Golfers can become rather irascible when confronting the creations of legendary golf course architect Pete Dye, cursing their luck upon finding a ball buried in one of his pot bunkers or flipping a club after watching a shot splash land in the moat surrounding No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass.
But for all the fury and frustration Dye draws out of both hackers and professionals, we can’t help but love the man who’s provided us with so many wonderful places to play golf.
And there is no other spot on the planet where that love affair is more evident than the city of Indianapolis. Indy is to home remnants of Dye’s first design, the nine-hole El Dorado located just south of the city.
Today his original nine is part of Dye’s Walk Country Club. Private Crooked Stick is one of his most celebrated works, and the always interesting Brickyard Crossing is literally a part of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
To find the best public-access example of Dye’s work in the Circle City, travel nine miles northeast of downtown to The Fort Golf Course, which is part of a 1,700-acre historical nature preserve positioned on a parcel of land that once been part of Fort Benjamin Harrison.
Named in honor of our 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison, Ft. Ben served multiple roles during major military conflicts from World War I to Desert Storm. A few years after the post closed following the Cold War, the land was purchased in the mid-1990s by the state of Indiana, which turned to Dye to redesign the golf course.
Dye, who served in World War II with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Infantry, agreed to take on the project and charged the state just $1 for his services. He quickly got to work, transforming a course originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. and later reworked by William Diddle, into one of the Midwest’s finest upscale golf courses.
Reinvented by Dye, with help from protégé Tim Liddy and ready to entertain golfers of all ability levels, the new Fort Golf Course opened in the fall of 2007. The course was an overnight success. In 1998, The Fort was ranked No. 3 by Golf Digest under “Best Affordable New Public Courses.” The awards and praise haven’t stopped rolling in.
Golf Digest continued to heap praise upon The Fort, ranking it among the top 10 public golf courses in the state of Indiana since it’s re-opening and rating it 4.5 stars since 2005.
Indiana Golf Association recently surveyed its tournament participants, and they voted The Fort No. 3 among public courses in the state. With nearly 470 public courses throughout the state, those ratings and rankings speak to the quality of The Fort.
The 7,148-yard, par-72 masterpiece set upon 238 acres features tree-lined fairways, rolling hills and the trademark undulating greens visitors to Dye’s golf courses have grown accustomed to. Compared to the Diddle version, the modern-day Dye design is open with generous landing spots.
There is a risk-reward element to The Fort that will tempt golfers to pull driver from the bag and attack short par 4s like No. 2 and No. 10, par 4s that each measure less than 323 yards from the championship tees.
Another unique feature found on the scorecard at The Fort is back-to-back par 5s; the 511-yard sixth and the 542-yard seventh.
Aesthetically pleasing, very memorable and well-maintained, The Fort is a must-play for every avid golfer in the Indianapolis area. And even if you live a few hours outside of Indianapolis, a round at The Fort is certainly worth the drive.
In fact, the unique lodging options available at The Fort make it an excellent “Stay and Play” destination, ideal for golfers traveling from Cincinnati, Chicago and the state of Michigan.
Out-of-town travelers can crash in the old VIP quarters, the Harrison House, which was used to house visiting military dignitaries when the military base was active. The Harrison House has been converted into seven spacious suites (VIP King, two- and single-room) complete with cable television in each room, long distance and local phone service and work space. Common areas include living room, kitchen and dining area. Prices range from $69 to $159 per night.
Three former officer’s homes to the east of the golf course’s parking lot are also part of the parks in. These homes comfortably sleep eight people and rent for $229 a night. They’re beautifully decorated and fully-furnished. Each home has three bedrooms, two sofa beds and 2.5 baths. All of these accommodations are part of the golf packages offered by The Fort. When bundling golf and lodging at The Fort, you’ll receive a discounted rate.
Complementing the 18-hole championship golf course is The Fort Golf Resort & Conference Center, which is equipped with the tools to teach the game of golf. Golfers can hone their skills on the top-quality practice facilities or take part in private or group instruction. The Fort also has a fully-stocked pro shop, The Garrison Restaurant, plus men’s and women’s locker rooms. Featuring a ballroom capable of holding 400 people, The Fort has the ability to hold corporate and charity functions as well.
The surrounding nature preserve is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, who aren’t golfers, offering miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Walking is allowed, and riding 18 holes will cost you less than $80, making The Fort one of, if not the best, values in the Midwest.
For more information about The
Fort Golf Course, visit www.thefortgolfcourse.com or call (317) 543-9597. Golfers can make tee times online up to 30 days in advance.