Fort Golf Course Resort

great state run jewel of a course with a lot of history & pete dye touch

The Fort is considered one of the high end courses in Indianapolis and I can understand why. The most memorable part of the fort for me was the setting. I loved the holes that were cut into the woods and then pop out into open areas and then back into the woods again. The course was in good shape when I played with a few areas that discouraged me. I did hit into a water filled bunker and a few areas of the fairways and greens that were gone but that’s life; however, that didn’t distract me from enjoying my round. The pace was slow and we did have to wait around a lot but I blame that on the slow pokes in front of us. The course layout is great with elevation changes and some picturesque views from the tee boxes. I recommend this course to every golfer.

I've played this course a number of times and like it, but yesterday it was cart paths only, and the greens had just been punched... terrible to put on, anything over 4 feet was pure luck .

Be prepared to walk. Most holes are cart path only.

Great course but the greens had just been aerified the week before. Still rolled well.

I play the Fort two or three times a year. My most recent round was on a beautiful fall day that showcases this course in all it's glory. Elevation changes, great views and plenty of trees make this course a real treat for the eyes. As always the staff was very welcoming and friendly. An on course marshal keeps people moving and does it with a smile.

On the day we played it was cart path only due to recent wet weather. This is a fairly frequent occurrence since the course does not drain all that well. Given the layout, this really slows down a round of golf, but since it does this to everybody, the good work of the marshals keeps waiting to a minimum. There are a lot of long walks to you ball and a lot of climbing up and down hills - take a handful of clubs with you since the yardage will rarely be the same at your ball and your cart. Unless you are part mountain goat, walking is all but impossible (i don't think I've ever seen anyone do it - it may not even be allowed.)

The layout is challenging without being too narrow. Elevation changes, doglegs, well placed bunkers and difficult green complexes will take their toll on your score - but your lost ball count should stay pretty low.

Course conditioning could be better even with the frequent use of cart path only rules. Many of the tee boxes had no grass on them and there were a number of bare patches on the fairways. The greens had been recently aerated with a large core method that made putting an adventure. Many areas, especially near the greens, were very soggy. Still in most areas the fairways were in great shape and the greens looked like they will be too once the aeration holes heal. The bunkers (and there are plenty of them) are well maintained. Like the rest of the course, they don't drain that well and there was still some standing water on a Sunday afternoon after a moderate Friday night rain. The sand was quite firm due to being wet and not from a lack of sand.

The rough was longish and since many approach shots are partially blind, that can lead to a lot of looking after a not too errant shot. A little closer cropping would definitely speed up play.

All in all, it is a beautiful course with a unique and challenging layout and a staff that makes you feel at home. The few course conditioning issues are very easy to overlook and I would put this course on your must play list when in the Indianapolis area.

Please note: The slider buttons used to rate the course didn't slide. Therefore, the ratings overstate the challenge and the course conditioning problems. As for value, I would put it in the good category as opposed to great. The playing time and staff rating are right on.

Beautiful course - for flat mid-west, nice elevation changes - Very challenging.