The Pete Dye Golf Trail - Indianapolis Experience

I will be the first to admit my opinion is severely biased, but when I look at places to visit for golf vacations I think a golf trip to Indianapolis ranks with any of them. On this blog, we have discussed and will continue to discuss the stay and play opportunities at The Fort Golf Resort, The French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana, The Fairway House at Mystic Hills, and the chance to experience the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at Purdue University. Today I would like to introduce you to  the Downtown Indy Golf Experience.


http://www.indymarriott.com/

Let’s start with a place to stay. The Pete Dye Golf Trail is very fortunate to have the support of a hotel the caliber of The Downtown Indianapolis Marriott. Not only is it a wonderful place to stay with many great amenities of its own, it is also within walking distance of all the great restaurants, sports and cultural activities that downtown Indianapolis has to offer. Finally, it is a short car ride from “Trail” members Plum Creek, Maple Creek, Brickyard Crossing and The Fort.

The following is an itinerary I recently suggested for a group of 8 golfers coming to Indianapolis for a weekend convention.

Fly into Indianapolis International Airport on Tuesday night.
Check into Indianapolis Marriott.
Dinner at Champion’s Sports Bar.

Coming soon, The Pete Dye Golf Trail dining room at Champion’s.

Wednesday
8:00 a.m. Tee Time at Maple Creek Country Club.  http://www.maplecreekgc.com/
12:00p.m. Lunch at Maple Creek - They have a great Chef!
2:30p.m. Tee Time at The Fort – Just 7 miles north.  http://www.thefortgolfcourse.com/

Option. Move the tee time up 1 hour to be able to make an Indianapolis Indian’s game as guests of the Pete Dye Golf Trail at 7:15. Walking distance from the hotel. http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t484

Thursday
8:00a.m Tee Time at Plum Creek Golf Club. http://www.plumcreekgolfclub.com/
2:00p.m. Tee time at Brickyard Crossing. http://www.brickyardcrossing.com/Home.aspx

8:00p.m. Dinner reservations at St. Elmo’s Steak House. Short walk from the hotel. Shrimp cocktail is a must! http://www.stelmos.com/home.html

Friday-Sunday. Work. Sorry, but at least you are right across the street form the Indianapolis Convention Center. http://www.icclos.com/ 

These were the suggestions I sent to get the conversation started. Don’t know where we will end up, as the options of golf and entertainment are endless, but it sounds like fun does it not?

For more information about the Downtown Indianapolis/ Pete Dye Golf Trail Experience you can contact me at 574-933-1610 or send me an email at bruce.rearick@petedyegolftrail.com

New IPhone APP for The Pete Dye Course at French Lick

I would highly recommend all Pete Dye Golf Trail fans download the IPhone app for The Dye Course at French Lick. Lots of great features including a GPS enabled yardage guide, golf course info,  a flyover view of each hole and much much more.

For those of you who are new to the Pete Dye Golf Trail. The 18 hole Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort was built on the hilltops of some of Indiana's highest points of elevation. The course features narrow fairways, with strategic and frequent bunkering, blended into a rugged and intense terrain. Views of 40 miles or more are common. The course features 5 sets of tees to provide a fair challenge to golfers of all skill levels, including a wicked 8100 yards from the professional tees.

The photo below shows some sample screens of this FREE app.

If you love golf and the challenge of a great golf course, then a trip to the French Lick Resort must go on your list of golf experiences. For information about the French Lick Resort and all of its amenties you can download the app, or click on the link on the right side of the page.

In addition you can contact me at bruce.rearick@petedyegolftrail.com or give me a call at 574-940-2309.

Mystic Hills - Stay and Play!

Mystic Hills Golf Club is the northern most member of Indiana’s Pete Dye Golf Trail. Located just outside Culver, Indiana and near the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, the golf course is one of the hidden gems of The Pete Dye Golf Trail. The design begins as a links style golf course on the front 9, morphing into a wooded parks land setting on the back. There are four sets of tees, ranging in distance from 4858 all the way up, to a challenging 6780 all the way back. We strongly suggest stay and play customers to take advantage of the unlimited golf package and play the golf course from a different set of tees each time. It won’t play the same way twice.



Front 9



The new Stay and Play house at Mystic Hills Golf Club is now open for business.  They offer a wide variety of short and long-term rental options. The house offers a full kitchen and laundry with three bedrooms and two full baths.  Two bedrooms have bunk beds with a full bed on bottom and a twin bed on top.  The third bedroom has two twin beds or the beds can be pushed together to make a king for a couples getaway. There are two sleeper sofas, which pull out into full beds, making the house comfortable for 8.  Each bedroom has its own flat screen television with a 42″ flat screen in the living room and a 36″ flat screen in the family room. The view from the living room overlooks the 16th green while the all season room offers a picturesque view of the 14th fairway.

Stay and Play Packages



Foursome-Sixsome Package

April 1st-May 15th   $75

May 16th-October 15th   $90

Sevensome-Eightsome Package

April 1st-May 15th   $65

May 16th- October 15th   $75

*Packages include lodging and unlimited golf with cart at Mystic Hills Golf Club

*Prices are per person, per night, tax not included

*There is a 2 night minimum stay

*Linen, towel, and blanket package available for $10 per bed (one time fee).

