By Mike May
For sports fans in Indiana, May is one of the most exciting months of the year. Horse racing fans attend the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and in late May, auto racing fans flock to watch the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In between, there’s nothing better to do than play golf, hopefully with money won at Churchill Downs!
One of the best places to play golf in Indiana in May is along the I-65 corridor, between Louisville and Indianapolis you can find, Covered Bridge, Champions Pointe, Shadowood, Otter Creek, and the Legends. Once you arrive in Indianapolis, you will find the Brickyard Crossing Golf Club, the next door neighbor of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Brickyard Crossing has a close affiliation with the IMS as four of its holes are located within the infield of the race track. When you play Brickyard, you sense the racing buzz.
Covered Bridge Golf Club was designed and is owned by two-time major champion, Fuzzy Zoeller. When designing the course, Fuzzy wanted to cater to the amateur golfer. His goal was not to build a course that would challenge the best players in the world, but instead build a course that would entertain, and delight the average golfer. He succeeded. At Covered Bridge, the 9th and 18th holes are two stunning par fives, which parallel one another and share a double green.
Champions Pointe is Covered Bridge’s sister course. Zoeller designed this 18-hole venue, which opened in 2007. Champions Pointe has charm, character, and charisma, plus it is fair, fun, and affordable.
Shadowood Golf Course has been open for play since 1976 and it quickly evolved into one of southern Indiana’s most popular and scenic golf courses. Designed by Thomas Trimpe, this layout provides every golfer with a chance to hit memorable shots that will produce memorable experiences.
Otter Creek Golf Course opened in 1964 and was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. It is as popular, appealing, and relevant now as it was when it opened. The Indiana State Amateur Golf Tournament was held there from 1965-1990, plus on five other occasions since. Otter Creek is now a 27-hole complex as another nine holes were added in 1995. Rees Jones designed, what is now called the East Course and the original 18 holes were then renamed the North (front nine) and the West (back nine).
The Legends Golf Club has three nine-hole courses, The Middle, The Road, and The Creek. This 27-hole layout is a classic Indiana creation, surrounded by corn and soybean fields, as well as, marigolds. The Legends is a ‘modern classic’ and has hosted more Indiana championship golf events, since the early 1990’s, than any other course in the Hoosier state. The Legends is held in such high regard that is was named the Indiana Golf Course of the Year by the Indiana Golf Course Owner’s Association in October 2021.
Ready, Set, Go play Covered Bridge, Champions Pointe, Shadowood, Otter Creek, Legends, and conclude your I-65 journey with 18 holes at Brickyard Crossing and catch the Indy 500, while you’re there.
