French Lick Pete Dye
Perched on one of the highest points in Indiana, the Pete Dye Course at French Lick is a modern mountain in the Midwest. Opened in 2009 and named a best new course on debut, it climbs to a par 72 of around 8,102 yards, with roughly 200 feet of elevation change, exposed limestone and views for fifty miles over the Hoosier National Forest. A bold, big occasion round at a grand historic resort.
Photo: The Pete Dye Course at French Lick via Google, by Sakya.
The verdict
When the legendary Pete Dye built a course on the ridge above French Lick, he had one of the most elevated sites in Indiana to work with, and he used every foot of it. Opened in 2009, the Pete Dye Course is a sprawling, dramatic layout that climbs to around 8,102 yards from the championship markers, one of the longest courses in the country, though a generous set of forward tees brings it back to a fair and thrilling test for the rest of us.
What sets it apart is the scale and the views. The fairways run along and across a high plateau with roughly 200 feet of elevation change, exposed limestone and panoramas over the Hoosier National Forest from nearly every hole. Add the trademark Dye visual deception, the railroad ties, the sharp angles and the false fronts, and you have a genuine bucket list round in the American Midwest, capped by hosting the 2015 Senior PGA Championship. Pair it with the resort's classic Donald Ross Course for a full golf weekend.
French Lick Pete Dye at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designer
- Pete Dye
- Type
- Resort, hilltop
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to 8,102 yds
- Green fee
- Indicative 350 dollars
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from French Lick Resort and leading course databases. Pete Dye designed the course, which opened in 2009 as a par 72 stretching to about 8,102 yards with around 200 feet of elevation change, and it hosted the 2015 Senior PGA Championship. Peak season green fees are an indicative 350 dollars or so per round in 2026, lower for resort guests and at twilight; rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Pete Dye Course is all about the big move and the bigger view. The opening holes set the tone with sweeping downhill tee shots from the ridge, and the player is quickly reminded that judging the elevation, often a club or two of difference, matters as much as the line. The fairways are wider than a first look suggests, but the Dye angles and the run offs around the greens punish the lazy approach.
The middle of the round delivers the signature panoramas, holes that play along the edge of the plateau with the forest falling away and the horizon stretching for miles. Exposed limestone and bold bunkering frame the targets, and the wind on the high ground can turn a benign yardage into a real decision. This is shotmaker's golf, rewarding the player who commits to a number and a shape.
The closing stretch climbs back toward the clubhouse and the long views, a strong finish that has tested the best senior players in the world. From the right tees it is a joy rather than a grind, and the lasting memory is the sheer scale of the place, an unexpected mountain course in the heart of southern Indiana.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to resort guests and visitors by advance tee time |
| Green fee | Indicative 350 dollars or so per round in peak 2026; lower for resort guests and at twilight |
| Booking | Reserve through French Lick Resort golf or a trip planner; guest packages offer the best value |
| On the day | Forecaddie program; carts standard given the elevation and length; play the right tees |
| Getting there | French Lick, southern Indiana, about an hour northwest of Louisville and two hours from Indianapolis |
| Best months | May to October for the warmest, most settled golf on the high ground |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and policies change with the season, so always confirm directly with French Lick Resort or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is French Lick Resort itself, the grand historic complex of the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel, the latter famous for its vast domed atrium. Staying on property keeps both the Pete Dye and the Donald Ross courses on the doorstep, with spa, dining and a casino alongside, and guest golf rates are the best value way to play.
It is an ideal hub for a southern Indiana golf weekend, easily reached from Louisville or Indianapolis, and it pairs the headline Pete Dye round with the gentler, classic Ross course for a contrasting two course stay.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at French Lick.
Build a French Lick golf trip
We secure the Pete Dye tee times, pair them with the Donald Ross course and the resort hotels, and build the wider Midwest trip around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
French Lick Pete Dye questions
Who designed the Pete Dye Course at French Lick and when did it open?
The course was designed by Pete Dye and opened in 2009. It was named a best new course of the year on its debut and sits on one of the highest points in Indiana, above the historic French Lick Resort.
How long is the Pete Dye Course at French Lick?
It is a par 72 that stretches to about 8,102 yards from the championship tees, one of the longest courses in the United States, with multiple tees that bring it back to a fair test for everyday play. It features around 200 feet of elevation change.
Can visitors play the Pete Dye Course at French Lick?
Yes. The Pete Dye Course is a resort course at French Lick and is open to resort guests and visitors by advance tee time, with a forecaddie program. Rates are higher than the resort's Donald Ross Course. Always confirm current access and rates directly before booking.
What tournaments has the Pete Dye Course at French Lick hosted?
The Pete Dye Course hosted the 2015 Senior PGA Championship and has staged other professional and amateur events, helping cement its reputation as one of the premier modern courses in the American Midwest.
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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.