North County Pike Rd,
French Lick, Indiana 47432
Office
+1 (888) 936 9360 (toll free)Pro shop
+1 (812) 936 9300Fax
+1 (812) 936 2100Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Dave Harner (Director of Golf); Deven Trueblood (Head Golf Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Open links-style. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland (on the edge of Hoosier Natl Forest)
Designer:
Pete Dye (2009). Located 2 mi SE of the Dye course is the resort's original course (Valley Links), an 18-hole layout designed by Tom Bendelow (1907) and later revamped into a 9-hole layout (by Lee Schmidt, 2006) when ground was given up to build the casino.
The four French Lick Resort golf courses, and their location from the French Lick Springs Hotel are: Valley Links (9-holes, par-36, 1900 yds from back tees, onsite); Donald Ross course (18-hole, par-70, 7030 yds, 2.2 mi SW); Pete Dye course (18-hole, par-72, 8102 yds, 2 mi NW); Sultan's Run GC (18-holes, par-72, 6859 yds, 24 mi SW).
38.570079
-86.635866
2 mi NW of French Lick / 60 mi NW of Louisville, KY.
French Lick (Dye)
The Pete Dye Course at French Lick: Two iconic hotels and four golf courses (including the revered Pete Dye and Donald Ross courses) all contribute to the fabled French Lick Resort. At the resort's centre, the 443-room French Lick Springs Hotel is an American classic. Just over a mile to the north you'll find the European styled West Baden Springs Hotel, with its extraordinary atrium.
Two miles from the centre and sitting atop the second highest point in Indiana is the Pete Dye course. Occupying a former horse farm, this is one of Indiana's top-rated and finest championship layouts, which certainly gives you an "on top of the world" feeling.
From its lofty perch on this unique property, the sumptuous and historic clubhouse offers sweeping views across the wooded Indiana hills. In the foreground Dye's dramatic big dimension layout rolls its way across undulating terrain, presenting a testing challenge no matter what your handicap level. Make sure you choose your tees carefully - it's over 8,100 yards from the tips.
Although surrounded by pristine woodland, the course itself is virtually treeless. Every one of the expansively open holes is a carefully crafted Pete Dye work of art - wonderfully creative, great to look at, but fiendishly intimidating. The relatively narrow ribbon-like fairways are flanked by a profusion of mounds and steep drop-away grassy banks. The Himalayan mounding is frequently laced with bunkers and sandy waste areas of every conceivable shape and size. You'll discover that soon enough, not least at the par-4 2nd, which is flanked on its left side by a posse of "volcano-like" mounds, each topped with a bunker.
This just about walkable course, with its three man-made lakes and variety of elevation changes, offers forty-mile panoramic views and a wonderfully scenic golf experience. Standing at 1,000-feet above sea level, the clubhouse is a turn of the century mansion built for Thomas Taggart. Impeccably restored and decorated in painstaking detail, the mansion is available for lodging and the carriage house now serves as the pro shop.
Pick of the holes: With water flanking the entire rightside of the hole, the long par-3 16th is as tough and scary as they come - a mere 301-yards from the tips.
Stay&Play at French Lick: luxury accommodation is available 2 mi from the course in the resort's West Baden Springs and French Lick Springs hotels (see Where2Stay section below).
Resort guests staying at the French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs hotels can book to play the Dye course on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2020].
Walking permitted. Forecaddies are compulsory, whether riding or carrying. Golf carts are fitted with GPS.
Excellent
The clubhouse of the Pete Dye Course at French Lick is something quite special. It is housed in a converted and updated mansion, which is located on a hill at the second highest point in Indiana. The views from here are stunning. The mansion originally belonged to Thomas Taggart, a former U.S. Senator, Mayor of Indianapolis, and one-time owner of the French Lick Springs Hotel. Guests staying at French Lick can enjoy lunch during the winter season at the exclusive Taggart Mansion/Pete Dye Clubhouse.
The local town of French Lick was originally a French trading post, built near a spring and salt lick. A mineral or salt lick is a natural mineral deposit that is sought out by animals, providing them with essential mineral nutrients.
PETE DYE GOLF TRAIL: Established in 2011 to showcase seven of the great man's courses in Indiana, the Pete Dye Golf Trail comprises: Birck Boilermaker (Kampen course), Brickyard Crossing, French Lick (Pete Dye course), Maple Creek, Mystic Hills, Plum Creek and The Fort.
Referred to by many as the father of modern golf course architecture, Pete Dye made an indelible mark on the game of golf. After carefully studying golf courses in the British Isles, he honed his craft in Indiana, before going on to produce a raft of stunning designs, including TPC Sawgrass, Whistling Straits and Harbor Town. Dye designs, created by Pete, his wife Alice and their family, now span the globe.
Dye course:
Indiana's 3rd best course (Golf Digest, 2023/24).
USA's 118th best course, and 19th best public access course (Golf Digest, 2023).
8670 W State Rd 56, French Lick, Indiana 47432.
+1 (812) 936 9300
Visit websiteOriginally established in 1845, with the original east wing built in 1901, the French Lick Springs Hotel has attracted guests from around the world to experience the "miracle waters" of its nearby sulfur springs. Now this classic hotel has been restored, and offers over 440 guest rooms and suites. From the distinctive mosaic and marble flooring to a 109,000 square foot Conference & Events Center, this hotel has something everyone can enjoy.
French Lick (Valley Links)
French Lick (Ross course, 2.2 mi); French Link (Dye course, 2 mi).
French Lick (Sultan's Run course, 24 mi)
8538 W Baden Ave, West Baden Springs, IN 47469.
+1 (812) 936 9300
Visit websiteThe fabulous West Baden Springs Hotel is anything but ordinary. This National Historic Landmark was built in 1902, and boasts a domed atrium spanning 200 feet. The 243 luxury guest rooms rise in six tiers around the dome, and balcony rooms provide a panoramic view of the atrium. In 2006 the West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Springs Hotel united under the umbrella of French Lick Resort.
No
French Lick (Ross course, 3 mi); French Link (Dye course, 1.5 mi).
French Lick (Sultan's Run course, 24 mi)
The Masters: The 88th Masters Tournament at Augusta National sees LIV golfer Jon Rahm defend his title against the world’s best. Pressing hard will be world No.1 and 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler and world No.2 Rory McIlroy (April 11-14).
Chevron Championship: the women’s major championship season gets underway for the second year at its new Carlton Woods home outside Houston, Texas. World No.2 Lilia Vu defends (April 18-21).
Nelly Korda: records a perfect start to 2024 with four wins out of her last four appearances on the LPGA Tour, a feat last achieved by Lorena Ochoa in 2008. Korda's win at the T-Mobile Match Play brought up her 12th LPGA Tour victory.
Scottie Scheffler: narrowly missed out on matching Nelly Korda’s three-in-three, when he placed second at the Houston Open. This followed back-to-back wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players. Like Korda, he remains comfortably ahead in the official world golf rankings.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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