Prairie View or Purgatory?

[Bogeyman82]

I live in Cincinnati and am planning to make a day trip to Indy to play one of their finer courses. I have been wanting to play Purgatory for a while now, but I recently stumbled upon the web page for Prairie View and it looks very nice as well. Does anybody have any opinions as to which I should play first? I will try to make it to both this year, but if I only get a chance to play one I would like to play the better of the 2.

 

Has anybody played either or both courses?

[ijustgolf]

I'm also in Cincy and goin to take a trip to Indy to play some finer courses over there. I work at a course where the assistant is from Indiana and this is the list he gave me to play:
1.The Fort
2.Rock Hollow
3.Otter Creek
4.Purgatory
5.Brickyard Crossing
6.Timbergate
7.Bear Slide
8.Heartland Crossing

and The Coffin and Eagle Crossing

Purgatory is on the top of my list also and probably gonna go play it beginning of August or so.

[IUbball23]

[quote name='meyer7001' date='18 July 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1279510173' post='2584969']
I'm also in Cincy and goin to take a trip to Indy to play some finer courses over there. I work at a course where the assistant is from Indiana and this is the list he gave me to play:
1.The Fort
2.Rock Hollow
3.Otter Creek
4.Purgatory
5.Brickyard Crossing
6.Timbergate
7.Bear Slide
8.Heartland Crossing

and The Coffin and Eagle Crossing

Purgatory is on the top of my list also and probably gonna go play it beginning of August or so.
[/quote]

Living in Central Indiana these are all courses that I play with LOTS of regularity. Bear Slide this morning actually, it is in great shape btw, be careful around the greens there though, if it hasn't rained for a few days before you play the greens will be ROCK hard and it honestly gets annoying bouncing wedges as high as the pin then having them release 15-20 feet.

I'll "edit" your list for you btw.

1. [b]Brickyard Crossing[/b] (awesome course, always perfect condition and playing golf inside the most famous race track in the world for 4 holes is just cool)
2a. [b]Purgatory[/b] (Great course, always immaculate, best practice facilities around, check out #13 from the "Purgatory tees" 741 yards...)
2b. [b]Prairie View[/b] (Great course again, great conditions, definitely an upper end course for sure, would I pay $90 for it more than 2-3 times a month? Not a chance)
2c. [b]Rock Hollow[/b] (Gorgeous course, never crowded, only drawback is that it's well over and hour from Indy)
3. [b]The Fort[/b] (Probably the prettiest course in central IN. The greens however have been AWFUL all year, still play it once a week, but it's pricey for those greens...)
4. [b]Otter Creek[/b] (another very good course, pretty decent haul from Indy though, priced like an "elite" course though and I wouldn't put it in that category)
5. [b]Bear Slide[/b] (Very pretty course, front and back 9's are completely different, front is wide open/back is treelined on several holes and is the better of the 9's IMO, watch out for the greens though here)

You can forget about TimberGate, Eagle Creek, Coffin and Heartland Crossing though. If you are wanting the best public stuff around here, the ones listed above are in a different class than these 4 courses. They aren't "bad" just nowhere near as good.

If you need any other suggestions or have any more questions let me know, there are several courses that are well outside of Indy that are worth going to as well if you are willing to make a bit of a trek. Champion's Pointe, Covered Bridge, Kampen (I hate admitting anything about Purdue is good, but Kampen rocks...) Enjoy your golf here, I'll probably be at Purgatory the day you play, I think the guys are going to start leaving me a cot to sleep on out on the range there.

[scott3924]

Thanks for that list of places to play in Indy. I am playing Brickyard and Prairie View in early August. How about Plum Creek - good course, average?

Thanks


[quote name='IUbball23' timestamp='1279512148' post='2585023']
[quote name='meyer7001' date='18 July 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1279510173' post='2584969']
I'm also in Cincy and goin to take a trip to Indy to play some finer courses over there. I work at a course where the assistant is from Indiana and this is the list he gave me to play:
1.The Fort
2.Rock Hollow
3.Otter Creek
4.Purgatory
5.Brickyard Crossing
6.Timbergate
7.Bear Slide
8.Heartland Crossing

and The Coffin and Eagle Crossing

Purgatory is on the top of my list also and probably gonna go play it beginning of August or so.
[/quote]

Living in Central Indiana these are all courses that I play with LOTS of regularity. Bear Slide this morning actually, it is in great shape btw, be careful around the greens there though, if it hasn't rained for a few days before you play the greens will be ROCK hard and it honestly gets annoying bouncing wedges as high as the pin then having them release 15-20 feet.

