The Fort Golf Resort: Pete Dye's Military Remake

On June 28, 1904, General Order No. 117 called for a land purchase to be set aside for military use nine miles from downtown Indianapolis.

That land would become the Fort Benjamin Harrison military base until 1991, when the complex was decommissioned as the U.S. government began downsizing by closing bases.

Just four years later, renowned architect Pete Dye was brought in to redesign the 18-hole golf course that had been part of the military installment. Dye began work on the project in the fall of 1995 and only charged the state of Indiana, which owns the course as part of the state's park system, $1 for the opportunity to work with the course's 238 acres, all of which are encompassed by what is now Ft. Harrison State Park.

Today, The Fort Golf Course is unlike any other in the Indianapolis area. It's a place where you can experience forests, meadows, wildlife, revealing glimpses of the past, as well as a championship layout unburdened by homes and not crowded by parallel holes.

When it debuted in 1997, Golf Digest named The Fort one of the "Top 10 Affordable Golf Courses in the U.S." From 2005-2007, the same publication awarded the course a 4.5 Star rating. Golf Digest also ranked The Fort among the "Top 10 Public Golf Course" in the state of Indiana from 1997-2007.

Lying within the confines of one of the largest contiguously wooded areas inside a major city's limits, the Fort Golf Course boasts a densely-wooded state park setting with terrific sight lines. The 7,148-yard, par-72 design features tree-lined fairways, rolling hills and Dye's trademark undulating fairways. With multiple tees beginning at 5,045 yards, golfers of all skill levels will face the challenge they desire.

The golf course is atypically hilly for a Central Indiana course, and feels more like a layout you'd find in northern Michigan or in the mountainous regions of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Dye called the 238 acres the course is situated on, "the darndest piece of land he'd ever had the privilege of working on."

There is on-site lodging leftover from the military base, allowing golfers to stay and play at The Fort. The clubhouse also has a full-service restaurant (The Garrison) and banquet facilities.

Fort Harrison State Park itself is about 1700 acres and features paved trails, natural trails and areas for horseback riding, picnicking and fishing.

The golf course is always a popular destination during the weekend of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. This year, large crowds are expected when nearby Crooked Stick hosts the U.S. Senior Open.

The course accepts tee times as far in advance as you'd like to make them by telephone. Golfers can also make online tee times up to 30 days in advance.

For additional information, please visit www.thefortgolfcourse.com or call 317-543-9597.