New Dye Course Open

Today is the official opening day for Pete Dye's new course in French Lick, Ind. The course (pictured) is part of a HUGE investment in the old French Lick Resort, which has 18 holes by Donald Ross that have been carefully restored.

The casino resort says its several-year-long makeover has totaled half a billion (with a b) dollars. Here's a link to a news item on the course opening.

My Golf Digest colleague Matt Ginella has played the new Dye course and says, as you would expect, it'll wear you out.

So the question is, will gamblers, golfers and other resort guests beat a path to southern Indiana now that the owner has spent all this money there? I hope for French Lick's sake they do, but in this economy, I'm guessing the resort will have to be plenty patient.

-- P.F.