French Lick Resort, Southern Indiana’s iconic golf destination and home to two of the state’s most lauded golf courses, has experienced record-breaking golf round sales over the past two years along with unprecedented pre-bookings for 2023.
Home to the award-winning Pete Dye Course at French Lick and Donald Ross Course at French Lick, the resort destination has come off another record season for golf rounds. Since 2020, golf rounds have continued to grow by more than 22 percent. In addition, the popularity of the resorts Hall of Fame Golf Package continues to soar with pre-bookings for 2023 up over 300 percent.
“With the growth and popularity of the game since the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in demand for our golf courses, both in regular tee times and golf packages,” said Dave Harner, French Lick’s director of golf. “Traditionally, golfers would wait to book packages in the spring or last-minute in the summer thinking they might find greater value. But since the pandemic, the demand and the resurgence of travel – both golf and leisure – golfers have even been booking as early as last fall to guarantee the best tee times.”
Price has also not been an issue for the resort. While rates have been pushed up to meet demand and maintain a world-class playing experience, golfer spending has not slowed at all.
“Even the Pete Dye Course, which is set at a luxury premium rate, and has limited play to enhance the overall golfer experience, has seen its rounds go up by 58 percent since 2020,” explained Harner. “Overall, it has been very exciting to see the influx of golfers visiting the resort and the economic impact it is having on the communities of French Lick, West Baden and Orange County.”
Since the early 1900s, golf has been an integral part of this resort area. Tom Bendelow designed French Lick Resort’s first golf course in 1907 and was followed by the classic Donald Ross layout ten years later. In 2009, Pete Dye created a visually stunning mountaintop masterpiece, which quickly become one of the most highly acclaimed courses in the country. Both courses are ranked among the Top 100 in America’s Greatest Public Courses and are currently ranked as the No. 1 and 2 Courses You Can Play in Indiana. The Pete Dye course achieved a rare double honor in 2009 by being selected as America’s best new course by the two leading golf publications in the country – Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. It is located on a dramatic hilltop, which is one of the highest points in the state of Indiana and offers panoramic views of the Hoosier National Forest that stretch as far as 40 miles.
The resort’s most popular golf packages and the best way to experience the award- winning golf destination is through the “Hall of Fame” and “Southern Indiana Sampler” packages.
The Hall of Fame includes playing the resort’s two legendary courses designed by Hall of Fame architects – Pete Dye and Donald Ross. The package includes a one-night stay at either the French Lick Springs Hotel and Casino or the West Baden Springs Hotel, a day of unlimited golf on The Pete Dye Course, a day of unlimited golf at The Donald Ross Course, unlimited use of the driving range and practice facility, bag storage, and shuttle service. Package price starts at $480 per person per day.
The Southern Indiana Sampler includes a round of golf at The Donald Ross Course at French Lick, a round of golf at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick, a round of golf at Sultan’s Run Golf Club in nearby Jasper and nine-holes on the Valley Links Course. Package price starts at $940.
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