2012 League Courses for 16 Week Play
1. Brookshire
Monday, First tee time at 5:00 • Carts required, Greens fees $256
(120/70.9) Course Difficulty: 5 flags
The owners of Brookshire have made significant changes over the last several years, which have made this course easier, but it is still not easy. One particular creek crisscrosses its way through many fairways, which creates a decision for most women. They can try to carry the creek, landing on the other side or they can lay-up before the creek. Many rolling balls, lacking the necessary lift have trickled into the creek bed. The 18 Championship holes are accented by gently rolling terrain, and elegantly mature trees. Brookshire has several undulating fairways, causing some blind shots if not familiar with the course. Many fairways are wide open, but others have one side tree-lined making them tight off the tee. Quite a bit of water and many sand bunkers. This course is for the more advanced player.
2. Oak Tree in Plainfield
Monday, First tee time at 5:00 • Carts required, Greens Fees $240
(114/70.3) Course Difficulty: 2 flags
Located on US 40 just 20 minutes West of Indianapolis Intl. Airport. It is a Pete Dye designed course and is a Par 73 for women.
3. The Fort Golf Course
Monday, 5:30 shotgun on alternating nines • Carts required, Greens fees $ $384
Tuesday, First tee time at 4:45 • Carts required, Greens fees $ $384
(122/69.2) Course Difficulty: 5 flags
The Fort is considered one of the premiere courses in the city. Beautiful, tree-lined fairways and long, wild grass roughs are a spectacular site, but cause major issues for the golfer who is not incredibly straight off the tee. Many tee boxes require the golfer to "carry" (having to lift the ball over a hazard) her drives for at least 100 yards. Many fairways have changes in elevation, favoring a player who can place her ball and for significant the roll. The medium-sized greens are elevated & undulating, some are double-tiered. Water hazards (small streams) come into play on three holes. Both the fairways and greens are well-bunkered on each hole. Carts are required, however, many times carts are restricted to cart path only. Players must be prepared to carry several clubs & walk to her ball. This course is for the more advanced player.
4. Smock Golf Course
Monday, First tee time at 4:52 • Carts required, Greens fees $336
(117/69.4) Course Difficulty: 4 flags
If you enjoy a course with the look of nature, Smock is for you! Smock Golf Course celebrates the Great Plains as a USGA/Audubon Society Cooperative Sanctuary and has many bird houses and protected environmental areas to prove it. Smock will challenge a good intermediate golfer. Holes are generally long with strategically placed bunkers and water often comes into play, requiring good club selection and a somewhat reliable swing (or several golf balls). Some par 3's and sand traps don't give much of a break. Expect a good, challenging game in natural surroundings at Smock.
5. South Grove Golf Course
Tuesday, First tee time 4:37 • Carts additional $7/week, Greens fees $233
(108/69.2) Course Difficulty: 2 flags
Good course for the better beginner who is starting to think and play towards intermediate. IWGL always plays the back 9. The course is generally flat except for 10. In general not too long and water only comes into play on #12. While some fairways are quite open, others are well guarded by mature trees. The course can be quite forgiving if you can stay out of the trees! There are 5 sand traps on the course, but generally they aren't very deep. Greens vary from small to mid-sized and can provide some good putting challenges. Overall, South Grove is a very enjoyable course.
6. Hickory Stick
Tuesday, First tee time 5:00 • Carts additional $6.00/week, Greens fees $225
(114/68.1) Course Difficulty: 3 flags
Hickory Stick caters to the intermediate golfer as well. It was opened in 2000 and prides itself on its new state-of-the-art GPS Golf Carts. The only water you will find are on the sides of the fairways, so there is no water to cross over. Look out for plenty of mounds since this is a links style golf course and has bent grass fairways. There are two par 3's on the front nine and one par 5, the rest are par 4's. Very enjoyable to play.
7. Prairie View Golf Course
Tuesday, First Tee Time is 5:30pm • Carts included Greens fees $400
(120/70.9) Course Difficulty: 5 flags
This course is new to the IWGL league for 2012. This course is a premiere course in the state of Indiana and is for the advanced player. There are no homes along this course, and you will enjoy the beauty of the trees and nature on this course.
