Nestled on 175 wooded acres in southern Boone County near the picturesque town of Zionsville, The Golf Club of Indiana is just 20 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport. With water on 15 holes, 72 bunkers (same as par) and championship tees of more than 7,000 yards, you'll find the Golf Club of Indiana both challenging and appealing

Indiana features a wide range of high quality golf facilities - with a longer season (than northern golf properties) that encompasses the late fall, parts of winter and early spring. Southern and South Central Indiana golf properties are open for most of the year.

The Players Club in Yorktown (East Central Indiana) presents finely maintained bent grass greens, fairways and tees, on a mildly rolling terrain that plays beside an upscale residential community. Contoured mounding separates some parallel fairways and provides character and design features to the mix of open and tree lined par fours and fives. There is usually ample room off the tee, and golfers will encounter open green complexes which afford excellent chances for up and down recoveries. Bunkering near the fairways and greenside is understated but strategic, with a total of 34 sand traps on the course. The putting surfaces themselves are medium in size and are quite undulating, with swales and mounds awaiting offline approaches. Practice facilities include a grass range and large putting/chipping green - one of the best facilities in the region. Instruction from the PGA professional for lessons of all kinds is available on property, and tee times are accepted up to 1 week in advance. USGA handicapping is also available, as are memberships.

The Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis is a 4 1/2 star (Golf Digest Places to Play) championship layout that was redesigned by Pete dye in 1995. At the time, Mr. Dye intimated on how he appreciated the piece of property that made up the 238 acres which is encompassed by Ft. Harrison State Park. After our review round in July 2005 - we can see why. This course traverses a varied terrain that features deep ravines at one turn, and wide fairways bordered by mature forest at others. There is also a great mix of green complexes - some protected by deep bunkers and grassy swales, while others afford opportunities for bump and run chips to open fronts. Throughout the conditioning from tee to green was outstanding on our visit, with manicured bent grass fairways, greens and tees, which are often bordered by high native grasses. Four sets of tee boxes play to yardages and slopes measuring 7148 yards/139 slope, 6758 yards/133 slope, 6114 yards/127 slope and 5045 yards with a slope of 123 from the forward sets. Sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green, and the cart paths have permanent markers at 100, 150 and 200 yards. Hole diagram booklets, with tips on how to best play each hole, are standard on all golf carts. Over 50 sand bunkers are located along the rolling fairways, or are strategically positioned greenside. A beautiful, clear running creek crosses the fairways on a few holes, but water is not a main hazard on this layout.

Country Oaks is located in Montgomery, IN. over an hours drive south of Indianapolis, and west of Louisville, KY. This is a player friendly, value oriented golf course recommended for golfers of all skill levels. Five sets of tee boxes play to distances and slopes measuring 6929 yards/129 slope, 6585 yards/125 slope, 6076 yards/120 slope, 5338 yards/110 slope, and from the front tees 4983 yards with a slope of 113 for woman. As these ratings indicate, this is a player friendly course that is great for beginners. This course starts off long with a par five and finishes with a short par four. The front nine is basic with flat landing areas and putting surfaces and some water hazards which provide most of the challenge. Some teed boxes are surrounded by trees making tee shots seem narrow. Then fairways open up in the landing zones. The back nine is more difficult with more elevation changes and mounding. The 18th hole is a beautiful par four which is short, yet challenging with water along the left side of the fairway all the way to the hole.

White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point, Indiana - less than 1 hour east of Chicago, is a Dick/Tim Nugent collaboration that has developed into one of Indiana's top golf destinations. Opened for play in 1997, this facility features 27 holes of championship golf, with an additional nine planned of opening in 2006. Amenities include a grass range, short game area with sand bunker and putting green plus full service clubhouse with dining room (open for lunch daily and dinner Wednesday-Sunday), bar/lounge, a nice pro shop, changing room with showers, plus banquet facilities that can accommodate from 20 to 230 guests. The course is designed along a rolling terrain with fescue and tall native grasses and wildflowers bordering manicured bent grass fairways. Four sets of tee play to distances and slopes measuring 7004 yards/141 slope, 6323 yards/132 slope, 5786 yards/125 slope, and 5059 yards with a slope of 122 for men and 131 for the ladies from the forward sets.

There are some dramatic and challenging green complexes as well, with ridges, tiers and swales present on many of the large, well conditioned putting surfaces. The GPS present on all golf carts will come in handy in saving some strokes - providing accurate info to the pins. Land on the incorrect portion and three putts will not be uncommon. Sprinkler heads on the fairways are measured to the center of the green, and 150 yard stakes on all par fours and fives also double as directional devices. All four of the par threes are picturesque, with holes 3 and 6 on Greyhawk and number 6 on Blackhawk featuring water hazards or natural areas. Accuracy and distance are necessary on many of the par fours and fives, challenging the games of even expert golfers. From the forward tees, the course is much more player friendly. In any case, players all skill levels will enjoy this challenging and beautiful design.

• Cherry Valley Golf Course - New Albany - 812-945-2777
  
• Clearcrest Pines Golf & Banquet Centre - Evansville - 812-867-3311
  18 Hole Public Course
• Old Capital Golf Club - Corydon - 812-738-2367
  18 Holes