THE WEST BADEN HOTEL AT FRENCH LICK RESORT

WHEN ONE THINKS OF FRENCH LICK INDIANA THE FIRST NAME THAT COMES TO MIND,
IS THAT OF BASKETBALL STAR LARRY BIRD.

Well Bird is gone except for part ownership of a downtown bar called "Bricks 33", that is
within walking distance to the famed French Lick Resort and Casino. Yes casino and that
is just a small part, of what is now going on at the resort. In recent years the property has
undergone a 500 million dollar renovation, making the French Lick Resort one of the premier
resorts in America. 

French Lick is also becoming a golf destination, yes French Lick Indiana a golf destination.

Two historic golf courses now sit with a new golf course, that will make some history of it's
own in the short future. Indiana's very own Hall-of-Fame architect Pete Dye, is now the big
name in French Lick. Dye's newest creation, the Pete Dye Golf Course at French Lick complete
with "volcano bunkers" is already earning rave reviews. Golfweek Magazine's # 7 Best New
Courses list for 2009.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO RORY'S INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR OF GOLF DAVE HARNER

Download | Duration: 00:08:44

The hills behind the French Lick Resort are among the highest elevation points in Indiana,
they offer 40 mile views of the Hoosier National Forest. With the elevation changes in the
area, golfers will experience a lot of that factor during their round, as they navigate a hillside
the course the has been layed out on.

"There is nothing more dynamic than playing golf while observing spectacular views. Until
now my signature courses with spectacular views have involved water," Dye said. "This
new golf course will offer golfers panoramic views that extend over 40 miles in all directions."


             THE VIEW LOOKING OUT FROM THE TENTH GREEN AT THE PETE DYE COURSE

Dye goes as far to say that ."French Lick might be the best inland site that I have ever worked
on." That coming from a guy who has ten courses in Golfweek Magazine's 100 Greatest Modern
Courses list, along with two other gems in Indiana. Dye's home course Crooked Stick Golf
Club in Carmel and the Brickyard Crossing course that runs through the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. 

It might also be one of the toughest. With the elevation level the course sits at, the wind will
always be a factor. Just as much as it is at two of Dye's other classic designs. The Ocean
Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, and Whistling Straits in Haven Wisconsin part
of the Kohler Resort.

Besides the wind, length can be factor if the golfer wants it to be. Are you ready for 8,102
yards of Pete Dye Golf. Both nines can play over 4,000 yards, with the par 3 16th able to
force golfers back to 301 yards. Yes you read correctly, 301 par three. Grip it and rip it

With three par fives that measure over 600 yards through the rolling hillside. One could
agrue that Dye created his best set of par fives, since his classic design at the Honors
Course in Ooltewah Tennessee.

After a 519 yard dogleg left "par four" right out of the blocks, the par four second hole that 
plays only 413 yards gives one a hawaiian feel. The hole is complete with volcano bunkers
just to the right of the fairway.  How did Dye come up with the idea for volcano bunkers, when
asked he simply sums it up by saying "well we had some extra dirt and had to put it somewhere."


          THE VOLCANO BUNKERS ON THE SECOND HOLE AT THE PETE DYE COURSE

Which is how Dye also explains the par three tee at over 300 (301) yards. "Well again we had
a little extra dirt, and we had the room to put a tee back about were it ended up. The original
plan had the tee back about 280-290. Since it was that far back already, we just decided to
move it back a few more yards and give everyone something to talk about." If anyone ever has
to play the hole from there, you can bet they will be doing more than talking about it.

In 2010 the course will host the PGA's National Club Professional Championship. Defending
champion University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small, and the field of club professionals that
will participate should have their hands full. The top 20 finishers will get spots to play in the 2010
PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, thus earning the players a double dose of Dye. 

The clubhouse at the Pete Dye course has the classic colonial look, made of red brick
with white pillars. The clubhouse was the govenor of Indiana's summer home going back
almost 80-90 years. It's complete now with four suites, for those who want to be "on the
course" when they go to bed or wake up in the morning. The resort does currently require
guests to be staying at the resort in order to play the new Pete Dye Course. So why not just 
stay in the clubhouse, it's high enough up anyway that a crow's nest just might be found nearby.


      THE NINTH HOLE AND CLUBHOUSE (MIDDLE),PROSHOP (RIGHT) AT THE PETE DYE COURSE

If you like something a little more classic, there are two real gems as part of the French Lick
Resort. First off the 1917 Donald Ross Course. If you like Ross courses you'll love this one.
If you have never played a Ross course, try it and you will be hooked on his designs for the
rest of your golfing career. The course was recently restored with the help of Michael Fay of the
Donald Ross Society, and architect Lee Schmidt. The five million dollar restoration brought the
course back into the original Ross design.

The course hosted the 1924 PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen, along with the 1959 and
1960 LPGA Championships. The restaurant in the clubhouse is called Hagen's, the food and
service are outstanding. The restoration brought the courses length to 7,030 yards par 70, and
35 original bunkers were put back in place. Add the native fescue grass that looks like it just
arrived from Pinehurst, and you have a course that gives the golfer, a walk through a historic
vintage Donald Ross golf course. Besides the famous golf professionals who have played the
Ross Course, celebrites such as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby have also enjoyed the courses charm.

The Valley Links Course, formerly known as the Bendelow Course is now just nine holes. If the
name (Tom) Bendelow sounds familiar, it should to Chicago area golfers. If you ever wondered
who designed the famous Medinah 3 layout, the credit goes to Bendelow. The course is a par 36
and a friendly walkable parkland style course, with scottish fescue grasses. The course is great
for senior and junior golfers and is one of two courses in Indiana, endorsed as a family course by
the US Kids Golf Foundation. The course sits alongside of the Valley Links Learning Center, the
golf academy for the resort.

Part of the renovations to the resort include the casino, that include some 1300 slot machinces
and over 40 table games. Other renovations include the main French Lick Hotel and the West Baden
Hotel. The West Baden Hotel which has a domed roof, it gives one the feeling of being at or staying
in the Astrodome. The two hotels give the resort almost 700 total rooms.

The resorts other attractions include the spa, the 1875 steakhouse the resorts main dining restaurant,
the Power Plant Bar and Grill. Right next door to the resort is the Indiana Railway Museum. Where one
can enjoy a ride on an old restored train, all the way from the from the locomotive to the caboose.

So if you are looking for the midwests newest golf destination, it's located in southern Indiana in the town 
that Larry Bird put on the map, but Donald Ross, Tom Bendelow and Pete Dye are now making famous.

For more information on the French Lick Resort, casino and spa and golf courses. Call 1-888-936-9360
or on line at www.frenchlick.com

Director of Golf for the Pete Dye Course Dave Harner, joined Golfers on Golf Live from the clubhouse
during the radio show on August 3rd of this year. You can listen to the interview by visiting our past
shows part of this website.