Best Golf Courses in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is Pete Dye country. The legendary course architect made his home in Indiana, and his fingerprints are all over the region — from the PGA Championship venue Crooked Stick to the acclaimed Pete Dye Golf Club in French Lick. The Circle City's golf scene carries a distinctly architectural pedigree.
Carmel, Indiana · Pete Dye (1964) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,516 yards
Host of the 1991 PGA Championship won by John Daly and the 2012 BMW Championship, Crooked Stick is Pete Dye's longtime home club and one of his most personal designs. The layout through rolling central Indiana terrain features Dye's bold shaping, strategic water hazards, and railroad-tie bulkheads.
Bridgeport, Indiana · Pete Dye (2003) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,349 yards
Built on a former coal mine, Pete Dye Golf Club is one of the architect's most ambitious and dramatic designs. The reclaimed terrain features 100-foot elevation changes, dramatic ravines, and bold shaping that transforms industrial wasteland into one of the most visually striking courses in America.
Indianapolis, Indiana · Pete Dye (1997) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,148 yards
A Pete Dye public design at Fort Harrison State Park, The Fort offers championship golf through a historic military property. The layout winds through mature hardwoods on the former Army garrison with strategic water hazards, bold bunkering, and Dye's trademark visual challenge at accessible pricing.
Zionsville, Indiana · Steve Burns (1992) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,905 yards
A Steve Burns design north of Indianapolis in Zionsville, Wolf Run offers semi-private access to a challenging layout through wooded ravines and natural creek corridors. The course features well-defended greens, strategic water hazards, and mature hardwood forest that creates an intimate, parkland atmosphere.
Newburgh, Indiana · Tom Fazio (1998) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,209 yards
A Tom Fazio design in southern Indiana, Victoria National is consistently ranked as the best course in the state. The stunning layout winds through ravines, ridges, and hardwood forest along a former Ohio River flood plain with bold Fazio shaping and tournament-quality conditioning.
Indianapolis, Indiana · Pete Dye (1993) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,981 yards
A Pete Dye design where four holes play inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Brickyard Crossing is one of the most unique public courses in America. The layout combines the famous racing venue setting with Dye's strategic design through White River wetlands and mature Indiana hardwoods.
Carmel, Indiana · Robert Trent Jones Jr. (1997) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,067 yards
A Robert Trent Jones Jr. design in Carmel, Prairie View offers championship-caliber public golf through rolling central Indiana terrain. The layout features prairie grasses, strategic wetland hazards, and RTJ Jr.'s bold bunkering style on a property that provides a surprisingly varied topographic experience.
West Lafayette, Indiana · Pete Dye (1997) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,432 yards
A Pete Dye design at Purdue University, the Kampen Course is one of the most challenging college courses in America. The 7,432-yard layout through rolling terrain features Dye's signature railroad ties, dramatic bunkering, and challenging forced carries that provide a stern test for even elite players.
French Lick, Indiana · Pete Dye (2009) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 8,102 yards
Perched atop a ridge in southern Indiana, the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort is one of the most ambitious resort courses in America. The 8,102-yard monster features dramatic 200-foot elevation changes, exposed limestone cliffs, and panoramic Hoosier National Forest views from nearly every hole.
French Lick, Indiana · Donald Ross (restored by Lee Schmidt & Brian Curley) (1917) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,706 yards
Originally designed by Donald Ross in 1917 and beautifully restored in 2006, this classic layout hosted the 1924 PGA Championship. The rolling terrain, crowned greens, and strategic bunkering showcase Ross at his strategic best in a historic resort setting.
Noblesville, Indiana · Ron Kern (1999) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,072 yards
A Ron Kern design in Noblesville north of Indianapolis, Purgatory winds through wetlands, prairie grasses, and mature hardwood forest. The public course offers a challenging and varied 18-hole experience with strong conditioning and one of the most interesting routings in the Indianapolis metro area.
Indianapolis, Indiana · William H. Diddel (1924) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,800 yards
One of Indianapolis's most respected private clubs, Broadmoor was designed by noted Indiana architect William Diddel in 1924. The mature parkland layout features tree-lined fairways, subtle green complexes, and a classic Midwestern character that has been carefully preserved through multiple sensitive renovations.
Public Courses in Indianapolis
Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Indianapolis .
Overview
The Indianapolis golf scene benefits enormously from Indiana's connection to Pete Dye, one of the most influential course architects in history. Crooked Stick Golf Club, site of John Daly's improbable 1991 PGA Championship victory, is the crown jewel. The public side features solid options like The Fort Golf Resort and Brickyard Crossing (with four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). French Lick Resort, 90 minutes south, adds two world-class Pete Dye and Donald Ross courses.
Best Time to Play
April through October, with May through June and September through October being ideal. Indiana summers are warm and occasionally humid. The region's four-season climate produces beautiful spring blooms and vibrant fall foliage on the tree-lined courses.
Travel Tips & Getting There
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is a highly-rated, easy-to-navigate airport just 15 minutes from downtown. French Lick Resort is a 90-minute drive south and worth the trip for its two world-class courses. Downtown Indy offers excellent dining and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Nearest Airport: Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Frequently Asked Questions
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