French Lick Resort
About French Lick Resort
The French Lick Resort is one of golf’s most historic, and esteemed, resorts. It embraces the natural beauty of the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. Guests will have a tough decision choosing where to stay among the 757 guest rooms and suites of The French Lick Springs Hotel (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the West Baden Springs Hotel (a National Historic Landmark) or the newer Valley Tower (opened in 2019). There are 45 holes of golf, a Callaway Fitting Studio, two spas, a casino, horseback riding, kids’ activities and endless meeting space. The Pete Dye course, host of numerous tournaments, ranks among the most scenic and demanding courses in the country. The classic Donald Ross course provides a nice complement. Beyond the game, there’s seven dining options; an activities center with tennis, pickleball and basketball courts; a bowling alley; arcade; fitness center and outdoor/indoor pools.Facts
Amenities
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Rules
Articles on French Lick Resort
Golf courses at French Lick Resort
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French Lick, IndianaResort
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French Lick, IndianaResort
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Images from French Lick Resort
Videos about French Lick Resort
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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The beautiful 18th hole Photo submitted by u00000760482 on 06/14/2023
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Photo submitted by sheehaeh on 09/21/2022
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Photo submitted by u314160504689 on 09/08/2022
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Photo submitted by Snaphook417 on 01/18/2022
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Photo submitted by Snaphook417 on 01/18/2022
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Photo submitted by Snaphook417 on 10/13/2021
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Photo submitted by Snaphook417 on 10/13/2021
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Photo submitted by Mizzo812 on 07/05/2021
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Photo submitted by Mizzo812 on 07/05/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/27/2021
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Photo submitted by UB4JQvgFD25BEEa6yBTM on 10/14/2019
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Photo submitted by RickTX on 10/11/2019
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Photo submitted by RickTX on 10/11/2019
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Photo submitted by RickTX on 10/11/2019
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Photo submitted by RickTX on 10/11/2019
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Photo submitted by RickTX on 10/11/2019
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Photo submitted by u000005038623 on 07/15/2019
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Photo submitted by u000005038623 on 07/15/2019
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Photo submitted by u000005038623 on 07/15/2019
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Photo submitted by u000005038623 on 07/15/2019
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18 Approach Photo submitted by DrOldSchool on 07/29/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by xkyleclark3 on 06/25/2018
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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1st tee Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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The tips on the 15th hole play 665 yards. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Stout 18th hole finish Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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It's a long way to the 13th green from the tips. Photo submitted by BrandonTuckerGA on 04/28/2017
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Photo submitted by MikeBaileyGolf on 06/13/2016
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#16, par 3, 133 yards with a difficult green Photo submitted by dobesbsoon on 06/08/2016
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Great Finishing Hole Photo submitted by jess34tn on 07/29/2014
A good day on the links!
I like the course layout, it had a number of risk-reward holes and also required you to pay attention to hitting shots right to left and left to right. The course in general was in great condition, my only (slight) issue might be the greens. The grain definitely came into play and the swing in speed on into and with the grain was a substantial difference. While they rolled very true, I can’t help but wishing they would have been cut a bit tighter so that into the grain putts would have been a bit speedier.
Overall, a very good experience and I definitely recommend this course!
They ruined a Donald Ross gem
I recently returned from a French Lick golf weekend. I’m sad to report that the Ross Course has gone down hill under the leadership of head PGA pro Rob Koontz. What used to be a first class golf course and experience is now a 5 hour round with deteriorating course conditions and a rude management team.
I suspect there are players who visit the French Lick Resort and have to choose between playing either the Dye course or the Ross course. And I suspect many of these players select the Ross because of two factors: first, Pete Dye’s reputation for building hard golf courses scares the faint of heart, with his proliferation of bunkers and other hazards. And secondly, because of the price tag. The Ross comes in more than $200 less expensive than the Dye.
Little do these folks know they are about to get punched in the face. Dye may have been diabolical. Ross is an absolute savage.