8. Golf Club of Indiana
Wednesday, First tee time at 5:30 • Carts required, Greens fees $296
(119/69.9) Course Difficulty: 4 flags
The Golf Club of Indiana is worthy of the attention it has received. This course should be advanced intermediate, challenging as it is for an advanced player. Its gently rolling terrain and many mature trees make GCI a beautiful place to play. The large undulating greens, sometimes tiered, will challenge the best putters & can run up your score. Water on 15 holes, 72 bunkers makes the course as challenging as it is appealing. IWGL does alternate from the back to the front nine.
9. Sunrise Golf Course
Wednesday, First tee time at 4:58 • Carts additional $6/week, Greens fees $208
(116/70.9) Course Difficulty: 3 flags
Most players have a love/hate relationship with the holes at Sunrise. Even though this is only a 9-hole course, do not think of it as a beginner course. This course features five tree-lined fairways and four wide open fairways. One note about the trees is that they can slow down play because there are no free drops from the woods so players are encouraged to keep pace and not spend too much time looking for lost balls. Water is a factor on the course; it will come into play on 5 holes, as well as bunkers on 4 holes. The medium-sized greens are undulating.
10. Saddlebrook
Wednesday, First tee time 5:00pm • Carts additional $6.00/week, Greens fees $208.00
(116/68.1) Course Difficulty: 3 flags
This is a great course. The front nine is pretty open. Get off to a relaxing start on the first hole, a straightaway par 4 measuring 265 yards. There are bunkers on the left and on your second shot, you will be hitting past a pond that runs down the left side of the green. The 5th hole is also a par 4 that measures 277 from the front with a pond coming into play on the 2nd shot.
11. Winding River
Wednesday, First tee time 5:00pm • Carts additional $6.00/week, Greens fees $160.00
(116/68.1) Course Difficulty: 3 flags
Winding River is on the Southside of Indianapolis just North of Southport Road and West of Hwy 37. It features a large all grass practice facility. There are 2 chipping practice areas and 2 putting greens for practice.
12. Buffer Park
Thursday, First tee time 5:00 • Carts additional $7.00/week, Greens fees $224
(117/69.6) Course Difficulty: 4 flags
This hidden gem is not your average 9 hole course. Buffer Park offers challenges to both the beginner and the experienced. Even though this course is listed as intermediate it can be quite a challenge. Most of the fairways are wide, but heather, trees, some water and bunkers offer plenty of challenges. Think of it as a mini-Heartland Crossing! The golf course gets its name from being the Buffer between the landfill and the surrounding properties. Awards include: 2001 IndyGolf.Com - Golfer's Choice Award - Best 9 Hole Course, 2003 IndyGolf.com Golfers Choice Award top Par 3 hole - Hole No. 6, & 2008 9-Hole Golf Course of the Year - National Golf Course Owners Association/Indiana Chapter. Please note: no alcohol is allowed on the course at any time.
13. Eagle Creek Golf Course
Thursday, First tee time 5:00 • Carts required, Greens fees $345
(111/67.6) Course Difficulty: 2 flags
The front 9 of the Pines Course at Eagle Creek is a challenge to most players at any level. You will enjoy beautiful scenery and wildlife while playing the course. The course has narrow fairways, but they are not tree lined. It will play long & challenge most intermediate players. The greens are large and fast, the terrain is flat with no water hazards.
Course Difficulty
1 Flag = Novice or does not have significant challenges
3 Flags = Intermediate difficulty
5 Flags = Challenging for most players
Brief definitions of slope and rating:
Course Rating:
A single number indicating the difficulty of the golf course to an expert golfer (a par golfer). The Course Rating is a number, close to par for the course, and is expressed with a single decimal digit. For example: If par for a course is 72, its Course Rating might be 71.4 rating values go up with difficulty.
Course Slope:
A single number indicating the difficulty of a golf course to a 'bogey golfer' relative to the Course Rating. The Course Slope value is a two or three digit integer between 55 and 155, with 113 being the average value. Slope values increase with difficulty. The Slope is a measure of how much difference a course's difficulty is for the average bogey golfer compared to the scratch golfer. The higher the slope, the more difficulty the course plays for bogey golfers.