I'll "edit" your list for you btw.

1. [b]Brickyard Crossing[/b] (awesome course, always perfect condition and playing golf inside the most famous race track in the world for 4 holes is just cool)
2a. [b]Purgatory[/b] (Great course, always immaculate, best practice facilities around, check out #13 from the "Purgatory tees" 741 yards...)
2b. [b]Prairie View[/b] (Great course again, great conditions, definitely an upper end course for sure, would I pay $90 for it more than 2-3 times a month? Not a chance)
2c. [b]Rock Hollow[/b] (Gorgeous course, never crowded, only drawback is that it's well over and hour from Indy)
3. [b]The Fort[/b] (Probably the prettiest course in central IN. The greens however have been AWFUL all year, still play it once a week, but it's pricey for those greens...)
4. [b]Otter Creek[/b] (another very good course, pretty decent haul from Indy though, priced like an "elite" course though and I wouldn't put it in that category)
5. [b]Bear Slide[/b] (Very pretty course, front and back 9's are completely different, front is wide open/back is treelined on several holes and is the better of the 9's IMO, watch out for the greens though here)

You can forget about TimberGate, Eagle Creek, Coffin and Heartland Crossing though. If you are wanting the best public stuff around here, the ones listed above are in a different class than these 4 courses. They aren't "bad" just nowhere near as good.

If you need any other suggestions or have any more questions let me know, there are several courses that are well outside of Indy that are worth going to as well if you are willing to make a bit of a trek. Champion's Pointe, Covered Bridge, Kampen (I hate admitting anything about Purdue is good, but Kampen rocks...) Enjoy your golf here, I'll probably be at Purgatory the day you play, I think the guys are going to start leaving me a cot to sleep on out on the range there.


[/quote]

[shankapotamus]

[quote name='scott3924' timestamp='1279919799' post='2595222']
Thanks for that list of places to play in Indy. I am playing Brickyard and Prairie View in early August. How about Plum Creek - good course, average?

Thanks


[quote name='IUbball23' timestamp='1279512148' post='2585023']
[quote name='meyer7001' date='18 July 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1279510173' post='2584969']
I'm also in Cincy and goin to take a trip to Indy to play some finer courses over there. I work at a course where the assistant is from Indiana and this is the list he gave me to play:
1.The Fort
2.Rock Hollow
3.Otter Creek
4.Purgatory
5.Brickyard Crossing
6.Timbergate
7.Bear Slide
8.Heartland Crossing

and The Coffin and Eagle Crossing

Purgatory is on the top of my list also and probably gonna go play it beginning of August or so.
[/quote]

Living in Central Indiana these are all courses that I play with LOTS of regularity. Bear Slide this morning actually, it is in great shape btw, be careful around the greens there though, if it hasn't rained for a few days before you play the greens will be ROCK hard and it honestly gets annoying bouncing wedges as high as the pin then having them release 15-20 feet.

I'll "edit" your list for you btw.

1. [b]Brickyard Crossing[/b] (awesome course, always perfect condition and playing golf inside the most famous race track in the world for 4 holes is just cool)
2a. [b]Purgatory[/b] (Great course, always immaculate, best practice facilities around, check out #13 from the "Purgatory tees" 741 yards...)
2b. [b]Prairie View[/b] (Great course again, great conditions, definitely an upper end course for sure, would I pay $90 for it more than 2-3 times a month? Not a chance)
2c. [b]Rock Hollow[/b] (Gorgeous course, never crowded, only drawback is that it's well over and hour from Indy)
3. [b]The Fort[/b] (Probably the prettiest course in central IN. The greens however have been AWFUL all year, still play it once a week, but it's pricey for those greens...)
4. [b]Otter Creek[/b] (another very good course, pretty decent haul from Indy though, priced like an "elite" course though and I wouldn't put it in that category)
5. [b]Bear Slide[/b] (Very pretty course, front and back 9's are completely different, front is wide open/back is treelined on several holes and is the better of the 9's IMO, watch out for the greens though here)

You can forget about TimberGate, Eagle Creek, Coffin and Heartland Crossing though. If you are wanting the best public stuff around here, the ones listed above are in a different class than these 4 courses. They aren't "bad" just nowhere near as good.