At first blush, the course looks serene. It is a par 70. The cross bunkers aren’t intimidating. And the greens are of ample size. But, about those greens…
Ross confounds players with these complexes. It is a hackneyed phrase when describing Golden Age courses, but pronounced slope from back to front makes leaving approach shots below the hole of paramount importance. Sometimes even being short of the green is better than being on the floor in the wrong spot. That said, many holes feature shaved banks that will allow underclubbed irons to roll well back down into the fairway. The course demands imagination and creativity. Additionally, subtle slope around the cups seem to repel putts in every direction. Frustration can really mount if you come here planning to shoot a number.
The Ross course plays 3-4 shots harder than the Dye and you should anticipate playing an additional 300 yards from what the scorecard says.
I cannot recall ever playing a tougher collection of par 3s. They are meant to be difficult. Embrace the challenge. Two played well over 210 yards uphill, and today they were into the fan. You should add an additional 10-20 yards for all of the par 3s except No. 16, which was merely a wedge but a back left pin funneled approaches back to the front of the green.
And speaking of funneling, I would pay good money if somehow a Tour event could be reprised here. Though the 1924 PGA Championship was staged here, it just doesn’t have the pedigree for a modern golf tournament, but I would relish the opportunity to witness Tour pros cry about how “unfair” the eighth green is. While milling around before teeing off I heard several older gentlemen bantering with each other about how many times they have 4-putted the eighth green over the years. After playing it, now I understand. The pin today was back left and cut merely three paces off the fringe. The green is 32 yards deep. Approaches worked their way back to the front of the green, setting up 85- to 90-foot putts up the menacing incline. Four-putts are the norm and I have no doubt there are plenty of 10s carded there.
Having said all that, I loved it. French Lick benefits greatly from having two polar opposite courses, from an architectural and strategic standpoint. You will do yourself a disservice if you play just one and not the other.
Thinking about how to navigate a course Pete Dye has dug out of the dirt can cause a sleepless night. Especially when you drive out and survey the property on the afternoon of arrival to the French Lick Resort.
The fairways appear to be mere ribbons. The rough looks juicy enough to swallow a golf ball, and for that matter a 9-iron. Bunkers litter the property like the acne-pockmarked face of a 15-year-old boy. Slopes are harsh. Greens are small. Confidence is waning.
It is reported that upon visiting the extremely difficult site of the present golf course, Dye said he couldn’t build a track on it. He changed his mind, however, and moved 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt to create the fingers of land that the holes are draped on. The course basically wraps around the site and flows down from the mansion and pro shop that sits atop the property like a Christmas tree topper. The views from the second highest point in Indiana are dramatic and the wind usually blows. The genius in the routing is that it changes direction every three or four holes, so you will get varying winds that can help or hurt.
Dye is up to his usual antics, attempting to intimidate you with trouble that appears to be in play, but may actually not be. His uses all shapes and sizes of bunkers, including the “volcano” bunkers that are a signature.
That said, after playing 36 holes here today, I found the course’s bark to be much worse than its bite. The fairways are pinched, and the greens are small, but the Bluegrass rough allows stray drives to sit up nicely, allowing for recovery. The trade off is some nasty flyers. This may be a product of the early playing season. I have heard that in the summer the conditions can harshen.
You can make the experience as harrowing as you like by moving way back on the tee box, but I am not a sadist. The Gold tees tip out at 8,100 yards and possess a course rating of, wait for it... 80.0. Insane. It’s not an run-of-the-mill golf course, so the average player will probably struggle in stretches here. Don’t let that deter you, however, from playing it if you are a mid-to-high handicapper.
Finally, the $350 greens fee is steep, and you will be required to hire a forecaddie ($40+tip/pp), but the Dye Course goes above and beyond with the tee gift. Most high-end courses gladly give you a bag tag with your name engraved on it, and here is no exception. However, in addition, following your round you will receive a valuables pouch with a small bottle of local whiskey, a cigar, cutter, matches and shot glass. That, friends, is the proper way to say “thanks for playing here.”
Though it is a stepsister course to the French Lick Resort some 30 miles away, Sultan’s Run is no shrinking violet.
Rolling farmland provides fantastic shot values and demands a variety of thoughtful clubbing throughout.
Small greens with a ton of movement constantly seduce 3-putts with the slightest indecision.
There is a uniqueness to the sands in these traps. Coarser than most, but had no issue with how it played.
