"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.