Eagle Creek Golf Club: A Unique Walk (or Drive) in the Park

Eagle Creek Golf Club, considered the crown jewel of the Indianapolis City golf courses, is a Pete Dye masterpiece that tucked away on 500+ acres adjacent to one of America’s largest municipal parks. You’ll be treated not only to great golf, but also to the property’s natural habitat of wild animals, wetlands and its stunning variety of elevation changes.

What makes the Eagle Creek experience so special is the “pure golf” ambience the golf feels as he plays his round through the beauty of a natural parkland setting that is void of any housing and offers a quiet respite from the busy world around us.

And isn’t that what golf is supposed to be?

However this peaceful giant has teeth, too. It is enough of a test to be the official course of the Indianapolis Colts, tough enough for the USGA to hold the U.S. Amateur Public Links National Championship, yet playable enough to host hundreds of business, corporate, family and charity outings (including three for those Colts) each year.

Colts aren’t the only “wildlife” you’ll find at Eagle Creek, either. With more of an upper-Michigan feel to its rolling, tree-lined fairways, you’ll likely be watched during your hunt for birdies by deer, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and, of course, the eagles that give this tranquil escape its name. Another comparison to that up-North feel is the remarkable elevation change you’ll be faced with off any number of the elevated tees or approaching many of the raised, oversized, sloping (but not overly-undulating) greens. And a bunker renovation program in 2007 will add some difficulty to those approaches.

Having two different courses, the Pines and the Sycamore, means Eagle Creek’s outing professionals can give those gatherings the special care they deserve, including on-site catering, while also welcoming public play nearly all the time. And speaking of time, their special morning and twilight rates (How about all the golf you can play after 5:30 during Daylight Savings Time for $25, or $40/twosome?) make Eagle Creek a wonderful value for a course that’s always in impeccable shape. Isn’t that what golf is supposed to be?

Dye laid out the 27 original Eagle Creek holes in 1974, the early years of his architectural career. Liddy, who studied under Dye, took what he’d learned with Pete designing other Indiana courses like the Trophy Club and The Fort (both winners of much critical acclaim as “Best New” courses nationally when they opened) and routed nine new holes in 2001, seven of which were combined with 11 of Dye’s originals to make up the Sycamore Course. Two of his other “new” holes became #5 and #6 on the Pines Course, combining with seven of Dye’s to make up what are considered the toughest nine in the whole complex. Liddy also added bunkers to the old 9-hole layout, toughening it up and making the new Pines Course just as tough as its sister.

In fact, the Pines might have one of the toughest opening holes in the entire Hoosier state. Only 378 yards from the tips, players still have to hit their first shot of the day over one of Dye’s signature railroad-tie bunkers, this one down in a valley and supposedly more ornamental in nature, to an elevated landing area to negotiate a dogleg right. Any shot to the right off the tee brings a punch-out and a possible double-bogey (or worse) start into play. Liddy’s two holes, the longest par-4 and par-5 on that side, usually play into the wind, adding to their difficulty. The back nine plays somewhat flatter than the front, but with the added bunkers, can hold its own in difficulty with any nine in the area.

It’s fairly easy to differentiate between the Dye designs and Liddy’s layouts on the Sycamore Course. The first seven holes are original Eagle Creek classics, tree-lined fairways with elevated tees and greens. The third hole features a bunker that horseshoes (like the Colt logo) around the back of the green, leaving a bump-and-run approach open. One of Dye’s signatures is the fifth, a tough, mid-length dogleg left par-5 where the favored approach to an elevated green, is protected by an old sycamore overhanging the right hand side of the green. Holes 8-13 are Liddy additions and have a very links-like feel, the 8th and 9th conceivably driveable if the tees are up and the wind is favorable, but only if you avoid the water down the righthand side at #8, then stay away from the bunker that runs the full length of the ninth down the lefthand side.

Head Professional Brad Beck loves Dye’s four finishing holes at Sycamore. Two are birdie opportunities, two are as tough as they come (we’ll leave your own experience to figure out which is which). The 18th is a wonderful dogleg left where you hit from an elevated tee into a valley, then approach across a creek to a relatively flat green. Sound easy? It’s the third toughest hole on the card, meaning you might rather be getting a shot than giving one at the grand finale.

If you didn’t take advantage of the Eagle Creek Golf Academy, under the direction of Nick Bianco, before you played, you might consider a little extra time on their two-acres of grass tees and target greens. The range is even lit in the summertime to take advantage of the cool Indiana nights. The Academy has customized individual and group lessons for players of any skill and desire level.

For more details on their 4,000 square-foot Conference Center, golf specials and other information, visit them online at www.eaglecreekgolfclub.com. Or call their friendly staff at (317) 297-3366. Eagle Creek Golf Club- a unique drive in the park. Isn’t that what golf should be?