The three-hole stretch between 14-16 is my favorite part of the course, though there aren’t any filler holes.
The club touts the top signature hole in the state of Indiana. With the stunning waterfall that cascades behind the 18th green, they have a legitimate seat at the table of that debate.
Thank you for your kind words! We're glad your experience at Sultan's Run stood out among most.
Wow!
I had seen this course in a magazine a couple of years ago. This year my buddy and I drove 7 hours to play it and we were not disappointed. The course layout is spectacular. I love the elevation changes. The last hole is the most beautiful golf hole I have ever played. We plan to go back.
Thank you for the amazing review. We're happy you found Sultan's Run Golf Course to be well worth the drive! And yes, we have the most dramatic signature 18th hole in Indiana according to Visit Indiana Golf Guide!
Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Sultan's Run Golf Course!
AWESOME
Course is dynamite. Staff is the friendliest and the food is really good!
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at Sultan's Run Golf Course. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!
Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Sultan's Run Golf Course!
Thank you for the stellar 5-star rating and for choosing Sultan's Run Golf Course!
A Southern Indiana Must Play
I played the Sultan’s Run Golf Club with a friend on 11/07/20. This is an absolutely stunning golf course. When we played it, the grass in the fairways and rough were dormant which was a very cool contrast the green, greens. This course has some elevation changes and you rarely see, another hole except for the one that you are playing. The course offers 4 sets of tees and plays long. The course offers a variety of different holes from downhill par 3’s to uphill par 4’s to downhill dogleg par 5’s. You should take one more club than you normally would hit. The greens were firm and extremely fast. I later found out that they rolled the greens for three straight days, before we played. My advice, when hitting your approach shots is to aim for the middle of the green. I short sided myself all day, which made for a difficult and rare up and down. One of my favorite holes would have to be #12. It’s extreme downhill par 3 with water and sand in play. The second shot into #18 is also amazing. There is a very nice restaurant / bar area and they do serve breakfast. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. I purchased a yardage book, which was helpful, since this was our first time playing the course. The course tore me up that day and I can’t wait to make a trip down there and play it again. I would highly recommend playing this course.
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at Sultan's Run Golf Course. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!
Beautiful
First time playing here when the grass was dormant and the leaves were turned, beautiful. Excellent shape. Staff awesome as always. The greens here are always true but usually on the slower side, not this time. Took a bit to adjust. Always a joy to play. Great spot to close out my season.
We appreciate the stellar rating! Come back again soon to Sultan's Run Golf Course!
Thank you for sharing your positive experience!
Sultans run is my favorite public course In Indiana!!!
From the moment you pull in and see 2 holes as your driving down to the first interaction in the clubhouse then throughout the round it is a wonderful experience!!!
Make sure to get the potato salad!!!
What an amazing review! We hope to see you again soon here at Sultan's Run Golf Course.
A "Must Play" list golf course
From the time I was greeted by the club pro I felt like they genuinely wanted me to play their course. The staff saw an earlier tee time and paired me with a twosome that proved to be a blast all day long. The course was simply beautiful in the Fall colors and well managed. Fairways were very generous and the greens had some contour and were fun to putt on. Next trip to this area, Sultan's Run will be at the top of my "must play" list!
We're happy to learn your enjoyed your golfing experience at Sultan's Run Golf Club from the moment you stepped into the club! We're pleased you consider us a "must-play."
aerated greens
Course in great shape . Only that the greens had been aerated. If I knew ahead of time I would not had played.I have seen some course web sites put that on there site . I believe you should get a break on price.
Fall golf ought to be better
A busy Saturday in early October should warrant a golf refreshment cart. Also there should be a discount and an apology for freshly aerated greens. But all in all it is a nice course and the fall foliage was outstanding.
Mr. Lindberg,
Thank you for the feedback. We’re sorry the greens aerification caught you off guard. We had our schedule posted to social media and on our website. We also informed customers of our plans when they called in to book tee times. Since you booked on-line, we missed the opportunity to inform you. We are sorry. We hope you come back and see us. We have big improvements coming this off-season that will make your experience even more positive.
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at Sultan's Run Golf Course. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!
We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing Sultan's Run Golf Course.