French Lick Resort: Donald Ross Course
French Lick, IN • Public

Brian Walers Photography

Brian Walers Photography

Brian Walers Photography


courtesy of French Lick Resort

courtesy of French Lick Resort

courtesy of French Lick Resort

Brian Walers Photography
Overview
If the 2009 Pete Dye course at this historic resort in southern Indiana (ranked no. 118 on America's Second 100 Greatest Courses) is an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame along the site's elevated bluffs, the 1917 Donald Ross course is more of a street-level tilt-a-whirl with holes that rise, fall and roll repeatedly over a gorgous meadow property. Each nine crests over ridges and ride into hollows, rising toward well-bunkered greens that flank slightly crowned putting surfaces. This is an Old World/New World contrast, with both the Dye and Ross courses achieving what they set out to do architecturally, but in rather different ways. Depending on their mood and appreciation for allowing land movements rather than bulldozers to dictate design and direction, golfer's at French Lick often prefer the nuance and nature of the Ross course.
About
Awards


100 Greatest Public: Ranked from 2011-'20. Highest ranking: No. 83, 2015-'16.
Best in State: Ranked fifth, 2019-'20. Ranked sixth, 2013-'18, 2023-'24. Ranked seventh, 2011-'12, 2021-'22.
Current ranking: Sixth.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Typical Ross, where fairways are open and wide, and green complexes are difficult. Elevation/Hills not dealt with in the most shot value kind of way---but an overall pleasant place to work around the layout."
Read More2025
Review
“Course is an Ok public course. Layout feels like you are playing the same hole over and over. Conditioning was not good. Bunkers were fluffy and unkept. Fairways were just regular grass mowed shorter. The greens were reflective of Donald Ross Greens, but were slow. A bit disappointed in the experience."
Read More2023
Review
“A unique test of golf with awesome green complexes. Unfortunately the conditioning did not match the uniqueness of the course with very soft conditions and slow bumpy greens."
Read More2023
Review
“It is a Donald Ross course but one that is very repetitive with most holes starting on one hill and the green on another. Public access."
Read More2023
Review
“Many very similar medium length, straight down hill tee shots to uphill greens. Traditional layout with a Yale feel to it."
Read More2022
Review
“Many very similar medium length, straight down hill tee shots to uphill greens. Traditional layout with a Yale feel to it."
Read More2022
Review
“Best green complexes in the state of Indiana in my opinion...great variety from hole to hole w/ the character of each green. Very important to hit to the correct portion of the green, and from the tee its important to place your shots in the correct spot to improve ease of approach. The vast majority of approach shots are uphill, and 3 of the 4 par 3's are very long and similar in yardage and uphill approach. Condition could be vastly improved if players or maintenance staff were to fix ball marks left behind, seemed we fixed 10-15 ball marks per green. There was too much sand in the majority of the bunkers so plugged lies were a problem. Fairways & greens played firm and fast yet fair."
Read More2022
Review
“Solid design with great greens complexes. Not as difficult as its sister course and more fun to play."
Read More2020
Review
“Playable resort course that is also challenging for the low handicapper, but riddled with cart paths that diminish the beauty."
Read More2018
Review
“Really enjoyed this course. Had a couple of quirky holes (8 and 9). The par 3's were really difficult. Overall a good layout and some of the classic Donald Ross greens (I spent the whole day short siding the pin, bad plan)."
Read More2018
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