Dye Course@French Lick /Senior LPGA Championship

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Geoff Shackelford asks a very good question...


Any golfer who tuned in to the first two rounds of the Senior LPGA, they would have been treated to the silliness that is legends and other former LPGA greats trying to navigate a mountaintop mess in rural Indiana. On top of French Lick Resort’s “intense” Dye course, the overall look would make no one want to play this distance-fueled iteration of the game: a dearth of spectators, players taking carts kept on the paths, caddies sending them off with a couple of clubs (because who needs broken ankle?), and no shortage of ridiculous sidehill stances leading to drop-kick hybrids. There was even defending champion Laura Davies taking a tumble in round two (she’s ok, video below).
Here’s the worst part: the resort features a charming, lovingly restored Donald Ross course that would seem more fitting than the 8,102 yard (80.0 Course rating/148 Slope) Dye course that was built in hopes of attracting a modern-game major.


Why aren’t these LPGA greats playing the walkable Ross?


It's on the Golf Channel now.


https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/10/15/why-oh-why-files-senior-lpga-at-pete-dyes-french-lick-mountaintop-mess

[Peter Pallotta]

And yet:

54 year old Helen Alfredsson is in the lead at -2 after three rounds, and the ageless wonder Julie Inkster (almost 60 now) sits in 2nd place, after rounds of even par 72, 69, and 76 -- saying after her good 2nd round that, driving the ball well, she was left her with a lot of wedges into the greens.

Which is to say: maybe trying to navigate the distance fueled iteration of the game that is French Lick would be silliness for me and Geoff and most others here, but apparently it's not at all silly for former LPGA champions in their mid to late 50s!

What a great game golf is!

And besides, do we really need to see yet another low-key, easily walk-able and lovingly restored Ross course? I mean, playing it yourself is one thing, but watching the pros play it on tv is another 


 


 

[Joe Bausch]

Back when I began photo-documenting courses I played the Ross Course at French Link.  It was the day before the PGA Club Pro Championship in 2010.  With the magic of iPhoto, I think this album is pretty good:


http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/FrenchLickRoss/index.html

[Steve_ Shaffer]

@Peter


This was a 3 day tournament. It's over.  The caddies used a golf cart. Some of the holes looked like they need escalators.  I think Geoff S made good points. Why did the LPGA choose this course for their seniors ?


 https://www.lpga.com/news/2019-senior-lpga-championship-final-round-notes

[David_Tepper]

"Why did the LPGA choose this course for their seniors?"


Steve -

I read Geoff Shackelford's piece and I agree with what he is saying. My guess is the LPGA is somewhat at the mercy of the golf resorts or clubs willing to host a relatively low-key event like this. It is certainly possible that French Lick insisted the Pete Dye course be used, perhaps to give the course more exposure/promotion.

DT

[John Kavanaugh]

The Dye course is a much easier walk than the Ross Course. At 6,100 yds the Dye course plays as the scores indicate and the course is in tournament condition everyday of the year. I first played the Ross course over 40 years ago and am intimately familiar with all aspects of the resort.

[Nigel Islam]

The Dye course is a much easier walk than the Ross Course. At 6,100 yds the Dye course plays as the scores indicate and the course is in tournament condition everyday of the year. I first played the Ross course over 40 years ago and am intimately familiar with all aspects of the resort.

I agree that anyone familiar with the two courses would find it silly to say the Ross course is an easier walk. The Dye course is unnecessarily bashed on this website. While I do feel the Ross course (I know it as the "Hill" course pre restoration) is the better of the two layouts, we in Southern Indiana are as blessed to have these two layouts as we are to have Victoria National. The three courses are so superior to the other options it isn't even a fair comparison. The Senior PGA they had at the Dye course was a great venue.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

@ Nigel & John


Do you pay the $350 for the Dye Course or are you comped by the Casino?


I think the LPGA should reconsider Bulle Rock, former home of the LPGA event, for the Senior LPGA if they want a Pete Dye course in the more populated area between DC & Philly off I95.

[John Kavanaugh]

I’ve played the Dye course 4 or 5 times and never paid for a myriad of reasons. The resort is run by the nicest people in the business. It’s one reason professional golfers will put a tournament there on their schedule.

[Nigel Islam]

@ Nigel & John


Do you pay the $350 for the Dye Course or are you comped by the Casino?


I think the LPGA should reconsider Bulle Rock, former home of the LPGA event, for the Senior LPGA if they want a Pete Dye course in the more populated area between DC & Philly off I95.

I did a stay and play the first time, and paid much less than full price the second. I used to play the Ross course for $35 for all you could play. Sadly the aesthetic improvements to the course mean that sticker price is about 4X that now.


You have to know the history of French Lick. Where it was in the 1920s, where it was in the 1980s, and what Bill Cook did for the entirety of Orange County to appreciate why it’s a tad unfair to criticize a perfectly viable tournament venue. I first visited the town circa 1982 with my parents and fell in love with the town (my Celtics fandom probably helped that.) when I moved to Jasper as an adult in 2001, the town was even worse off than it was in the 80s. Koch’s investment in the town changed the narrative, and the Dye course was part of that. I’m sure JakaB will vouch for that. Go visit French Lick, you’ll have a great time.

[Peter Flory]

I played the Ross course last summer and it was really over watered. 


Did I catch them at a bad time or is it usually like that? 

[John Mayhugh]

Agreed that the Dye course at FL is better and more walkable than the conventional viewpoint on here. It looks really weird in pictures and sometimes in person, but plays much better. Missed shots often result in very difficult stances, but I think the notion that there's never a level lie is wrong.

I do prefer the Ross, but the gap isn't as huge as some might think. Like Nigel, I'm a bit spoiled by the memory of an all day rate there. The exclusivity rate for the Dye ensures I won't be making many visits to that course, though.

[Nigel Islam]

I played the Ross course last summer and it was really over watered. 


Did I catch them at a bad time or is it usually like that?

Maybe. It rarely plays fast and firm. Bent in Southern Indiana in the summer needs water. When those greens get close to 10 on the stimp though is when the course is the most fun.

[Nigel Islam]

Agreed that the Dye course at FL is better and more walkable than the conventional viewpoint on here. It looks really weird in pictures and sometimes in person, but plays much better. Missed shots often result in very difficult stances, but I think the notion that there's never a level lie is wrong.

I do prefer the Ross, but the gap isn't as huge as some might think. Like Nigel, I'm a bit spoiled by the memory of an all day rate there. The exclusivity rate for the Dye ensures I won't be making many visits to that course, though.

Spot on. I’m not sure I’d advocate paying $350 for a Doak six level course, but that’s not the reason it’s there. I’m just saying we aren’t Philly, Boston, New York, or California down here. We will take what we can get😁

[John Kavanaugh]

It’s hard to celebrate a special occasion with a group of swinging dick Kentuckiana hillbillies on the adjacent hole. No one cashes a paycheck and pays after tax money to play the Dye course. It’s a private invitation only party atmosphere. That’s priceless after a day in the mines.