2nd Donald Ross course, French Lick

[Doug Ralston]

On JK's advice among others, I 'rectified' my lack of Rossian experience at the Re-Rossified 'French Lick'. FWIW, the fees till the close at the end of Novemebr are $50 weekdays, $75 weekends.

The bad:

1. The fairways were vastly overseeded, and were so high it was like playing in light rough, to say the least.

2. The deep rough was 'lose your ball' rough, period.

3. There was little light rough between the fairways and the lost balls.

4. Blind shots are ok occasionally, especially if you already know the course. Too many here! You'de come over a hill after your tee shot and have little clue where to even look if you were not in the fairway.

The good:

1. The bunkers, as were described earlier, were very penal but much fun to try to get out of for us.

2. Those bunkers which are visually deceptive made for some thinking.

3. The greens! These were clearly Ross greens. Putt at your own risk.

All that said, I left with a much nicer opinion of Ross architecture than I had after Elks [McDermot, OH]. It was clear that on this day you needed to be a straight hitter to keep your ball, and I often was not. But the bunkers and greens made for fun and thoughtful play.

I especially enjoyed trying to get a putt close to the front pin from the back left on #13. It required hitting from a swale up diagonally, then dropping swiftly down to a slight flattened area were the pin was located, and staying there or running entirely off the green.

So my experience continues. Who knows, it may even mature.

Doug

[Mike Hendren]

Doug,

Wouldn't you agree that the "bad" nos. 1-3 are not Ross' fault?   Also, the only blind shots I recall are the tee shots at the 9th and 14th.    

The high rough is lamentable as Ross is noted for defending par around the greens with the Hill Course being a good example.  

What did you think of the routing over this relatively difficult piece of land?

Mike  

[Doug Ralston]

Michael;

Actually, #2 was the 1st blind tee shot. Remember please the I play from forward tees, hitting my mighty Hi-Bore all of 190yds. In this case, it seemed clear that from our tee the fairway turned slightly right over that hill. When I got up there ...... no ball, although it described exactly the 'fade' I wanted from it. Much searching later I found it in the long grass below and right of the third green. Musta been some 'fade'! Unfortunately, several other balls were not findable at all.

The high rough had actually bent over, but was so thick that no significant likelihood existed of finding it ....... though randomly finding others was available, and did happen on a couple occasions.

I thought the use of this relatively small property was nice. There where only a couple holes where the next tee was a significant walk. The land is rolling, though not extremely so.

Again, most of his defense is bunkers and greens. They define the course as his.

Doug

[John Kavanaugh]

Doug,

Did you walk the Ross Course.  If so I commend you as I believe carts are included in the price.

I found the fairways incredible given the recent winter kill our region suffered on bermuda.  Of all the courses I have played this year, French Lick did the best by far in combating the problem.

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
You might be the only GCA'er that would call the French Lick property "rolling, though not extremely so."  

There's some mighty big hills especially for Indiana out there. I've seen bigger obviously, but they didn't used to call it the "Hill" course for nothing!

[Doug Ralston]

John, Andy;

John; no we did not walk. As Andy says, those are some hills and as you say the cart was 'free'. But: It may have been easier to walk. It was cartpath only, and almost invariably the nature of Murphy had our Noodles in the rough opposite the path. Thus one must trudge to the search area, locate, determine need, return to cart for club [leaving hat on ball for re-location], return to ball, hit to miss the next target etc.  

We likely would have walk less if we pulled [I have not carry bag, mine is unsuitable].

Still, we got through in 3.5 hrs, and that with slowing by a foursome on the front. No too bad. I gotta say though, French Lick is not the worst possible walking course. Do not try it at Old Silo, and certainly not at Stonecrest or Eagle Ridge.

Andy; yes, as you say, fairly hilly. Come to Eastern Kentucky, where some of the most wonderful 'riding courses' are. Even if you usually walk, you won't regret the 'inconvenience of a cart'. I am afraid I still rate them far better than French Lick [or the Liddy's of Sultan's Run and Rock Hollow for that matter]. Just my humble opinion.

French Lick is worth a visit, but I am unlikely to return because of the cost.

The folks there told me the 'Dye' will likely open Spring 2009, though possibly next Fall. It will be "much more expensive" than next year's Ross prices, which will be $115/$85.

Possibly $200 for golf in S Indiana? Oh my!

Doug

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
I've been through Kentucky and played some mountain courses in Tennessee, but the mountains and elevation changes there pale in comparison to Colorado and even New Mexico for my tastes. For a golf course though French Lick certainly has plenty of undulation, probably about as much for a classic era course as you could find.

Paa-Ko Ridge and Black Mesa are more spectacular than anything in Indiana. I like Sultan's Run better than French Lick as well personally.

[Doug Ralston]

Andy;

Wish I COULD get out West. Paa-Ko-Ridge, Black Mesa, and Lakota Canyon look awesome!

Doug

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
The NM pair might be worth looking into. This is not a real pricy area, if you did something shoulder season I would guess you could play both courses pretty inexpensively. Obviously the travel's never really cheap but might be worth keeping in mind. Lakota is pretty remote and would be harder to get to, although the green fee still isn't that bad.

Sorry for the threadjack

[Lawrence Largent]

Doug,

I noticed that you play alot in eastern Kentucky. Have you played Houston Oaks if so what did you think of it. Also have you played the new Keith Foster course in Lexington. I'm thinking about coming up for the UT, UK football game and might give it a go.


Lawrence

[John Mayhugh]

Doug,

I noticed that you play alot in eastern Kentucky. Have you played Houston Oaks if so what did you think of it. Also have you played the new Keith Foster course in Lexington. I'm thinking about coming up for the UT, UK football game and might give it a go.
Lawrence

What's the new Keith Foster course in Lexington?

[John Kavanaugh]

The folks there told me the 'Dye' will likely open Spring 2009, though possibly next Fall. It will be "much more expensive" than next year's Ross prices, which will be $115/$85.

Possibly $200 for golf in S Indiana? Oh my!

Doug

The new Dye course will be as expensive as any Dye in the country...pushing $300.  I can also see it being a mandatory hotel stay kind of place.  I think it will be a huge success based on what I have seen so far when touring the site.

[Doug Ralston]

$300?  

Another playground for the SuperRich!  

Don't you hate those guys John?  

Clinton 08!  

Doug  

[John Kavanaugh]

$300?  

Another playground for the SuperRich!  

Don't you hate those guys John?  

Clinton 08!  

Doug  

I have rarely been wrong but when it came to the demographic that would pay over $100 for the Ross course I was way off.  The tee sheet has been full all year and it ain't the locals from Orange County.  Take 8 green chips and hit a black jack and you have $300.  I don't know if it is the casino, the hotel or the sulfur water but people are spending the bucks at French Lick and it isn't the super rich.  I am now a believer and believe the Dye course will be full of people from God knows where.

[Nick Pozaric]

John, I have heard that twice as much earth has been moved at the new Dye course than was moved at Whistling Straits.  Did you notice this?

[John Kavanaugh]

I have no idea how much dirt was moved at WS so I can not answer your question.  I do doubt the rumor based on what I saw last year on my tour.  I have never seen a more beautiful piece of property in Indiana so I doubt if a bizarro amount was moved.