[D_Malley]

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5/bnoser/IMG_0353.jpg

doesn't Torresdale Frankfort in NE Phila. have a par three that looks very similar to the 4th pictured above?

[John Kavanaugh]

Oh, just fess up, Barney.  You just like this course because the continuous cart paths give you a woody...

The cart paths are concrete and it ain't called the hill course for nothing.  I have zero interest in walking the place.  I look forward to another round of winter rates...The pro has been very generous to me in the past but I can only beg so often before going retail.  For reasons I do not understand the resort sends me coupons for hotel rooms but nothing for golf.

I have toured the new Dye course and it is jaw droppingly good.  I had no idea Indiana had such views and trust Pete to finish the course in a complimenary manner.  You will not believe how upscale every aspect of the resort is...I do not understand their intended demographic as for a small town boy I arn't cheap and the place has out priced me.

[Steve Pozaric]

Oh, just fess up, Barney.  You just like this course because the continuous cart paths give you a woody...

The cart paths are concrete and it ain't called the hill course for nothing.  I have zero interest in walking the place.  I look forward to another round of winter rates...The pro has been very generous to me in the past but I can only beg so often before going retail.  For reasons I do not understand the resort sends me coupons for hotel rooms but nothing for golf.

I have toured the new Dye course and it is jaw droppingly good.  I had no idea Indiana had such views and trust Pete to finish the course in a complimenary manner.  You will not believe how upscale every aspect of the resort is...I do not understand their intended demographic as for a small town boy I arn't cheap and the place has out priced me.

I was there pre-renovation and, while I really enjoyed the golf course, the hotel was right out of the shining.  As penance for dragging my wife along, we spent some time in Brown County.  Talk about guy h*ll - shop after shop of knick knacks and holiday decorations!

[RDecker]

Love the bunkers, did Ron Forse do the renovations there?

[JLahrman]

Did they remove some trees as well?  I've only played the course once but it seemed to have more trees when I played.  In particular, I don't remember the view from the 14th tee to the 15th hole behind it being so open.

[Brad Swanson]

Man, if the cartpath at 18 green linked up to 1 tee and formed a complete circuit, it could be the equivalent of the Nurburgring for go-karts (and maybe golf carts)!

Cheers,
Brad

[Mike Hendren]

I have been a huge fan of this course since playing there a few years ago (Tim Bert, it's doable in a day from Nashvegas), but am astonished at the extent to which everyone is sudddenly enlightened - proving once again that this bunch is a sucker for pretty bunkers and green, green grass.

As for authenticity, it's the genuine article with the exception of nos. 14 and 15 resulting from the installation of a pond some time ago.  I believe only the 14th green is not original, however.  Stellar par three's.

Barney, is the Dye course replacing Bendelow's?



Mike

[Jay Cox]

Mike,
I believe -- though I'm not sure -- that part of the Bendelow course is being bulldozed and that the other part is being reconstituted as a nine-hole course.  The Dye course, I think, is being built entirely on new ground.  The changes to the Bendelow course are not in any way a restoration, and one staff member told me that they'll have the effect of making the nine holes much harder than any part of the Bendelow course ever was, perhaps as hard as the Ross course.

[Tom Yost]

And as a long time resident of Cincinnati I didn't know we had any shopping here anymore. Certainly not any that you would want to travel for.

What about that Shillito's place?  Downtown?  


Tom

[michael_j_fay]

The cart paths are rather evident but a much better rendition than the black top that preceded them. Used to look like an extension of 1-65.

If you examine the Ross hole drawing, which hang in the clubhouse you will find the course very much like it was when drawn. Lollipop pines or not there are very few trees on the property and the most objectionable ones are there for safety reasons. The restoration was done by Lee Schmid with assistance of some of the local brethern and the eye of the Cook Ind. Chairman which owns and operates the entire property.

Part of the Bendelow course was sacrificed for the building of the casino. Nine holes (substantially renovated by Schmid) are in play. The Dye course is up the hill behind the casino and hotel on a magnificent piece of property with 60 mile  views. The Dye course was penciled in for 2008 but may be a little late in coming on board.

One of the few significant changes on the course was a near imperceptible raising of the eighth green which now allows for more pinning opportunities and less likelihood of rolling the ball off the front.

This course has one of the most unusual sets of greens in the Ross portfolio and seventeen of the original eighteen greens are in play.