If you need any other suggestions or have any more questions let me know, there are several courses that are well outside of Indy that are worth going to as well if you are willing to make a bit of a trek. Champion's Pointe, Covered Bridge, Kampen (I hate admitting anything about Purdue is good, but Kampen rocks...) Enjoy your golf here, I'll probably be at Purgatory the day you play, I think the guys are going to start leaving me a cot to sleep on out on the range there.

I would put Trophy Club in there at #6. Close to Indy in Lebannon. Very good golf course
30 minutes away.

[/quote]
[/quote]

[Sabaka]

Rock Hollow is a very nice course but it is a good 60 minute drive up US 31 out of Indy. For an equally good course, with half the drive time, check out Wildcat Creek in Kokomo, IN. This is my favorite sleeper course in Central Indiana - fun course, always in great shape, reasonably priced, and usually easy to get on.

[Guest]

I just moved from the Terre Haute, IN area and played in Indy quite a bit. You can't go wrong with either of those courses, but I would go with Purgatory. Awesome course and facilities, I also love it because I qualified for the US Pub Linx there but it's still a great course.

Someone more familiar with the area than I am now may know this but is there a course around indy called Wolf Creek or Wolf Ranch? One of my buddies asked me to play there and said it was the hardest course in Indiana, I am trying to figure out if I want to make the drive from STL.

[Bogeyman82]

Thanks for the responses. I think I am leaning toward Purgatory for the first trip. I have wanted to play it for a couple of years now, so I think I will end up kicking myself if I don't. It's not like Indy is far from Cincinnati so I can make more trips to play other courses...

[b21bballer]

I love going up to play Purgatory. Probably played it 4 times or so. Haven't played at any others.

[BarronDDS]

Prairie View is tough to beat, very very good! If the Fort's greens are good, probably my favorite!

[jshel]

I would recommend Purgatory over Prairie View. Prairie View is, IMO, a bit overpriced considering how much good public golf there is in Indy.

$90 every day with a cart is a lot for PV, especially when Purgatory is $60 during the week and $75 on the weekend. Throw in the fact that you can play The Trophy Club for less than $40 during the week in the morning.

[shankapotamus]

[quote name='DriveForDough' timestamp='1280243167' post='2601986']
I just moved from the Terre Haute, IN area and played in Indy quite a bit. You can't go wrong with either of those courses, but I would go with Purgatory. Awesome course and facilities, I also love it because I qualified for the US Pub Linx there but it's still a great course.

Someone more familiar with the area than I am now may know this but is there a course around indy called Wolf Creek or Wolf Ranch? One of my buddies asked me to play there and said it was the hardest course in Indiana, I am trying to figure out if I want to make the drive from STL.
[/quote]

You are thinking of Wolf Run. Private course north of Indy. Faldo played it several years
ago and said it was the hardest course he ever played.

[IU06]

[quote name='jshel' timestamp='1280469169' post='2607833']
I would recommend Purgatory over Prairie View. Prairie View is, IMO, a bit overpriced considering how much good public golf there is in Indy.

$90 every day with a cart is a lot for PV, especially when Purgatory is $60 during the week and $75 on the weekend. Throw in the fact that you can play The Trophy Club for less than $40 during the week in the morning.
[/quote]


I would completely agree. I think that Purgatory is twice the course, and a better deal price-wise. Beautiful clubhouse, and easily the best proshop in the Indy area IMO. Another course that I would check out in the future is Golf Club of Indiana.

[Hifade]

Just played Purgatory a couple weeks ago. Had a great time and the course was in great shape. The folks that run it were exceptional and the facility is top notch. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere but it's worth the drive. BTW.....2 hours from Dayton to their parking lot. The Fort would have cut about 20 minutes drive time for what it's worth.

[Hifade]

[quote name='shankapotamus' timestamp='1280489377' post='2607959']
[quote name='DriveForDough' timestamp='1280243167' post='2601986']
I just moved from the Terre Haute, IN area and played in Indy quite a bit. You can't go wrong with either of those courses, but I would go with Purgatory. Awesome course and facilities, I also love it because I qualified for the US Pub Linx there but it's still a great course.

