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Otter Creek Golf Course

Columbus, IN

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Course History

Play Where The Champions Play

course-history

A Championship Course Everyone can play

Located in the countryside of Columbus, Indiana, Otter Creek Golf Course has been ranked among the top 25 public golf courses in the U.S since its inception in 1964. Renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones designed the original 18 holes, now the North and West courses. Jones’ son Rees Jones designed an additional 9 holes, the East course, in 1995. This 27 hole championship course is designed in harmony with Southern Indiana’s gently rolling hills, utilizing the existing contours of the land to assure each shot a natural challenge. Jones original design has distinguished Otter Creek Golf Course as a championship golf course unique to all others.

A public golf course always in tournament condition, Otter Creek continually intrigues even the most accomplished players. Some of the best golfers in the U.S. play these 27 holes. Winding through 300 acres of hilly terrain and more than 3000 trees, the Clifty and Otter creeks meander throughout the course as natural water hazards. Classic style trees and rich, bent grass fairways lead to the large, challenging greens, also of bent grass for which Robert Trent Jones is noted. All bunkers are filled with white sand, imported from North Carolina.

Here’s a fun piece of trivia: Robert Trent Jones called the 13th hole the best he had ever designed and dubbed it “Alcatraz.” It is short- 185 yards, par 3- with the green on an island and framed by towering Indiana Sycamores.

As a championship public golf course, Otter Creek makes the conveniences of the most exclusive, private clubs available to all. Eight miles of paved cart paths, a range for 50 golfers, a 15,000 square foot putting green and a practice chipping green contribute to Otter Creek’s reputation as one of the most exceptional public golf course facilities in the U.S.

Home to 26 Indiana Men’s State Amateur Championship

Otter Creek provides four tee settings so golfers of all playing levels can enjoy the course. The most demanding, the gold tees, measure 7200 yards, and are used in many of the championship tournaments.

Major championship tournaments include: The 1991 66th Annual U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, The American Junior Golf Association Championship, The Independent Youth Golf Classic, and The Indiana Men’s State Amateur Championship – 26 times.

Otter Creek has been the qualification site for: The U.S Open, The U.S Senior Open and The National Public Links.

course-history

A Championship Clubhouse For All to Enjoy

As one approaches Otter Creek Clubhouse and Golf Course the first impression is of the compatibility of the building and its setting. The rural sense of this modern building is achieved through an extensive use of wood. The precision of the building’s geometric patterns compliment the orderliness of this 27-hole golf course.

The Clubhouse was designed by modernist architect Harry Weese, one of Chicago’s preeminent architects at the time. The building includes spacious lounge and dining areas that overlook the golf course. The floor-to-ceiling perimeter windows are protected by thin shed roofs that create surrounding porches. A double row of little-leaf linden trees line the entry drive.

course-history

Statistics… Par for a Championship Course

  • 300 Acres of Golf Course
  • Six Acres of Bent Grass Tees
  • Six Acres of Bent Grass Greens
  • 45 Acres of Bent Grass Fairways
  • 127 Bunkers Filled with Imported North Carolina White Sand
  • Seven Acres of Practice Range
  • Eight Miles of Paved Cart Paths
  • Ten Acres of Water
  • Five Acres of Clubhouse Lawn

Ideally suited to make your group or company outing a success, Otter Creek welcomes golfers in any number from one to 200. Golf packages for three to five days, with excellent accommodations are available. Due to the popularity of this championship course, tee times should be reserved in advance for weekends, as well as weekdays.

North Nine

Hole# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT
Black 552 425 207 418 616 390 428 195 447 3678
Gold 528 405 187 405 584 370 404 175 427 3485
Blue 508 396 168 396 559 327 296 156 414 3320
White 460 361 123 363 484 296 360 113 374 2934
Par 5 4 3 4 5 4 4 3 4 36
Handicap 4 6 8 3 1 5 5 9 2  

West Nine

Hole# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT
Black 472 341 391 191 522 210 465 419 569 3580
Gold 458 321 375 171 512 192 447 387 549 3412
Blue 440 307 357 151 482 172 433 370 505 3217
White 393 273 325 105 409 124 395 329 403 2756
Par 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 36
Handicap 1 9 7 8 6 5 2 4 3  

East Nine

Hole# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT
Black 423 219 366 349 581 172 464 528 444 3546
Gold 405 195 340 333 566 160 440 510 424 3373
Blue 380 159 320 319 533 150 395 480 362 3098
White 335 120 270 263 450 99 345 435 330 2657
Par 5 4 3 4 5 4 4 3 4 36
Handicap 4 6 8 3 1 5 5 9 2  

Scorecard

Otter Creek is the kind of course Jack Nicklaus must have had in mind when he stated in Sports Illustrated that apart from playing the game, a well-designed golf course can be “simply a marvelous place to be, a constant source of pleasure and contentment.”

That’s what you’ll find when you play Otter Creek. Easily accessible from many major cities, you too can enjoy this championship course.

Otter Creek Golf Course | 11522 E 50 N, Columbus, IN 47203 | (812) 579-5227

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