Warren Golf Club - Notre Dame - South Bend Indiana

[BG5]

Gents,

 

I had the pleasure of playing Warren Golf Club yesterday and let me tell you this is one amazing golf course. I played in the evening after 5:00 and had the course to myself. I paid $26 which is one of the best values in the country. Warren Golf Club is the home course of Notre Dame and is ranked in the top 10 best courses in Indiana. Its a Coore/Crenshaw Design and the course is outstanding as you have to use every club in your bag.

 

The staff was outstanding and might be the best I have ever seen. Every staff member who I crossed paths with welcomed me to the course and offered assistance on anything I could possibly need. Whoever is in charge there is doing a great job as the staff was outstanding.

 

The course is extremely challenging so make sure you play the correct set of tees. I actually played the seniors and it still have me the challenge of my life. The course is extremely firm and the greens were lightening fast. The bunkers were amazing with sand that was clearly brought in. Many of the approach shots were so scenic that my wife was even blown away which says something.

 

If you are in the area this is a must play and their twighlight rates are so cheap dont pass this one up. I would also suggest Blackthorne Golf Club as well.

 

Great course......outstanding staff and a must play for anyone in the area.

[snowdayz]

Nice write up, thanks for posting. Was thinking of making the road trip down there next weekend to play it!

[Thrillhouse]

Sounds cool, got any pics?

[Cspackler6]

Glad you enjoyed it. Played there a few times back in 2001-2003 when I lived in the area. Great course, but one time the band was practicing right off the road a little ways from the course. He being an nd fan and myself being a fan of any team notre dame is playing he proceeded to roll the windows down and drive 15mph. That course is very difficult with their fight song stuck in your head the whole round! Pretty sure there was a hole or 2 we could faintly here them still practicing. What a nightmare!! Haha

[MountainKing]

Love the Warren, worth trekking out there if you're from Chicago. If you really want a treat make a day out of it and play Blackthorn with it, two killer courses within minutes.

[BG5]

Love Blackthorn..... I suggest looking into Angels Crossing and Island Hills as well if your coming for a 2-3 day trip

[WindyCitySPN]

Looking at making a trip out of it from Chicago this weekend. Would play 36 in one day and head back to the city. Any recommendations on which order to play the two courses mentioned. Any other advise? For anyone familiar with Chicago golf what course would you compare these to?

 

I also enjoy heading to Harbor shores but have never found a public course close that i enjoy. I know some people like WW but didn't fit my eye.

[CMCSGolf]

Love the Warren, worth trekking out there if you're from Chicago. If you really want a treat make a day out of it and play Blackthorn with it, two killer courses within minutes.

 

I did this 36 hole day last year and it is well worth it. The Warren course is the best I have ever played on such a flat piece of property (other than Scotland). It's remarkable how little elevation change is there (other than the finish) and it really shows the genius of Coore and Crenshaw.

 

If you're walking, I would play the Warren in the afternoon when your legs are spent as it is an easy walk. If riding, I don't think it really matters. The courses aren't too far apart.

[Pollie017]

Blackthorn, in my opinion is the best public access golf course. I would rank it 3rd among public and private golf courses (Lost Dunes - 1, Elcona CC - 2). The course is in excellent condition, the layout is fair and fun, and the staff is amazing. The cart boys will clean your clubs if you pull up to the bar in between 9's. The practice facility is the best in the area (less Elcona CC again). If you are going to play Blackthorn, do it in the early to late AM. They are in the process of trying to eliminate the poa annua, and have been very successful over the past 3 years, but as we all know, poa in the PM can lead to some crazy outcomes.

 

Warren comes in right behind Blackthorn in my opinion. The conditioning of Warren is always first class and will always be first class. The US Senior Open will be played at the Warren Course in 2019. I can only imagine the conditions leading up to and following the Open. The Warren staff can be a bit picky. If you are parked on the cart path with 1/2 a tire on the grass, the ranger will make sure you know it. I never cared for the greens at Warren. The are true and can be quick, but the color variations and grain can make them very difficult to read.