This is a great VALUE!

For more information about Stay and Play opportunities at Mystic Hills or all of The Pete Dye Golf Trail golf courses contact us at bruce.rearick@petedyegolftrail.com or give me a 574-540-2309.

"The Purdue University Golf Experience.

On of the best kept secrets in golf, is the fact that some of the very best golf courses are those associated with colleges and universities throughout the country. They are unknown in comparison to other top ranked courses because they don't get the publicity. In most cases, this is because because the opportunity to play them is often restricted to faculty, students, and alumni. One of the best, if not the best, of these “college golf courses” is Kampen Course at Purdue University. A facility open to the public.

The following is an excerpt from the University website.

"The Kampen Course, part of the Birck Boilermaker Complex is a Pete Dye design, 18-hole, links-style, par-72 championship golf course featuring large bent-grass greens, fairways and tees. The layout presents a challenge for golfers of all abilities with vast sand bunkers, native grasslands, ponds and a natural celery bog. Kampen offers five sets of tees with the championship tees playing over 7,400 yards and the forward tees playing at 5,300 yards.

Kampen is rated as one of the top collegiate courses in the nation and has been awarded 4.5 stars on Golf Digest's “Places to Play.” Kampen receives high marks as it is ranked as one of the most difficult golf courses in Indiana. The course has also played host to a number of prestigious collegiate and public tournaments such as the 2000 Men's Big Ten Championship, the 2003 Women's NCAA Championship, the 2004 Indiana Open, the 2005 Women's Western Amateur, and the 2008 Men's NCAA Championship. The course is named in honor of Emerson Kampen and his support of Purdue Athletics. Mr. Kampen's statue overlooks the first tee.

In 1961, not only did a talented Purdue University Men's golf team win the NCAA Men's Golf Championship, they did it here on their home course! And thus began a tradition of hosting elite golf tournaments. Purdue University's Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex hosted the 2008 NCAA Men's Championships and the 2003 NCAA Women's Championships on the Pete Dye designed Kampen Course. The best part is that when the top collegiate golfers in the country are not competing on the courses, they are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!"

Here is a video of Mr. Dye speaking to the Kampen course construction and design.

 

For more information on the Purdue Golf Experience, Stay and Play opportunities, contact me at bruce.rearick@petedyegolftrail.com

or by phone at 574-933-1610.

From Senior Life Newspapers

Click the following link to see a great article about the Pete Dye Golf Trail.

Thanks Rod King and Senior Life Newspapers.
http://www.seniorlifenewspapers.com/news/2012/may/24/state-golf-trail-honors-legendary-course-designer/

http://www.petedyegolftrail.com/

Maple Creek News

Maple Creek Golf and Country Club on the northeast side of Indianapolis acts as the first chapter in the story of Pete Dye’s illustrious career. At 6240 yards from the white tees, Maple Creek Golf and Country Club, is proof that the challenge in golf is not always about distance. Originally opened as Heather Hills in 1961, this 18-hole layout has the distinct honor of being Pete’s first.  Created in partnership with his wife, Alice, Maple Creek features small tees and greens, narrow fairways lined with mature trees and natural long grass areas. Multiple bunkers compliment a creek that winds its way through the front nine, challenging players of all skill levels.

On June 8th Maple Creek will hold the 5th Annual Dye Charity Classic to benefit The Riley Children's Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children. This is the perfect opportunity to accept the challenge of a great golf course for the benefit of very important charity.

For more information on the Dye Charity Classic and how you can register your team for the event. 

contact Marci or Jim at Maple Creek Golf and Country Club. 317-894.3837

To learn more about Stay and Play opportunities for Maple Creek and all the Pete Dye Trail properties contact us at petdyegolftrail@gmail.com

Stay and Play Testimonial

“Our group takes an annual golf trip and this year we decided to head over to Indianapolis.  The Fort Golf Course was one of the best and most fun golf courses our group has ever played. The people that worked there were friendly and very accommodating.  The trip was easily one of the best golf trips we have been on. We will definitely book this trip again next year. Thanks again!”

Doug Finamore – Ohio

For more information about Stay and Play opportunities at The Fort or any of the Pete Dye Golf Trail facilites contact us at petedyegolftrail@gmail.com.

A Pete Dye Golf Experience

Mr. Dye calls The Pete Dye Course at French Lick his best inland site. Golf Magazine named the Pete Dye Course at French Lick America’s Best New Course You Can Play in 2009. Golf Digest Magazine named it America’s Best New Public Course also in 2009. Thanks to the Indiana Sports Corporation, I had the opportunity to play there this past Friday. After being there my impression is while the accolades are nice and certainly deserved, they are understated.

After some thought and deliberation, I would categorize it as … Awe Inspiring. Don’t believe me? Take a look.

This is a picture of the 11^th hole, a par 4 of 330 to 456 yards depending on your choice of tees. We are 33 feet above the green looking down. Above and to the right you can see the par 4 12^th is to your left.

