Michigan Golf Journal January 2021

Michigan Golf Journal French Lick Resort Donald Ross Course offering its contrasting classic feel and style. “What we can sell here is the experience of probably the most prolific, classic course architect Donald Ross, and the most prolific modern course architect in Pete Dye,” Harner added. “The Ross Course is a pretty traditional Donald Ross design with the elevated greens and the pretty sharp fall offs to the sides. It’s pretty open with deep- faced bunkers spready around. “Then you have the Pete Dye Course, where we moved 3 million cubic yards of dirt to create something that will stand the test for a long time. The Donald Ross does also, but in a different way.” Pete Dye Course : What stands out the most about the Dye Course is the illusion that many holes are suspended in air as they appear to “hang” onto the side of a long mountainous ridge. That would not be most people’s first thoughts of an Indiana landscape, but it reflects the reality the Hoosier National Forest area is essentially the foothills leading to the mountainous Kentucky region. Dye moved huge amounts of earth to create relatively level fairways on top of and on the sides of the rolling hills. The end result is many extreme drop-offs, hill climbs and cavernous valleys lining the fairways. These features play into the need for very thoughtful club selection, but when the ball is kept in the fairway it’s a very playable layout. “Someone called it ‘golf on a bent grass tightrope’ and I thought that pretty accurately described the feeling you get playing there,” Harner said. “Pete made it futuristic because he felt that the golf ball went too far and wanted to penalize shots off line. I think he did a great job.” Continues on page 12 >> Pete Dye Course, Hole 10