French Lick Resort: Pete Dye Course
French Lick, IN • Public
courtesy of French Lick Resort
Brian Walers Photography
Brian Walers Photography
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
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 Runaway Brook in Massachusetts, now called the Pines Course at The International Golf Club. It was 8,040 yards when ranked in 1967. Today it’s 8,325 yards. The world’s longest is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in China at 8,415 yards. 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 direction, the roominess of the fairways and greens that hang out over the edges of the sweeping land formations.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2017.
2023-'24 ranking: 118th.
Previous ranking: 117th.
100 Greatest: Ranked 2013-'16.
Highest ranking: 93rd, 2013-'14.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2011.
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 19th.
Highest ranking: 17th, 2013-'16, 2019-'20.
Best in State: Ranked third, 2011 to current.
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
“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
Review
“Moon crater raised bunkers within bunkers. Visual illusions carved in everywhere (#2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18). Small and very fast greens."
Read More2022
Review
“Moon crater raised bunkers within bunkers. Visual illusions carved in everywhere (#2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18). Small and very fast greens."
Read More2022
Review
“The backdrop of views looking out the Indiana countryside for nearly 50 miles are stunning and Dye frames several of the holes magnificently w/ the backdrops. Some really great holes, especially #8, #9, #12 and #15. Several tee shots and approach shots are to areas that don't fit the length of shot, i.e. some of the longest holes have some of the tightest areas to hit to such as 6, 11, 16, & 18. A lot of redundancy w/ uphill holes, and dogleg left par 5's seem to be the norm. Most average length players will not hit below a 5 iron to any of the par 3's which makes them as a unit very long."
Read More2022
Review
“A really challenging course that was in excellent condition when played in Aug 2019. Wonderful views during the round."
Read More2020
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