Did you know? French Lick Resort is full of unexpected surprises and stellar discoveries.
For starters, did you know that some of the earliest LPGA Championships were held in this small-town Indiana resort? Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright, two pioneers of women’s golf, topped the leaderboard here in 1959 and 1960, respectively, when the fifth and sixth LPGA Championships were contested at Sheraton Hotel Country Club.
Today, that course is known as The Donald Ross Course at French Lick. And that leads to another “did you know”….
Did you know this is the only golf destination to feature courses by Donald Ross and Pete Dye together at the same property?
The Donald Ross Course maintains nearly all the classic elements of its original design from 1917. (Including diabolical greens that are some of the most radically shaped and contoured in golf — if you know, you know.)
In 2009, the resort added a modern gem by Pete Dye to complement the classic Ross layout. Built on a dramatic elevation point, Dye originally walked the terrain and determined it was too rugged to build a course there. Then, he had a change of heart. He conceptualized a course on this rolling hilltop, sketched it on a napkin at a local restaurant, and the rest is history. Dye’s jaw-dropper that features 40-mile panoramic views has been named Indiana’s best public course by Golfweek for 14 consecutive years.
And did you know about the natural resource that made this a popular tourist destination long before golf courses?
Mineral springs were the first big draw here, dating back to 1845 when the first hotel was established in the area. Eventually, there were two grand hotels — built within a mile of each other — both sprouting from the popularity of the mineral water rumored to have curative healing properties. French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel have both stood the test of time, and today these two grand historic hotels welcome guests from all over the world for mineral baths and spa treatments, championship golf, and plenty more resort amenities to unwind and relax.
If you didn’t know about French Lick Resort, now’s your chance to discover. Tee times go fast here, so plan ahead for 2024 and get the full French Lick experience.
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