Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1543299
Donald Ross is a course that demands a lot from your irons and boasts some of the longest par-3s out there, including three that stretch 230 yards from the tips. A renovation of the 1917-built course maintained Ross' original elements, including the undulating greens that are among the most radically shaped and contoured in golf. Head a few miles up the road, and that's where Pete Dye delivers the theatrics. The Hall of Fame designer literally moved a mountain to create this Dye-abolical test of modern golf. When Dye visited the property in 2005 and first walked the grounds, he said building a course here was impossible because of the severity of the slopes and rugged terrain at 900 feet of elevation. But less than 24 hours later, Dye changed his mind. He set forth constructing a course with panoramic views that stretch up to 40 miles and have guests wondering aloud: "Are we really still in the Midwest?" You can play The Pete Dye Course from the tips, then snag an "8102" shirt from the golf shop as proof of tackling one of the top-10 longest courses in the country. The 1-2 punch of Pete Dye and Donald Ross have pushed French Lick consistently to the head of the class: 2025 marks the 15th straight year the courses have been #1 and #2 in Indiana on Golfweek's "Best You Can Play" rankings. "I think the quality of golf takes people by surprise," Harner says. "And the massive size of the property takes them by surprise. I don't think they plan to see what they see when they get here." The accommodations also deliver a "wow" factor. French Lick Springs Hotel (established 1845) and West Baden Springs Hotel (1855) are a pair of lavish hotels that were the Las Vegas of their time, both brought back to life by a multi-million-dollar restoration. There's also live-dealer table games and sportsbook action on-site at French Lick Casino, plus a host of other resort amenities. But with so many courses nearby, most golf groups have a single- minded mission while in French Lick. Nearly half of French Lick's golf guests make the 30-minute drive to Jasper to play Sultan's Run, a championship course designed by Pete Dye disciple Tim Liddy. And back at French Lick, golfers have a whole new experience to try at Sand Creek, the new 9-hole short course that debuted in 2025.