This is just one example of something that happens 18 times during the round. You stand on the tee and observe what you are about to attempt and all you can say is, “Wow”.

The best part of playing The Pete Dye Course for a true golfer is the challenge of playing the course. After playing it I will tell you, the most fun for me was the challenge this genius of a design offers. From every tee, there is a different route of success. Making each set of tees a completely different golf course, rather than a shorter version of the same course. As an aside, I think this is Mr. and Mrs. Dye’s greatest strength as golf course designers. They build their courses to challenge everyone without using distance as the challenge. Anyone can design a course that is a challenge at 7700 yards. It takes some knowledge to build a good one at 5100 yards.



The 14th



With this in mind, the fees to play The Dye Course at French Lick includes unlimited play for the day. I highly recommend you play one round on a set of tees a little longer than you normally play and then come back and play a set a little shorter. You will be amazed at the different lines, you must take to play a course you just finished playing.

Check back to this blog often, as we will continue to discuss the experience of playing the The Pete Dye course at French Lick as well as the entire group of golf courses that make up the Pete Dye Golf Trail.

For more information about stay and play opportunities call me at 574-540-2309 or email at petedyegolftrail@gmail.com.

Indiana Tourism

Listern to Lt. Governor Skillman speak to tourism in Indiana and specifically to the Pete Dye Golf Trail

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=53686

Contact the Pete Dye Golf Trail

You can get more information on stay and play opportunities for all of the Pete Dye Golf Trail events.

Contact us
By phone at 574-540-2309,
Email us at petedyegolftrail@gmail.com
Tweet us at @petedyegolftrail
or like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PeteDyeGolfTrail

Etched into the hilltops behind French Lick Springs Hotel is the 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort. This walkable course on one of Indiana’s highest elevation points has narrow fairways, ever changing bunkers and rugged, intense terrain. Forty mile panoramic views of the countryside, three man-made lakes and a variety of elevation changes have been shaped into 5 sets of tees for golfers of all skill levels. A robust 8,100 yards from the professional tees punctuate Dye’s signature sting from vista-to-vista.

The course’s clubhouse stands at 1,000 feet above sea level and is a turn of the last century mansion built by Thomas Taggart, former owner of French Lick Springs Hotel, Mayor of Indianapolis and one-time chairman of the National Democratic Party. Impeccably restored and decorated in painstaking detail, The Mansion is available for lodging and the carriage house now serves as the pro shop.

Lunch at the Pete Dye Mansion
Guests may enjoy lunch during the winter season at the exclusive Pete Dye Mansion. Specific dates to dine will be determined by the Golf Department depending on the weather. Carved into the hills of southern Indiana the course itself is lauded as scenic and one of the best legendary course-designer Pete Dye has created. The clubhouse is the converted and updated mansion that once belonged to Indianapolis Governor, Senator, and former owner of French Lick Springs Hotel, Thomas Taggart. Open from 11am to 3pm daily, to the general public, seating is limited therefore reservations are required and may be made by calling extension 4044 or 7219. The view, the food and the course makes this simply a lunch to Dye for!

Daily Tours to Pete Dye Mansion & Pro Shop

Available April 1 through November 1

Guided daily twilight tours of the Pete Dye Mansion & Pro Shop are no charge for the tour but seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis. Please call French Lick Concierge (x7016) or West Baden Concierge (x4049) for departure times.

For more information about visiting this great facility 574-540-2309 or petedyegolftrail@gmail.com

Onsite Stay and Play at The Fort

18 Holes with a Cart.

Unlimited Range Balls

Bag Storage and Cleaning

Golf Course bag Tag and Souvenir Golf Ball

Stay at the beautiful rooms or suites at the Main Lodge, or the Harrison House.

or experience a stay at one of the Officer's Homes

$133.00 Single Occupancy

$197.00 Double Occupancy

or

Quadruple Occupancy at an Officer"s Home

$475.00

Pete Dye Golf Trail News



Isn't this great!

To see the entire article on the Pete Dye Golf Trail follow this link.  http://www.airtranmagazine.com/features/2012/04/fairways-to-heaven

Golf at the Brickyard. Our favorite time of the year.

Only Indianapolis could combine the grandeur and excitement of auto racing with the serene, natural beauty of a championship golf course. To call Brickyard Crossing a unique golf experience doesn't do justice to this Pete Dye designed course that includes a four-hole stretch inside the legendary, century-old Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As home to the two largest single-day sporting events in the world, the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, this is a location used to excitement. While the golf might pale in comparison to taking a turn at over 200 mph in an Indy car, it is nonetheless quite a thrill to play on this hallowed ground.

The Brickyard utilizes Dye's signature railroad ties as well as large slabs of concrete along creek beds. The concrete was reused after the racetrack's walls were torn down and replaced with a cutting-edge safety barrier. Over the years, the Brickyard has hosted its share of celebrities, from the Beatles to Paul Newman and — more recently — Mark Wahlberg. Additionally, the Brickyard Crossing is one of only a few venues in the country to host PGA, LPGA and Champions tour events.