ALL THINGS INDIANA GOLF

[Bob Cat]

Merry Christmas, fellow Hoosiers!

[NewToGolf19]

Interested in French Lick for a guys’ trip. Any feedback?

[Bob Cat]

3 hours ago, NewToGolf19 said:

Interested in French Lick for a guys’ trip. Any feedback?

 

Ross course is always in great shape and a good warm-up for the difficult but uniquely beautiful Dye course.

If a third course is needed look at Sultans Run in nearby Jasper.

 

Plenty of places to eat and drink in FL.  Very good German restaurant there and in Jasper.

 

Hagen's restaurant at the Ross after your round is a great place to eat, drink, and watch the sun go down over the hills and course.

 

Don't miss a nightcap at the West Baden hotel in FL.  Lightshow in the dome at closing time is remarkable.

 

Beautiful area.

[StudentGolfer4]

Really good trip. 
 

2 good courses in sure. As mentioned above Sultans is a really good 3rd option. No reason to play the 9 hole valley course unless you just need to settle some bets. 
 

I do have a couple knocks in FL for a golf trip. 
1. The addition of a short course and some sort of Himalayan style putting course would be a big draw. Most resorts have built these and they’re great for groups who still want to play but don’t want to play another full round. I would build this on the property the valley course is now.
 

2. They don’t have good lodging options for groups. Nothing wrong with the hotels but half the fun on a golf trip is playing cards and hanging out at night. It’s rarely available but I have found a airbnb or two available in the condo property in town. It’s worth taking a look at least. They should build cottages on the valley course. 
 

3. There isn’t much to do after golf besides gamble. The hotel food is average and fairly pricey. 33 Brick street is Bird restaurant and worth a visit for the memorabilia but it’s primarily bar food. The German place is popular but the name is escaping me. Worth noting that Jasper isn’t exactly close. 30-35 minutes of windy southern Indiana roads. You could stop in after Sultans run but I wouldn’t reccomend anyone drive from the resort to jasper just for food. 

It’s a fun trip and the golf is good. If it’s just a buddies trip I think there are better options within similar price points. Nothing about the place is set up for golf trips other than the 2 nice courses. 

[Bob Cat]

There's a "condo" above Legendz that you might check out.  Sleeps quite a few and has a common area to hang.

You might also consider locking in the pool suite as it has a bedroom and very nice, and spacious common area.

There's also a decent indoor carting track in town and a small bowling alley in the FL hotel.

I took the $10 walking tour one time and it was fascinating.  LOTS of history at that campus.

[ROOK16]

https://www.frenchlickvillasinc.com/

 

I just stayed in a two-bedroom villa a few weekends ago.  These are behind or west of the casino.  Our building was very close and only a few minute walk to the casino. 

Edited February 13 by ROOK16

[StudentGolfer4]

Cool. I think some lodging that works for groups would be great at French lick, but HOLY COW THESE THINGS ARE OLD AND OUTDATED.
 

My dream for French lick is to get rid of the Valley course and create a putting course and short course on the premise. Then build a few cottages around the property. This would bump it up a tier as far as Midwest golf trips go. I think 2 and 4 bedroom cottages would get a lot of use from those visiting the resort as well.  Theres much more land for the 9 hole course than is needed for a short and putting course. Maybe convert the extra land into a dog park or something along those lines. 
 

I really like allowing kids 12 and under play free on the valley course and it’s half priced for older juniors. I don’t know how much play it gets from the local community but that would be one downside to my proposal. For younger kids, a well designed short course would be just as beneficial as the valley course though.