The Pfau Course at Indiana University
Steve Smyers and IU alum Fuzzy Zoeller tore the old university course down to the dirt and rebuilt it as the Pfau Course, reopened in 2020 as one of the best public access golf courses in the Midwest. A par 71 that stretches up to about 7,900 yards from the tournament tees, with 147 bunkers carved across 265 rolling acres, it is a serious test that any visitor can book.
Photo: The Pfau Course at Indiana University via Google.
The verdict
The Pfau Course is one of the great recent stories in American college golf. Steve Smyers, working with IU alumnus and two time major winner Fuzzy Zoeller, rearranged 265 acres of rolling Bloomington land into a stout, strategic par 71 that reopened in 2020 and immediately landed on national top 100 you can play lists.
It is a big, muscular course, with tournament tees stretching toward 7,900 yards and 147 bunkers shaping nearly every line, yet it is fair and playable from the right set of tees, which range down under 4,600 yards. The design rewards thought over brute force: angles into the greens, the willingness to flirt with sand for a better look, and a steady nerve on bold surfaces. As the home of the Indiana University teams that opens its tee sheet to the public, it offers championship golf at a price that shames many private peers.
The Pfau Course at Indiana University at a glance
- Reopened
- 2020
- Designer
- Steve Smyers
- Type
- Parkland, strategic
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- Up to about 7,900 yds
- Green fee
- From about $70
Designer, reopening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Indiana University and leading course databases. The Pfau Course was redesigned by Steve Smyers with Fuzzy Zoeller and reopened in 2020, a par 71 stretching up to about 7,900 yards from the tournament tees with 147 bunkers. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $70 to $130 depending on day and season, with university and twilight rates available. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Smyers used width and sand rather than water as the main strategic currency. Many holes offer a generous fairway split by bunkering into aggressive and safe sides, so the better the angle you want into the green, the more sand you must challenge off the tee. It is golf that asks a question on every drive, and the smart player picks the tees that let the design breathe rather than chasing the back markers.
The greens are the heart of the test. Large, firm and full of movement, they reward an approach flighted to the correct quadrant and punish the lazy shot to the middle, leaving long, breaking putts across contour. With 147 bunkers in support, the short game gets a thorough examination, and getting up and down from Smyers's deep, sprawling sand is its own skill.
The closing holes have the length and the bunkering to swing a match, which is exactly why college conference events and qualifiers have come here. Play it from a sensible tee and it is one of the most enjoyable strategic rounds in the state; play it from the tips and it is a genuine championship examination, which is rare for a course anyone can call up and book.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access, university owned; open to visitors who book ahead, and home to the Indiana University golf teams |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about $70 to $130 depending on day and season; university affiliated and twilight rates available; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve tee times online or by phone; weekends and home tournament weeks fill quickly, so book ahead |
| On the day | Walking welcome with caddies and carts available; choose tees honestly, as the course is far more enjoyable inside 7,000 yards for most players |
| Getting there | Bloomington in southern Indiana, about an hour southwest of Indianapolis and close to the IU campus |
| Best months | April to October, with late spring and early fall the firmest and best for the strategic ground game |
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
Bloomington is the natural base, with campus hotels and downtown inns minutes from the first tee and a lively college town of restaurants and bars to enjoy after the round. For a golf weekend it is comfortable, walkable and well priced.
The Pfau pairs naturally with the two courses at French Lick an hour to the south, the historic Donald Ross and the bold Pete Dye, to make a strong southern Indiana golf trip across classic and modern design. Many visitors build a long weekend around all three.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Pfau Course at Indiana University.
Build a southern Indiana golf trip
We book the Pfau tee times, pair it with the Donald Ross and Pete Dye courses at French Lick and arrange the lodging around your dates. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Pfau Course at Indiana University questions
Who designed the Pfau Course at Indiana University and when did it reopen?
The Pfau Course was redesigned by architect Steve Smyers, working with Indiana University alumnus and two time major winner Fuzzy Zoeller. After a full rebuild of the old university course it reopened in 2020.
What is the par and length of the Pfau Course?
It is a par 71 that stretches up to about 7,900 yards from the tournament tees, with shorter sets ranging down under 4,600 yards, and features 147 bunkers across its 265 acres.
Can the public play the Pfau Course?
Yes. Although it is home to the Indiana University golf teams, the Pfau Course is open to public play. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $70 to $130 depending on day and season, with university and twilight rates available. Always confirm directly before booking.
Is the Pfau Course a good course for a trip?
Very much so. It has appeared on national top 100 you can play lists and ranks among the best value courses in the country, and it pairs naturally with the Donald Ross and Pete Dye courses at French Lick an hour south for a complete southern Indiana golf trip.
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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.