april-2012

ON THE TOWN: INDIANAPOLIS, IN
FAIRWAYS TO HEAVEN EN
Pete Dye, known as the father r of modern golf
course design, has built legendary dary links around
the world. A new trail features the Indy resident’s
seven favorites in the Hoosier state.
I
ndiana is proud home to more Pete Dye
designed golf courses than any other r state.
You could assume that this is the case se simply
because Pete Dye—one of only fi ve golf course
architects admitted to the World Golf olf Hall
of Fame—lives a few miles up the road d from
Indianapolis. But that’s not why.
Of the 100 or so courses he’s designed gned
over his 50-year career, more than 20 0 are in
Indiana, and he says it’s because of the land.
“The rich soil and rolling topography y are two
key reasons why I have built so many y courses
within the state,” the 86-year-old designer igner
explained at the dedication of the Pete ete
Dye Trail, a hand-selected sampling
of Dye’s favorite public courses
around the urban area. The seven
courses trace the development of Dye’s ’s
design style and can be previewed on
petedyegolftrail.com, where the greens
guru off ers video commentary
about his selections. Each one, in
its own way, displays his trademarks:
deep pot bunkers, small
tricky greens and high walkability.
1mystic
hills, mystichills.com
Culver, IN (117 miles from Indianapolis)
Starting from the north, you’ll find Mystic Hills
Golf Club in Culver. This is a family-owned,
rural course with rolling fairways that offer
views of wetlands and lush woods. The
owner’s son, Dave Pugh, is the pro and says
that the course is ideal for long hitters like
John Daly. Dye likes Mystic Hills because the
topography changes from the front nine to
the back nine, creating deceptively undulating
greens. One nine is links style; the other has a
more traditional layout. Cost: $45 with cart.
2 3
kampen course, purduegolf.com egol gol golff.c f.com c om
West Lafayette Lafayette, IN (71 1 miles from Indianapolis)
Indiana dianapol
pol olis) is)
At Purdue University’s Birck Boilermaker maker Golf Complex Complex, you’ll find
ind th the
Kampen Course, one of the nation’s top collegiate golf courses. Kampen
is difficult with vast bunkers (lined with Dye’s trademark railroad ties),
native grasslands, ponds and a natural celery bog. Head pro Daniel Ross
says, “Pete is a master of showing you where you should hit the ball and
then tempting you to hit it somewhere else.” Cost: $75 with a cart.
APRIL 2012 78
GO MAGAZINE
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Car Carmel Carmel, mel mel, , IIN
IN N (33 miles from Indianapolis)
N NNot t too t far f ffrom th the private i t CCrooked k d Sti Stick k course where h DDye resides, id
you’ll find Plum Creek Golf Club, a semi-private club. Director of Golf
John Pielemeier says Plum Creek shows Dye’s delight in changing
landscapes. Every hole is different—Dye decorated the course with
lots of water and tall grasses and honored his reputation with what
the pro calls “sporty” bunkering. Cost: $69 with a cart.