The Pete Dye Course at French Lick
8670 W. State Rd. 56 |
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Etched into the hillsides of southern Indiana, this Pete Dye-designed behemoth is breathtakingly beautiful. Judging by the rave reviews it garnered during its rookie season (voted by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as the Best New Course in 2009), the course is an instant classic.
The Pete Dye Golf Course at French Lick is perched atop the bounding countryside adjacent to the luxurious French Lick Resort, overlooking the Hoosier National Forest. Having built golf courses all over the world including great coastal sites, this course arguably could be considered Dye’s best inland site. Golfers will enjoy a 40-mile panoramic view in every direction.
| Golf Course Statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | Par | Yards | Slope | Rating |
| Gold | 72 | 8102 | 148 | 80.0 |
| Black | 72 | 7254 | 139 | 76.2 |
| Blue | 72 | 6701 | 135 | 73.3 |
| White |
72 | 6115 | 130 | 70.6 |
| Red |
72 | 5151 | 120 (L) | 70.5 (L) |
Awards and Accolades
- Best New Public Course in America 2009 - Golf Digest
- Best New Course of the Year 2009 - Golf Magazine
- Rated in the Top 25 American Resort Courses 2009 (No. 24) - Golfweek Magazine
- Rated one of the Best New Courses 2009 - Links Magazine
- No. 1 Public Course in Indiana 2009 - Golfweek
- No. 6 Casino Course - Golf Digest
Related Articles
- French Lick Resort Hosts First Major Golf Event This Summer
- Golfweek Gives Props to French Lick's Dynamic Duo
- Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort Makes its Long-Awaited Debut
- Golf Digest's "Best New Course" Honors go to French Lick Course
- Pete Dye's New Course (Golf Digest Blog)
2010 PGA Professional National Championship
The PGA Professional National Championship, featuring a nationwide field of 312 PGA Professionals, will utilize the par-70, 7,000-yard Donald Ross Course and the par-72, 8,100-yard Pete Dye Course. The Championship’s final two rounds will be conducted on The Pete Dye Course. The tournament is scheduled for June 27 - 30.
Signature Hole - Par 4 11th, 429 yards
This hole is not the lengthiest hole on the course, but it's certainly one of the most challenging and scenic. A narrow fairway and a green situated atop the steep ridgeline makes this a memorable hole. Danger awaits errant shots.
Hall of Fame Golf
- Package includes one day of unlimited golf on The Donald Ross Course at French Lick, plus one day of unlimited golf on The Pete Dye Course, and an overnight stay at the luxurious West Baden Springs Hotel. The package starts at $550 per person. To book, call 1-888-936-9360 or visit www.frenchlickgolf.com.
Spring Golf Package Extended Through May
French Lick's popular "Spring Golf Package" has been extended through the month of May. For full details, click here. To book this package call (888) 936-9360 and mention code PSRGF or Click Here.
Hole by Hole
Hole No. 1
The key to enjoying The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is to select the set of tees that best suits your game. We recommend that no one attempt the gold tees unless your handicap is 5 or less; black tees 10 or less, blue tees 15 or less, white tees 25 or less; all others play the forward tees. This opening hole requires a right center tee shot just inside the three large fairway bunkers. The proper approach favors the right side of the green, where there is plenty of bailout area.
Hole No. 2
One of the short par 4s on the course is lined with Pete Dye’s volcano bunkers up the right side. The fairway becomes very narrow at 300 yards from the black tee. This allows the long hitter the option to go long, but at a risk of having an awkward lie and stance for his short approach. The target is again right center.
Hole No. 3
This is a real three-shot par 5. Again, large bunkers line the right hand side of the fairway and a steep dropoff threatens players on the left, so accuracy is a premium. Even the longest of hitters will doubt their chances of reaching this hole in two. The best approach angle is from the bunker at the turn of the fairway, approximately 140 yards from the green. However, the battle is far from over once you reach the green. Though this is one of the bigger greens on the course, it is also one of the trickiest.
