Our Comments

It's quite flat with an astounding amount of space between fairways for a city course. Widely spaced mature trees usually just flank the rough but occasionally protect greens. The 340yd 10th has a tree practically covering the fairway 80 yds in front of the hole - Very neat.

Was chosen for the 1994 4-ball Tournament (640 players).

New clubhouse is quite nice. Old-boy starters/rangers.

The snack bar is comparatively expensive - coney dogs are $3 and large fountain drinks are $2.75. We also suggest you stay away from the greasy sausage.

All the par 3s need to have better yardage marked at the tee boxes.

4/24/03 - Quick, smooth greens. Thick, manicured fairways and roughs. Mature, magnetic trees. And plenty of room past the trees before finding neighboring fairways.

9/14/02 - Greens are smooth and fuzzy. Roughs thin an brown. Fairways just fine.

7/12/01 - In great shape. Greens are medium slow and hold well. Very smooth.

8/13/00 - The greens now don't hold as well as most in town right now and the are very fast.

7/20/00 - The big, flat greens are a bit slow and pretty smooth. Fairways lush. Roughs are also lush and cut at 2.5" so you can find and also hit balls.

Reader Comments

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4/7/03 - If you're hitting it straight off the tee this course is not too difficult. Water on only one hole, and even then it's a par 3, so shouldn't be a problem. Some good sized trees line most fairways though, so you can run into some problem if you're a bit errant. A few holes have some large trees guarding one side of the green, so getting the proper angle of approach is a consideration. Fairways were in very good shape today, with only a few bad patches here and there. As the course was very wet from overnight and early morning rain the greens were really slow, but seemed to be in good condition, without too many unrepaired pitch marks. Topographically it's not a real interesting course, very flat, but it's a good value. - John Nixon

8/19/02 - Having played this course in the 1960's, it has changed almost completely over the last 30 years. Plush conditions, with mature trees now guarding driving areas, have put a premium on tee shot placement. With small, unelevated greens, playing bump and run remains a viable approach. Greens are receptive to well hit shots.

8/16/01 - Course condition is as good or better than most 3 star rated courses in the area and the course plays more challenging than it's slope rating suggest. For the money, this may be the best golf value in the Indy area.

6/28/01 - Normally a good course to play quickly. Recently pro shop has been reluctant to accommodate starting off on the back 9 when front is stacked up. This can happen at 6:30 in the morning! - Brian B.

6/24/01 - The pro shop staff went out of their way to make sure we got off in a timely manner. They ended up driving us out to the 2nd tee to avoid a large group on the first tee. They also have the only range in town at a public facility (that I know of) where you can hit your own balls. Best deal in town. - Martin Mahern

7/18/00 - Very user friendly. Best twilight deal in town, $11 after 2PM, not 4 like most courses. They also have a liberal rain check policy and I've yet to see a "no rain check today sign" (if it's even slghtly cloudy this sign goes up at Riverside). Not plush by any means but well maintained with small, slowish, fairly receptive, true rolling greens. Short for the most part except for consecutive par 4 back breakers at 13 & 14. Nice scenery marred by surrounding barbed wire fence. Lots of mature trees but little other trouble. Nice place. - Martin Mahern

5/10/00 - The condition of this course is fantastic. I have not seen a course in Indianapolis look so sharp in all of my days of playing golf. Hats off to the groundskeeping crew.

9/3/99 - I enjoy the back 9 especially on weekday mornings. Trees are the biggest problem on the course. They are large and make the fairways very narrow. If you stay in the middle of the fairways, the course is easy.

6/26/99 - I think this is a really good price for a regular size course. It also has one of my favorite par 3's #12. It is 147 from the middle tees with water in front of you. The only bad thing is that the greens are way too small.

The course is generally flat with no real trouble other than the trees - a forced pond carry on one par 3 is the only water on the course, and only a sprinkling of bunkers.

Most holes are pretty straightforward, but the course is still fun.

All five par 3's are pretty tough.

Indianapolis Parks Comments

South Grove Golf Course has several large trees and rolling fairways. Small to average greens and one water hazard are characteristics of one of the oldest courses in the city. A new clubhouse is the most recent addition. A very popular course with the downtown community due to its proximity.