Donald Ross Course at French Lick
Donald Ross laid out the Hill Course at French Lick in 1917, and seven years later it hosted the PGA Championship that Walter Hagen won. Restored with the Donald Ross Society and renamed for its architect, it is a par 70 of about 7,030 yards where ridgetop greens, flat bottomed bunkers and long views over the hills of southern Indiana make a genuine slice of golden age design.
Photo: The Donald Ross Course at French Lick via Google.
The verdict
The Donald Ross Course is the historic heart of golf at French Lick, and one of the most important Ross layouts in the Midwest. Built in 1917 on high ground above the resort, it hosted the 1924 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen, and was for a time among the most celebrated courses in America before the decades dimmed its profile.
A restoration carried out with the Donald Ross Society brought it back. Roughly 35 original bunkers returned, with the trademark flat bottoms and deep, gnarly faces, and the routing was reopened to the long views that make the property special. At a par 70 of about 7,030 yards it is not the longest test, but the angles, the ground game and the cunning of the green complexes ask real questions, and it pairs with the resort's bold Pete Dye Course to make French Lick a true 36 hole destination.
Donald Ross Course at French Lick at a glance
- Opened
- 1917
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Type
- Parkland, classic
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,030 yds
- Green fee
- Resort access
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from French Lick Resort and leading course databases. Donald Ross laid out the course in 1917, it hosted the 1924 PGA Championship, and it was restored with the Donald Ross Society to a par 70 of about 7,030 yards. Green fees are sold through the resort and vary by season and package, typically as part of a stay and play or with hotel access; rates move with season and demand, so always confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Ross used the hill the course sits on as his main defense. Fairways tilt and roll with the land, and the approach is rarely from a flat lie, so reading the slope and shaping the ball into the green matter far more than brute distance. The restored bunkers sit exactly where a slightly errant shot wants to go, and their deep faces turn a half missed approach into a genuine test of the short game.
The greens are the lasting memory. Many sit on the natural high points with fall away edges and subtle internal contours, classic Ross surfaces that repel a loose shot and reward the player who has left the ball below the hole. Putting from above the flag here is a recurring problem, and the wise play all day is to aim for the fat of the green and trust the contours.
The closing stretch brings the history back into focus. This is ground that decided a major in 1924, and the finish asks for precise, committed golf to greens that give nothing away. Playing the Ross in the morning and the Pete Dye Course in the afternoon is the way to feel the full span of American design, golden age restraint against modern drama, on a single property.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course; tee times prioritized for French Lick Resort guests, with stay and play packages and limited public play subject to availability |
| Green fee | Sold by season and package rather than a fixed walk up rate; best value comes inside a French Lick stay and play; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the resort well ahead, especially for summer weekends and around its championship events |
| On the day | Carts standard with the ridgetop routing; caddies and walking available; the elevation and views reward an unhurried round |
| Getting there | French Lick in southern Indiana, about an hour northwest of Louisville and roughly two hours south of Indianapolis |
| Best months | May to October, with early fall offering firm turf and the best of the southern Indiana color |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our United States green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is French Lick Resort itself, whose two historic hotels, the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, sit minutes from both courses and make a 36 hole day effortless. Staying on property is also the surest route to prime tee times and the best package pricing.
Beyond golf, the resort adds a spa, a casino and the architecture of the restored West Baden atrium, so French Lick suits a couples or buddies trip that wants more than golf. It anchors a wider southern Indiana and Kentucky swing built around classic and modern design.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Donald Ross Course at French Lick.
Build a French Lick golf trip
We book the Donald Ross and Pete Dye tee times, set up the stay and play at French Lick Resort and arrange everything around your dates. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Donald Ross Course at French Lick questions
Who designed the Donald Ross Course at French Lick and when did it open?
Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1917 as the Hill Course. It was later restored with the Donald Ross Society and renamed the Donald Ross Course in his honor.
What championship did the Donald Ross Course host?
It hosted the 1924 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen, when the course was among the most celebrated in America. The restoration returned roughly 35 original Ross bunkers to the layout.
What is the par and length of the Donald Ross Course?
The restored course plays as a par 70 of about 7,030 yards from the back tees, a classic parkland design defined by its hilltop greens, flat bottomed bunkers and long views over southern Indiana.
Can visitors play the Donald Ross Course at French Lick?
Yes, primarily through French Lick Resort. Tee times are prioritized for resort guests and stay and play packages, with limited public play subject to availability. Rates vary by season and package, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.