Belterra Florence, Indiana

matt_thatsme · January 5, 2014

Planning a golf trip for 12-16. Going to spend a couple of days at Belterra (also spending some time in KY) I would appreciate any info on the course, casino and lodging. Also, any advice on getting a good deal on rooms and golf would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to blow a bunch of money on golf and a room when I can blow it in the casino.

Thanks in advance.

Tarantula18t · January 6, 2014

What are the dates for your trip? More importantly I guess are you going for a long weekend, or during the week?

matt_thatsme · January 6, 2014

We haven't set the dates yet. I am in the info collection phase. Belterra is the likely destination, though we are considering Harrah's in Cherokee, NC. Depends on pricing, amenities and course quality. With that being said, since we want to stop at Keeneland too, it will likely be late April. Probably a Thursday and Friday. Golf all day, casino all night.

Tarantula18t · January 6, 2014

Well....I would say go to French Lick, but that sort of throws the "pricing to a minimum" out of the window.

Many times Belterra gives deals where you can get a room and a $100 resort credit for about $100. That credit can be used on anything at the resort (food, golf, spa.....but no gambling). The only catch is you have to stay I believe on a Sunday-Thursday. I will keep an eye out for them down here if you want.

matt_thatsme · January 6, 2014

That would be awesome. Thanks!

SilverBullets · January 8, 2014

The golf course at belterra is ok. When we played it was really beat up and not in great shape. Full disclosure, there was a big heat wave and many courses were suffering from heat damage, my local private course being one of them. So I wasn't surprised to see it. The course wasn't overly memorable and our round was a good 5 hours. We stayed off site at a place owned by belterra that was 10 minutes away and provided a free 24 hour shuttle. If you have the cash, stay on site. We waited a times for 30-40 minutes for the shuttle. We still had a blast but coming from Columbus, I would head to a few other places first.

matt_thatsme · January 8, 2014

They quoted me $85 per round with a $25 per 9 replay (weekend). That seemed a bit high for the course. Going off what I have been told, I have played much beter for much less.

Tarantula18t · January 9, 2014

I have played there numerous times, and the conditions of the course have always been fantastic. I know of that "heat wave" he is talking about, and he's right, even the high end country clubs were hurting a bit that year in this area.

It's a good course, with a nice layout, but it's not going to blow you away.

Where are you guys coming from?

matt_thatsme · January 9, 2014

Knoxville, TN. For $85 per round in Florence, Indiana, I expect a pretty good course. 5 hours is asinine. Is it typically that slow?

Tarantula18t · January 9, 2014

I have never experienced a 5 hour round there, but I am sure it can happen. It is a resort course, and you get all sorts of thrashing on those many times.

I already mentioned French Lick, which is definitely more expensive, but by FAR better golfing options. How about the Southern Indiana Horseshoe? It's directly across the river from Louisville.

I am sure their rooms are as cheap or cheaper then Belterra. They have a casino course that is located about 10 minutes or so away. It's called Chariot Run. If you like links type courses, you will love this place. Probably some of the fastest/best greens I have putt on in a long time. I played there a few years ago on the way back from FL, Ind. The course itself isn't as expensive either as Belterra. If you paid the course just regular rates, I think it would be about $110 for 36 holes on a weekend. The weekdays I think are more like $80 for 36. You can get deals at this course also if you look around. It's definitely a better deal/value to play there over Belterra.

Condition wise they are pretty much the same, with CR having better greens for sure. I would say Belterra has a little more "eye candy", but that is due to Fazio, and how he designs. I personally am NOT a links fan. I prefer thick tree lined Northern Michigan type courses. Although CR is one of the best I have played, and I would definitely play it again if I had the opportunity.

They may offer some golf package deals also....I don't know.

There is a good site with a lot of pictures of CR if you have any interest in it. Let me know

matt_thatsme · January 9, 2014

I am definitely interested in both options - CR and French Lick. The golf packages listed on French Lick's site didn't look too bad. If it is that much better than Belterra, I wouldn't mind paying a little extra $.

Tarantula18t · January 9, 2014

If the prices didn't bother you too much, then FL is definitely the way to go. You have 2 courses right there on the resort, and another about 25 minutes away.

Sultan's Run is a good solid course, and probably has one of the best looking finishing holes I have ever played (behind the green anyway).

I am NOT a fan of Donald Ross courses. No fault of his own, as I don't mind the way he designed holes, etc. I just am not a fan of classic courses due to the tiny pieces of property they are crammed on. I played another highly rated classic the TPC Old White where they hold the Greenbrier Classic this past summer, and I didn't care for that course much. That being said, the Ross is a fun to course to play. It has your typical Ross greens, and fantastic conditions. I don't know what tees your group plays from, but the course has the longest collection of par 3's, I have every played. I have never hit a driver on a par 3, and had to do so twice in one round on one our trips down there with the wind howling in our face. They play 240, 249, 252, and the peanut of the bunch is a short 151, but has probably the toughest green on the course.

The Pete Dye course is unbelievable. If you like views and eye candy when you play golf, you will love this course. I don't think there is a tree on the course. Although the views you get on most holes more then makes up for that in my opinion. You will DEFINTELY want to spend the day playing here. You can play all day here for the price you pay, but you do have to pay for the forecaddie each round. It is a minimum of $30 per bag. The first time we played there they had a whopping 12 players scheduled for the day. Unless you have a tee time, you can't even get up to see the course. It's gated, and up on the second highest point in Indiana I believe. Unless they are doing tours of some kind now-a-days....I don't know.

The casino is good....one floor....not real big, but will have everything I am sure you will need. The town itself isn't much, but my guess is you will be golfing all day, and gambling all night, and it has plenty of both.