Great photos.

[Doug Ralston]

And as a long time resident of Cincinnati I didn't know we had any shopping here anymore. Certainly not any that you would want to travel for.

What about that Shillito's place?  Downtown?  


Tom

Nope! All the department stores have left downtown. The shopping has all gone to the upscale NE burbs, or a little less upscale across the River in Florence, KY. Sorry.

Chris Couser;

If she does drag you to Cincy, stop and play the nice little Nicklaus 'Aston Oaks'. More I play that one [only $29 for Seniors on weekdays!], the more I enjoy the design. Nothing super, but pleasing.

FWIMC;

Nashville is a daytrip from French Lick, just 3.5hrs each way.

Only the prices have defended this course from me thus far. Maybe this Winter.

Doug

[John Nixon]

And as a long time resident of Cincinnati I didn't know we had any shopping here anymore. Certainly not any that you would want to travel for.

What about that Shillito's place?  Downtown?  


Tom

Yeah, you can hit the Maisonette after spending the afternoon at Shillito's.

[Joe Bausch]

Over 4 million bucks spent on this restoration:

http://www.pga.com/news/travel/midwest/ross090606.cfm

[Steve Kline]

Just so you non-Cincinnatians are totally aware the Maisonette doesn't exist anymore ( got the sarcasm but wasn't sure if everyone else would). Too bad because it was one of, if not the, longest running 5 star restaurants in the country. The chef opened up another restaurant or two in the area though (can't remember what they are).

Chris - if you're coming this way and your wife wants to shop in the NE area of the city, Shaker Run is only 15 minutes or so away from there. Play the older two nines - I think they are quite fun and interesting. I'd be willing to host you at my club - a Steve Smyers course - if I'm town when you are here.

[Brian Noser]

Well The reviews are in the course is great get out and see it... I think I smell a midwest outing.... here are a few more to tease you all...

Here is # 1 and 10 early in the morning



#2 over the bunkers is the play. notice how the 3 bunkers line up but the one on the far right is actually about 40 yards short of the green



# 4 from a different angle



Here is my 3rd on the 665 par 5 15th  steep slope from left to right with OB right



and last but not least 17 green with the huge tier in the middle

[Andy Troeger]

One thing I remember not liking at French Lick that appears to be shown in the picture of the 4th hole is that holes sometimes run parallel and very close together making it very easy to hit into other fairways etc. Is that the case or is my mind playing tricks on me?

[Brian Noser]

Andy you are correct that is one thing I noticed as well. all the holes run the same ways with the exception of 9 and 16. It kind of bothered me as well but I dont think I felt claustrophobic until I got to 17 when I hit it into 18 fairway. The variation of holes though made up for it IMO.

[Mike Hendren]

Just want to give a shout out to Donald Ross' merry band of "farmers" who somehow time and again built rock solid courses east of the Mississippi River despite Ross' inattentiveness.  

Mike

[Andy Troeger]

Brian,
Thanks, I am a bit erratic off the tee so that kind of stuff tends to bug me more than most probably.

What percentage of the par fours have downhill tee shots followed by uphill approaches? The topography is cool as there are no flat holes, but that seemed common as well.

[Doug Ralston]

Andy;

ROFL! I would think that close 'alternate fairways' would be a good thing for we who are 'erratic' [say: banana] off the tees!

Doug

[Brian Noser]

lets see I will go through all so you know I think it is a pretty good variety.

tee shot          green

#1 down hill  ---uphill
#2 down hill  ---uphill
#3 up hill      ---down hill
#4 par 3 up hill
#5 down hill  --- very slightly up hill
#6 par 3 alittle up hill 240
#7 level but to a rolling fairway
#8 up hill    ----down hill
#9 up hill    ----up hill

#10 little down -- up hill
#11 down hill but into the LZ it up hill
#12 down hill    ---uphill
#13 par 3 little up hill
#14 uphill  ----down hill
#15 up hill    ----up hill
#16 par 3 down hill
#17 down hill  -----up hill
#18 up hill  ---up hill

[Andy Troeger]

Doug,
The fairways certainly are good for my score, but I find it uncomfortable if holes are too close together.

Brian,
There's certainly some variety, but quite a few down then up holes as I remembered (if you take out of the par threes its about half the holes). I do want to get back to see the changes in person, but I'm not ready to proclaim it as great as some of the other comments from the photos.

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