courtesy of French Lick Resort
Brian Walers Photography
Brian Walers Photography
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course
French Lick, IN•Public
Awards
Panelists Score
French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course
8670 W. State Road 56
French Lick, IN 47432-7912
United States
Telephone
Overview
Pete Dye’s mountaintop design, Golf Digest’s 2009 Best New Public winner, established that at age 80 the designer still had fresh ideas, including rumpled chipping swales, country-lane cart paths and volcano bunkers. Measuring just over 8,100 yards from the tips, Pete Dye at French Lick is not the first course over 8,000 yards to land on our rankings. That would be, in 1967, the original 8,040-yard Runaway Brook in Massachusetts, later turned into the 8,325-yard Pines Course at The International Golf Club (and now completely remodeled by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, nowhere near 8,000 yards). The world’s longest is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China at 8,548 yards, not counting Australia's Nullarbor Links, a course that stretches 1,365 kilometers with each hole stretched out in a different town along a highway. The yardage may be a talking point, but what golfers will remember about Dye's French Lick course are the multi-mile views in all directions and the roominess of the fairways and greens that hang out over the edges of the sweeping land formations.
About
Golf Digest 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
“Absolutely one of the toughest courses you’ll ever play. The sheer beauty of the course will almost make you forget what you shot. If you miss the fairway by a few feet, you might as well drop and move on. Several holes, if not for the forecaddie, you have no idea where to hit your shot. Loved every minute of this place."
Read More2026
Review
“Very unique course that transports you to the mountains while not leaving Central Indiana. Very creative design with several blind shots and unusual obstacles - volcano bunkers. All-in-all a great public access course."
Read More2025
Review
“Extremely challenging course - blind shots, narrow fairways, thick rough, challenging green complexes. Have to be on your A game off the tee. Excellent conditioning. Pack extra balls and don’t worry about your score - just enjoy the course."
Read More2025
Review
“The Pete Dye course at French Lick presented a very strong test of golf and magnificent vistas throughout the picturesque property. The holes and features that stood out to me were the elevated 3D bunkers down the right side of the 2nd hole. The view from the elevated 11th tee box, which featured a dramatic downhill tee shot and the green was reachable despite the 378 yard distance on the scorecard. The elevation change and options presented on the par 5 14th hole and the dramatic downhill approach from the 18th tee onto the green, which required a cover over a vast open space. The greens on the Pete Dye course felt very small compared to the vastness of the rest of the property and the green contours and surrounds made getting short shots around the green close very difficult."
Read More2025
Review
“Wonderful layout - but very very difficult. Green sizes, especially on the front nine were small, given the hole lengths."
Read More2025
Review
“The Dye Course at French Lick is very unique, situated on a mountain top with long views of the Indiana countryside everywhere you look. The vast scale of the property contrasts with narrow fairways (although on ample playing corridors) and small greens. Lots of earth moving and mounding here contrasted with the nature-y feel of the course surrounds. I thought the consistently very small greens in general were sometimes interesting but other times limited shot options. Layout variety and distinctiveness score was enhanced by a strong variety of hole features. Some examples include the volcano bunkers on #2, severe (but playable) drop-off to the right of #11 fairway, Redan green on #13, and expansive grass bowl to clear on the 2nd shot on #18)."
Read More2024
Review
“This is an amazing experience. The Golf Course is what you would expect from Pete Dye. Each hole creates an illusion that you must solve. Complete with Volcano bunkers, small bunkers, etc. Course conditioning was top notch. Course can look intimidating, but it is very playable. Plenty of room to miss shots if done in the correct spot. Make sure to take a caddie or cart runner. They are invaluable with lines off the tee and spotting balls. Really a must play!"
Read More2023
Review
“One of Dye's best public access courses. Not sure how he did it but it was a relatively easy walk for a mountainess course. No two holes alike."
Read More2023
Review
“An extremely well-run operation and spectacular setting for one of the most unique courses in existence. High handicappers should probably look elsewhere, and the price is a tad daunting, but if you have some game, it is well worth every penny."
Read More2023
Review
“I would think this Hass to be the best course in the state, and one obviously that the public and play. Beautiful views knowledgeable caddies and overall outstanding experience."
Read More2022
