Prior to playing the new Pete Dye designed course at French Lick Resort
(French Lick, Indiana) I asked the designer, Pete Dye, what I could expect.
His answer proved to be on the money.
“Bring your best game and keep it in the fairway,” said Dye, who along with
wife Alice are creators of some of the most highly regarded courses around
the world. “This is the best inland site Alice and I have ever worked on.”
The hotels and the resort’s other two courses have been part of a one-half
billion rebuilding and the new Pete Dye Course will easily be thought of as
the crown jewel in what may become one of America’s premier golf
destinations. Joining a reworked 1917 Donald Ross layout (at a cost of $4.6
million) and a reconfigured nine-hole Tom Bedlow course the Dye course
sits on the second highest hills in the state which provide some great views
and for the golfer some very interesting challenges.
Considering it can play back to an astonishing 8,100-yards, which I can’t
imagine being any fun. The best advice is play from one of the other four
sets of tees that matches your ability. Landing areas are generous but often
partially obscured by fairway bunkers or mounding and a word to the wise,
off the fairway is real trouble…thigh-deep fescue and precipitous drops
await any really stray shot.
According to director of golf Dave Harner, even though opening day was just
over a month ago a lot of excitement and recognition has been generated.
The PGA of America has picked the Dye and Ross courses as venues of its
2010 PGA Professional National Championship.
(French Lick, Indiana) I asked the designer, Pete Dye, what I could expect.
His answer proved to be on the money.
“Bring your best game and keep it in the fairway,” said Dye, who along with
wife Alice are creators of some of the most highly regarded courses around
the world. “This is the best inland site Alice and I have ever worked on.”
The hotels and the resort’s other two courses have been part of a one-half
billion rebuilding and the new Pete Dye Course will easily be thought of as
the crown jewel in what may become one of America’s premier golf
destinations. Joining a reworked 1917 Donald Ross layout (at a cost of $4.6
million) and a reconfigured nine-hole Tom Bedlow course the Dye course
sits on the second highest hills in the state which provide some great views
and for the golfer some very interesting challenges.
Considering it can play back to an astonishing 8,100-yards, which I can’t
imagine being any fun. The best advice is play from one of the other four
sets of tees that matches your ability. Landing areas are generous but often
partially obscured by fairway bunkers or mounding and a word to the wise,
off the fairway is real trouble…thigh-deep fescue and precipitous drops
await any really stray shot.
According to director of golf Dave Harner, even though opening day was just
over a month ago a lot of excitement and recognition has been generated.
The PGA of America has picked the Dye and Ross courses as venues of its
2010 PGA Professional National Championship.
A view of the ninth green and clubhouse of the newly opened
Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort.
Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort.
The Dye course is not just about length and dramatic slopes though. For
example the second hole, a short par-4, features volcano shaped bunkers
adjacent to the landing area and trust me don’t hit into them – I did and
made an easy double bogey with only 130-yards for my second shot.
The back nine will be remembered probably for the par-5 14th and its split
fairway. But the toughest shot is the approach to the green which must carry
up about a hundred feet and a miss must be short not left or right. The sides
of the green plunge sharply and any hope of getting up and down is foolish.
I would rate the Dye course as one of the most interesting around and many
think it will become a “must-play” for every serious golfer.
example the second hole, a short par-4, features volcano shaped bunkers
adjacent to the landing area and trust me don’t hit into them – I did and
made an easy double bogey with only 130-yards for my second shot.
The back nine will be remembered probably for the par-5 14th and its split
fairway. But the toughest shot is the approach to the green which must carry
up about a hundred feet and a miss must be short not left or right. The sides
of the green plunge sharply and any hope of getting up and down is foolish.
I would rate the Dye course as one of the most interesting around and many
think it will become a “must-play” for every serious golfer.
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A 'Must Play' for Serious Golfers
By ED TRAVIS, Editor, FrontPageGolf
By ED TRAVIS, Editor, FrontPageGolf