 

My South Bend Area Public/Private Golf Course Rankings (within 45 miles)

 

1.) *Lost Dunes - Bridgman, MI (Tom Doak)

2.) *Elcona Country Club - Elkhart, IN (Arthur Hills)

3.) Blackthorn Golf Club - South Bend, IN (Dr. Michael Hurdzan)

4.) Warren Golf Course - South Bend, IN (Coore and Crenshaw)

5.) *Point O' Woods - Benton Harbor (Robert Trent Jones)

6.) Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor, MI (Jack Nicklaus)

7.) ****The Dunes Club - New Buffaloe, MI (Dick Nugent and Mike Keiser....yes that Mike Keiser)

8.) *South Bend Country Club - South Bend, IN (George O'Neil)

9.) *Morris Park Country Club - South Bend, IN (Bob Dustin)

10.) Swan Lake Resort - Plymouth, IN (Never heard of the guy)

 

* - Private Golf Club

****- Private Golf Club....Godspeed getting on

[WindyCitySPN]

Blackthorn, in my opinion is the best public access golf course. I would rank it 3rd among public and private golf courses (Lost Dunes - 1, Elcona CC - 2). The course is in excellent condition, the layout is fair and fun, and the staff is amazing. The cart boys will clean your clubs if you pull up to the bar in between 9's. The practice facility is the best in the area (less Elcona CC again). If you are going to play Blackthorn, do it in the early to late AM. They are in the process of trying to eliminate the poa annua, and have been very successful over the past 3 years, but as we all know, poa in the PM can lead to some crazy outcomes.

 

Warren comes in right behind Blackthorn in my opinion. The conditioning of Warren is always first class and will always be first class. The US Senior Open will be played at the Warren Course in 2019. I can only imagine the conditions leading up to and following the Open. The Warren staff can be a bit picky. If you are parked on the cart path with 1/2 a tire on the grass, the ranger will make sure you know it. I never cared for the greens at Warren. The are true and can be quick, but the color variations and grain can make them very difficult to read.

 

My South Bend Area Public/Private Golf Course Rankings (within 45 miles)

 

1.) *Lost Dunes - Bridgman, MI (Tom Doak)

2.) *Elcona Country Club - Elkhart, IN (Arthur Hills)

3.) Blackthorn Golf Club - South Bend, IN (Dr. Michael Hurdzan)

4.) Warren Golf Course - South Bend, IN (Coore and Crenshaw)

5.) *Point O' Woods - Benton Harbor (Robert Trent Jones)

6.) Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor, MI (Jack Nicklaus)

7.) ****The Dunes Club - New Buffaloe, MI (Dick Nugent and Mike Keiser....yes that Mike Keiser)

8.) *South Bend Country Club - South Bend, IN (George O'Neil)

9.) *Morris Park Country Club - South Bend, IN (Bob Dustin)

10.) Swan Lake Resort - Plymouth, IN (Never heard of the guy)

 

* - Private Golf Club

****- Private Golf Club....Godspeed getting on

 

Wow, I agree Lost dunes is excellent. I am really surprised that you have the dunes club so low! I loved it.

[Pollie017]

Blackthorn, in my opinion is the best public access golf course. I would rank it 3rd among public and private golf courses (Lost Dunes - 1, Elcona CC - 2). The course is in excellent condition, the layout is fair and fun, and the staff is amazing. The cart boys will clean your clubs if you pull up to the bar in between 9's. The practice facility is the best in the area (less Elcona CC again). If you are going to play Blackthorn, do it in the early to late AM. They are in the process of trying to eliminate the poa annua, and have been very successful over the past 3 years, but as we all know, poa in the PM can lead to some crazy outcomes.

 

Warren comes in right behind Blackthorn in my opinion. The conditioning of Warren is always first class and will always be first class. The US Senior Open will be played at the Warren Course in 2019. I can only imagine the conditions leading up to and following the Open. The Warren staff can be a bit picky. If you are parked on the cart path with 1/2 a tire on the grass, the ranger will make sure you know it. I never cared for the greens at Warren. The are true and can be quick, but the color variations and grain can make them very difficult to read.