Someone more familiar with the area than I am now may know this but is there a course around indy called Wolf Creek or Wolf Ranch? One of my buddies asked me to play there and said it was the hardest course in Indiana, I am trying to figure out if I want to make the drive from STL.
[/quote]

You are thinking of Wolf Run. Private course north of Indy. Faldo played it several years
ago and said it was the hardest course he ever played.
[/quote]

Actually, that was when the original owner still had it and the fescue was grown up over knee-high, literally, just off the fairway. Since then, they've cut it back and made it much more playable, even though, still difficult from the back. Also, Faldo was referring to a 3 hole stretch and said it was the hardest 3 holes in a row he had ever played. Pretty neat back then as they actually had real wolves housed right inside the gate in a fenced in area. Great golf club.

[99GTXGolfer]

just had the match play at Prairie view last week qualified with a 68 but lost in the first round...and have yet to get to Purg prairie view is solid though.

[Bogeyman82]

Headed out to Purgatory this Sunday. I'll let you all know how I like it. I am looking forward to playing it!

[Sabaka]

[quote name='Bogeyman82' timestamp='1281121842' post='2623012']
Headed out to Purgatory this Sunday. I'll let you all know how I like it. I am looking forward to playing it!
[/quote]

if you are looking for a tough adventure, play it from the tips!

Have fun, great course.

[Bogeyman82]

Didn't play the tips. I don't hit the ball long enough for that! It was a very nice course and was in great shape. Definitely a cool experience! I birdied one of the tougher holes and play OK for me overall with a 93, due to my triple bogeying 2 consecutive par 4s on the back (one was the #1 handicapped hole). I had a pretty good round going up until that point and was looking at breaking 90. That heather there was no joke! I lost a couple of balls that weren't far off the fairway and I didn't think I would lose. They had a great pro shop as well.

[mckennwa]

Purgatory is a great place to play, as it is probably a course type that you won't see all over the place. That being said, Prairie View is almost always in better shape, but you'll pay for that. Prarie View and Bear Slide will be in comparable shape and very similiar in that the front is mostly a links style layout with the back 9 of each course going into a more traditional tree lined style. Bear Slide is the better bang for your buck.

Other great courses in the area if you're looking to play 36 a day include Ironwood (has the best three hole stetch in Indy - Lake 5,6,7) or The Trophy Club (never too crowded and very well priced for its condition and layout).

I wholeheartedly second the Kampen course in Lafayette, its one of may favorites.

Also, if you've never played the Brickyard, it's worth it. I don't agree that it's always in great shape, but it's a nice layout and something you have to play at least once. However, being a local, I never go there more than once every two years or so due to price and the touristy players it can something attract.

You also might consider the Donald Ross course they just redid in French Lick. It's really nice and not outrageous like the Pete Dye course.

If you had to ask me for a ranking list of Indy courses, if money doesn't matter, I'd suggest the following:

1. Prairie View
2. Bear Slide
3. The Fort
4. Purgatory
5. Brickyard
6. The Trophy Club

After these 6, there are some great courses, but they are second tier in my book. I hope I didn't leave one off.

[Sabaka]

Played Purgatory this past week. It was in excellent shape. It has been some time since I last played it and I had forgotten how undulating the greens are. There were some rather wicked pin placements and it made for a challenging round but, as always, was great fun.

This really is a must play course for those traveling through Indy and looking for a memorable round.

[rb83993]

My top courses in Indy area:

1.Brickyard I love the track, and it's always in great shape.
2.Purgatory Great facility and great shape, tee box for everyone, pick the right one!
3.The Fort Love the elevation changes and play in the woods.
4. The Trophy Club $29 at twilight, best value in town
5. Prairie View Always nice, just alittle over rated.
6. Bear Slide, nice, like the back better than the front side.

Woodland is private, but very nice Pete Dye, makes changes every couple years.

[tonyt3524]

played Purgatory today and it was in great shape considering the weather. Not a full tee sheet by any means on a Sunday which worries me a little.

[Seve0992]

I have played both and my preference is Purgatory. It just has a style unique to this area. Check out the website and know that it's every bit as fun as it looks.