The Fort Golf Resort, Indianapolis, Indiana - An 18-Hole Championship Golf Course, Redesigned by Pete Dye

The Fort Golf Resort is an 18-hole championship golf course found on 238 secluded acres within Ft. Harrison State Park, but is located just minutes from Indianapolis. The course has received national renown since being redesigned in 1995 by Pete Dye and re-opening in 1997.

The course features a varied terrain with significant elevation changes, rolling hills and fairways lined with trees, natural wetlands and large, undulating greens. Golfers can encounter deep ravines at one turn, or wide fairways lined with mature forests at others. The green complexes are also varied, with some guarded by grassy swales and deep bunkers, or open fronts that allow for bump-and-run play. The course also features more than 50 sand bunkers, as well as a creek that crosses the fairways on several holes.

The par-72 design plays to 7,148 yards from the tips, with a USGA rating of 74.4 and a slope rating of 139. Because of the elevation changes, golfers may find themselves thinking twice about club selection when hitting from elevated tees or approaching elevated greens. In addition, it's not uncommon to encounter a hole that looks open but plays narrower than it appears from the tee. The greens tend to be medium-sized and undulating, with some double-tiered, and well-bunkered on every hole.

Golfers playing from the White tees may want to change up and play from the Blues on some holes that feature elevated tees. This includes holes No. 11 and No. 18, where playing from the short White tees can actually make for an uphill tee shot. No. 11 is a par-5 that ranks as the #2 handicap-hole, and plays to 523 yards from the Bues, and 480 yards from the White tees. No. 18 is a par-4 that plays to 426 yards from the Blue tees and 390 from the White.

Other interesting holes include No. 2 and No. 10, both par-4s that play to less than 300 yards from the White tees. Another unique Pete Dye feature is the back-to-back par-5s, Nos. 6 and 7. These two holes are considered a good scoring opportunity, although the tee shot on No. 7 can be a bit daunting.

The course has received a number of honors and accolades since re-opening, including being awarded 4? stars by Golf Digest Places to Play, and being ranked the #1 public course in Indiana by Golfweek Magazine.

Practice facilities include a large, targeted grass driving range, putting green and short-game area with sand bunkers. Private and group golf lessons are also available. The resort also features a full-service clubhouse with a fully stocked Golf Shop, locker rooms, and The Garrison Restaurant. The restaurant is open daily for a luncheon buffet and offers dinner on weekends and various holidays, with dining and ballroom seating up to 400.

Lodging is also available in the Harrison House, which has seven suites, or in the three fully furnished Officer's Homes, which feature three bedrooms, two sofa beds and 2.5 baths.

In addition to golf, guests can take advantage of four miles of hiking trails and 2.5 miles of asphalt shared by walkers, bicyclists and in-line skaters. A saddle barn located within the park also offers trail rides, and there's also picnicking, fishing and other nature activities to be found within the parkland.