The best golf courses in Indiana, USA

Victoria National Golf Club, designed by Tom Fazio, is an acclaimed private 18-hole course built on reclaimed mining land near Newburgh, Indiana. Known for its dramatic use of natural water hazards, strategic design, and meticulously maintained bentgrass surfaces, it offers a challenging yet rewarding round in a scenic, secluded setting. The club consistently ranks among America's top modern courses.

The Pete Dye Course at French Lick is a dramatic championship design set atop southern Indiana’s highest point. Opened in 2009 and crafted by the legendary Pete Dye, the course stretches over 8,100 yards with rugged terrain, bold bunkering, and panoramic 40-mile views. The layout is lauded for its strategic challenge, memorable routing, and postcard-worthy vistas.

Crooked Stick Golf Club, designed by Pete and Alice Dye in 1964, is a top-ranked private club near Indianapolis in Carmel, Indiana. Renowned for its challenging layout with classic Dye features, the course blends a parkland setting with strategic risk-reward holes and has hosted events like the PGA Championship and Solheim Cup.

The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort, designed in 1917 by the legendary Donald Ross and painstakingly restored, offers a classic parkland golf experience. Distinguished by bold bunkering and radically contoured greens, this par-70 layout runs through the rolling hills of southern Indiana and has hosted events including the 1924 PGA Championship. It provides a superb throwback test of golf for all abilities.

Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, designed by Pete Dye, offers a one-of-a-kind golfing experience with four of its holes situated inside the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Routinely recognized among Indiana's best public-access courses, this unique venue combines exceptional conditioning, strategic design, and a memorable setting complemented by championship pedigree.

Designed by Steve Smyers and two-time major champion Fuzzy Zoeller, The Pfau Course at Indiana University is a modern par-71 layout stretching up to 7,908 yards. Set among Bloomington’s rolling hills and mature hardwoods, it’s recognized for challenging championship players and remaining approachable for casual golfers, offering six sets of tees for all skill levels.

Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame is a championship public course designed by the acclaimed team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Opened in 2000 and routed through 250 wooded acres on the Notre Dame campus, it features a walkable, classic layout with push-up greens and strategic bunkering. The venue is known for its excellent conditions and hosting prestigious tournaments.

The Fort Golf Course in Indianapolis is a public Pete Dye design located on the historic Fort Benjamin Harrison property. Opened in 1997, it sits on 238 acres of rolling, forested hills, offering challenging holes and dramatic elevation changes unusual for Indiana. Frequently recognized among the state's top public courses, The Fort features Dye’s signature undulating greens and scenic views.

The Ackerman-Allen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex is a Pete Dye-designed, 18-hole parkland course set on Purdue University's campus. Originally built in 1934 and completely renovated by Dye in 2016, it features rolling hills, mature hardwoods, bentgrass surfaces, and white sand bunkers. It hosts championship events and offers a challenging, enjoyable layout for all levels.

The Kampen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex is a Pete Dye-designed, links-style, par-72 championship course featuring large bentgrass greens, fairways, and tees. Renowned for its formidable layout and tournament history, this 18-hole course on Purdue University's campus has hosted major collegiate and professional events, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top collegiate courses.

Prairie View Golf Club is Indiana’s only course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., set on 206 acres along the White River in Carmel. Known for its strategic blend of parkland and prairie landscapes, it features rolling fairways, mature oaks, streams, and natural wetlands. Praised for its challenging design and well-kept greens, Prairie View consistently ranks among Indiana’s top public courses.

The Country Club of Indianapolis features an acclaimed 18-hole course originally designed by Tom Bendelow and later redesigned by Pete Dye in 1992. With rolling terrain, mature trees, and a challenging layout, CCI has hosted high-profile championships, offering a memorable golfing experience in a peaceful parkland setting.

Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Indiana is a Ron Kern-designed 18-hole public course, renowned for its links-style layout and vast white-sand bunkers. Opened in 2000, it boasts bentgrass greens and fairways, challenging fescue mounds, and over 7,700 yards from the back tees, making it one of the longest and most unique courses in the region.

Coyote Crossing Golf Club is a Hale Irwin-designed, award-winning public course in West Lafayette, Indiana. This 18-hole parkland layout weaves through prairies, wetlands, and forests, featuring bentgrass greens and multiple creek crossings for memorable shot values. The course offers a relaxed, welcoming experience with a large practice area and a scenic clubhouse.

Bear Slide Golf Club, designed by Dean Refram, is a celebrated public course in Cicero, Indiana blending a Scottish links-style front nine with a traditional back nine that traverses Bear Slide Creek and showcases notable elevation changes. Regularly recognized by Golf Digest among Indiana's top public courses, it offers a distinctive and varied challenge for golfers of all abilities.