 

My South Bend Area Public/Private Golf Course Rankings (within 45 miles)

 

1.) *Lost Dunes - Bridgman, MI (Tom Doak)

2.) *Elcona Country Club - Elkhart, IN (Arthur Hills)

3.) Blackthorn Golf Club - South Bend, IN (Dr. Michael Hurdzan)

4.) Warren Golf Course - South Bend, IN (Coore and Crenshaw)

5.) *Point O' Woods - Benton Harbor (Robert Trent Jones)

6.) Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor, MI (Jack Nicklaus)

7.) ****The Dunes Club - New Buffaloe, MI (Dick Nugent and Mike Keiser....yes that Mike Keiser)

8.) *South Bend Country Club - South Bend, IN (George O'Neil)

9.) *Morris Park Country Club - South Bend, IN (Bob Dustin)

10.) Swan Lake Resort - Plymouth, IN (Never heard of the guy)

 

* - Private Golf Club

****- Private Golf Club....Godspeed getting on

 

Wow, I agree Lost dunes is excellent. I am really surprised that you have the dunes club so low! I loved it.

 

The Dunes Club would be #1 if getting on weren't so difficult, and next to impossible. It's the best golf experience I've ever had. It's a unique place. It's a special place. Words really can't describe it. It's golf in its purest form. From the quaint (putting it lightly) clubhouse, to the absolutely top notch caddies, to the pro cooking burgers and dogs at the turn, to the 8-10 tee boxes on every hole without tee markers, it's a place I will cherish playing forever.

 

I can rather easily get on any of the other courses whenever I want (a good friend is a member at Lost Dunes). The Dunes Club is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity at a place that most everybody has never heard of (no website, no landline, and nothing marking that it's even there).

[AlecEmersonGolf]

As a Notre Dame student, I've played Warren quite a few times and really love it. Every hole is unique, and it has no weak or tricked up holes.

[knickerbocker]

Blackthorn, in my opinion is the best public access golf course. I would rank it 3rd among public and private golf courses (Lost Dunes - 1, Elcona CC - 2). The course is in excellent condition, the layout is fair and fun, and the staff is amazing. The cart boys will clean your clubs if you pull up to the bar in between 9's. The practice facility is the best in the area (less Elcona CC again). If you are going to play Blackthorn, do it in the early to late AM. They are in the process of trying to eliminate the poa annua, and have been very successful over the past 3 years, but as we all know, poa in the PM can lead to some crazy outcomes.

 

Warren comes in right behind Blackthorn in my opinion. The conditioning of Warren is always first class and will always be first class. The US Senior Open will be played at the Warren Course in 2019. I can only imagine the conditions leading up to and following the Open. The Warren staff can be a bit picky. If you are parked on the cart path with 1/2 a tire on the grass, the ranger will make sure you know it. I never cared for the greens at Warren. The are true and can be quick, but the color variations and grain can make them very difficult to read.

 

My South Bend Area Public/Private Golf Course Rankings (within 45 miles)

 

1.) *Lost Dunes - Bridgman, MI (Tom Doak)

2.) *Elcona Country Club - Elkhart, IN (Arthur Hills)

3.) Blackthorn Golf Club - South Bend, IN (Dr. Michael Hurdzan)

4.) Warren Golf Course - South Bend, IN (Coore and Crenshaw)

5.) *Point O' Woods - Benton Harbor (Robert Trent Jones)

6.) Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor, MI (Jack Nicklaus)

7.) ****The Dunes Club - New Buffaloe, MI (Dick Nugent and Mike Keiser....yes that Mike Keiser)

8.) *South Bend Country Club - South Bend, IN (George O'Neil)

9.) *Morris Park Country Club - South Bend, IN (Bob Dustin)

10.) Swan Lake Resort - Plymouth, IN (Never heard of the guy)

 

* - Private Golf Club

****- Private Golf Club....Godspeed getting on

 

Wow, I agree Lost dunes is excellent. I am really surprised that you have the dunes club so low! I loved it.

 

The Dunes Club would be #1 if getting on weren't so difficult, and next to impossible. It's the best golf experience I've ever had. It's a unique place. It's a special place. Words really can't describe it. It's golf in its purest form. From the quaint (putting it lightly) clubhouse, to the absolutely top notch caddies, to the pro cooking burgers and dogs at the turn, to the 8-10 tee boxes on every hole without tee markers, it's a place I will cherish playing forever.

 

I can rather easily get on any of the other courses whenever I want (a good friend is a member at Lost Dunes). The Dunes Club is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity at a place that most everybody has never heard of (no website, no landline, and nothing marking that it's even there).

 

Comparing Dune Club to Lost Dunes is pretty hard because they are so different in style and atmosphere. I would rather play Dunes Club over Lost Dunes.

 

I am lucky and I have played Dunes club a number of times.