if it had been there forever. They are two very different golf courses!

[Nick Pozaric]

Brickyard Crossing is very good choice

[jg7236]

I agree with Rob.  I played Wolf Run last year, this course is sunken back in the woods with rolling hills that I never knew Indianapolis ever had, and I agree this course looks like it had been on that piece of property for many years.  One wouldn't be able to find this course if they didn't have good directions.  I drove by the course two times before I finally realized where to turn in, the main entrance just has a gate, a very sutle stone call box with a very small wolf emblem.  If one can get on this course, it is a must play course for the Indianapolis area.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I played both the Brickyard and The Trophy Club during the Final Four back in 2000, and I enjoyed them both.

The novelty of playing inside the racetrack while cars were testing/practicing was unique.  Overall, a unique concept, and quite fun.

The Trophy Club was a terrific blend of conditions:  Late March/Early April, 55 Degree tempuratures/20-30 MPH winds on a relatively flat piece of cleared farmland.  What made the Trophy Club was the ability of the dozer operators to recreate a scottish links style layout on this property.  The bunkers were sculpted with an absolute dead-on style that I remember to this day - 600 rounds later.  I found myself looking to the edges of the property to see trees to remind myself that I was not on the edge of the Firth of Forth.  Outside of a quirky 10th hole, the course is worth a visit.  The clubhouse has a lot of unique Hogan pictures as well.

As the Final Four returns to Indianapolis again this coming April, I am hoping to see Wolf Run, but I would definitely go back to the Trophy Club as well.

JWK

[John Nixon]

October golf in Indianapolis means you may be searching among the fallen leaves for a ball now and then, but it's worth it.

I'd second The Fort as a top candidate - it's surprisingly hilly for central Indiana, and looks more intimidating than it actually plays so long as you're on the proper tee.

Bear Slide is in my top 5 for the area - it's on the far northern fringe of the Indy area and doesn't get a lot of press. I played there last Friday and it was in very good condition. It's got a good variety of holes, including some nice short par 4s on the back.

West Chase is by Ron Kern, who also did Purgatory. Not quite as big and complex as Purgatory, but a lot of the same feel. Nice course.

I've not played Brickyard, Trophy Club or the private courses, but have heard good things about all the others mentioned in this thread.

[Andy Troeger]

I'm going to be making the drive down 31 from South Bend for a seminar and am hoping to hopefully get 18 or as many as I can play (weather/darkness permitting) afterwards on Sept 28. The seminar is basically by the intersection of 465 and I69 and we end at 3 so I won't have much time to drive someplace...from what I've read and know of locations would it be fair to say that the Fort is my best bet as a combo of good course/close by? Anything else I should consider? I'm hoping wherever I play won't be too crowded by that time of year. Purgatory is probably my 2nd choice.

[Chris_Clouser]

Andy,

Doing that trip you probably can get in Rock Hollow in Peru fairly easy I would think.  Also, where you will be at is like a mile from my office, so we could hook up at The Fort, which would be the closest quality course.  Purgatory is a good twenty minutes from you there.  I live near the course and it is five minutes beyond where I live.  Also, right in the area you will be at (Castleton) is a Pete Dye course that has some architectural merit, but not much, Sahm Park.  Also, Prairie View, a solid Kyle Philips-RTJII course, and Plum Creek (Dye-Liddy) design are in easy reaching distance depending on where you are exactly.  PV would be my pick of the two even if it is highpriced.

Shoot me an e-mail if you want to join up.  My guess by that time of year you it will be tough to get 18 in if you don't get out right at 3 pm.

Chris.clouser@aimco.com

[Andy Troeger]

Chris,
   Thanks, I'll shoot you an e-mail when we're getting closer and try to meet up with you at the Fort...I think that sounds like the best combo of good course/best chance to get in 18. Most of the seminars are pretty good about getting out on time so hopefully it also won't be too crowded and we'll be able to finish. Wish I had time to play Rock Hollow too, I've been there quite a few times and love it. Hopefully I'll get to Purgatory and Prairie View at some point too.
Andy