By Mike May
There is much more to the athletic scene at the University of Notre Dame than visiting ‘Touchdown Jesus,’ attending football games, or watching basketball games inside the Joyce Center. You will also find the Fighting Irish spirit at The Warren Golf Course, perched on the northern edge of Notre Dame’s campus.
This Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design opened for play in 2000 and everyone was delighted with their creation.
“We wanted an old-fashioned, traditional golf course based on subtleties, not special effects,” stated Crenshaw and Coore in a joint statement.
It is a throwback to the classic designs of the early 20th Century, when enjoyment of the game of golf was the primary objective of course architecture.
From the fescue fairways and a gently rolling terrain, golfers can still see the Notre Dame’s famous golden dome. 
The 16th hole, the shortest hole on the course, is only 345-yards in length, but making the correct club choice off the tee is critical. The length of approach shot with which you are comfortable will dictate what club to pull on the tee box. The two-tiered green makes three-putts, or more, a distinct possibility, if your ball ends up on the wrong tier.
Football is indeed the King at Notre Dame and that applies to the Warren Golf Course, as well.
According to The Warren Golf Course General Manager and Head Professional, John Foster, special arrangements are made for golfers, when Notre Dame has a home football game,
“On game days, we have a shotgun start on Saturday mornings and then we close the course during the actual game,” said Foster. “But, if you stand on the 5th tee, you can see the game on the Jumbotron inside the stadium. You can also see the Jumbotron on the 12th and 13th holes.”
Golfweek has ranked The Warren as the sixth best golf course in Indiana and the 12th best collegiate golf course in America.
If you make the trek to northern Indiana there are four area accommodation outlets that offer discounts to golfers. The Hilton Garden Inn, The Inn at Saint Mary’s, The Ivy Court Inn & Suites, and the Morris Inn at Notre Dame, but stay-and-play deals are not available on weekends when the Notre Dame football team has home games.
One of the greatest endorsements bestowed on The Warren Golf Course came from the USGA, which staged the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the 2019 U.S. Senior Open at the Warren Golf Course. It was the first collegiate golf course to host the U.S. Senior Open and current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, Steve Stricker was victorious.
Since The Warren Golf Course is good enough for the USGA to host a pair of national championships, then it’s certainly good enough for any golfer – male, or female, young, or old, pro, or amateur, Notre Dame alum or not – to enjoy a round in pursuit of eagles, birdies and Old Man Par.
Golf at The Warren will certainly wake up the echoes of Notre Dame.
