Photos of So. IN trip: Belterra, Cambridge, Victoria Nat'l, & Fr Lick Ross

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick Ross #2.  Par 4 (419 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick Ross #3.  Downhill approach shot on this par 4 (424 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #4.  Uphill par 3 (240 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #5.  Elevated tee shot on this long par 4 (476 yards).

[PCCraig]

The Ross Course at French Lick is really good. Thanks for posting all of the photos Joe.

So far in your photo thread I love the cross bunkers on 2 and the 4th green.

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #6.  Par 3 across a ravine (249 yards).

[Link Walsh]

Joe,

Course looks great.

Does the golfer typically drive over those bunkers off the tee on #2?  I can't tell where they are in relation to the landing area.

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #7.  The No. 1 handicap hole, a par 5 (538 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #8.  A slight dogleg-left par 4 (392 yards).   

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick #9.  A slightly uphill par 4 (366 yards) where you cross the road to the clubhouse near the green.

[George Freeman]

GREAT photos of the French Lick Ross course; the best I have seen.  Thanks Joe!

The course looks phenomenal and, IMO, much better and more fun than the Dye course (I haven't played either).

Joe,

How was the course playing?  With the fairways beautifully laid over all those rolling hills, I bet it would be a blast if the course was firm and fast.  

I too love the look of the cross and centerline bunkers.

I need to get down there...

[Joe Bausch]

Joe,

Course looks great.

Does the golfer typically drive over those bunkers off the tee on #2?  I can't tell where they are in relation to the landing area.

Link, I think your longer hitters can carry those bunkers no problem.  Since they aren't in the Google Earth 2005 aerial, I can't tell you exactly what the carry is.  Shorter hitters obviously can scoot past them to the right if they are accurate.

[Joe Bausch]

GREAT photos of the French Lick Ross course; the best I have seen.  Thanks Joe!

The course looks phenomenal and, IMO, much better and more fun than the Dye course (I haven't played either).

Joe,

How was the course playing?  With the fairways beautifully laid over all those rolling hills, I bet it would be a blast if the course was firm and fast.  

I too love the look of the cross and centerline bunkers.

I need to get down there...

Although it had rained some the day before, it still played somewhat f&f.  It was a bit windy which made it even more fun.  And I loved the look of the long fescue in the wind... like waves going through it.  I sort of wish all those little evergreens were not dotting the landscape as to my eyes they detract a bit from the still beautiful look.

[Jud_T]

Joe,

Now that's something worth a road trip! Thanx for posting.....

[George Freeman]

Joe,

Now that's something worth a road trip! Thanx for posting.....

Jud,

I am IN!

[Andrew Lewis]

Joe -

Many thanks for the great work and detailed photos.  My in-laws recently moved to Evansville, so VN and the French Lick loom large in my future.  This thread has definitely upped the excitement level!

Cheers, Andrew

[John Mayhugh]

I've only played French Lick in the late fall or winter and am wowed at how plush it looks.  I need to make a trip over there.

Thanks for the photos, Joe.  Only one quibble - I wouldn't call the 8th a slight dogleg.  That's a tough tee shot on the hole since you don't want to be hitting a lot of club at that green - a little short is dead.

[Brent Carlson]

Joe - tremendous pictures!

The Ross course is really good.  I remember something else different about the course - I believe the fairways are bermuda, which was surprising to me considering the course is in Indiana. 

Is number 4 a par 3?  I thought it was.

Thanks for all the good pics and time you took into creating this thread.

[Andy Troeger]

Victoria National is really good and actually has a pretty good variety of holes throughout the course. To be honest, after hearing about the incredible difficulty, I didn't think the first thirteen holes were all that difficult. You can shoot a big number if you are errant off the tee, but if you can keep it in play it was very reasonable. The last five holes then get really difficult, but overall I didn't find the course to be as difficult as Valhalla or the Pete Dye Course at French Lick which I played on the same trip.

The Ross Course at French Lick is also good and very different from VN and I think makes a good case to be one of the Top 100 Classics. The work done a few years ago improved the course dramatically from what I saw in the mid-1990's.

[Joe Bausch]

Is number 4 a par 3?  I thought it was.

Yes, it is a par 3.  My bad. I guess watching the Women's US Open #17 on Sunday got me confused.   

[Mike Cirba]

Joe,

Did you get much of a look at the new Dye course at French Lick?   

I suspect I'd favor the Ross, particularly after seeing your pics, as the Dye seemed pretty severe for the average guy based on the little I know.

[Joe Bausch]

Did you get much of a look at the new Dye course at French Lick?   

I did not go up and look at the Dye course.  Next time!

[Joe Bausch]

Okay, time for the back nine at the Donald Ross Course at French Lick.

French Lick Ross #10.  Down-then-up par 4 (383 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick Ross #11.  Down-then-up par 4 (367 yards).

[Joe Bausch]

French Lick Ross #12.  Par 4 (435 yards).