The Trophy Club

Reader Comments

03/03/05 - I've played The Trophy Club five or six times. For the most part, I enjoy the experience. The course is very nicely conditioned, and tee to green, I think it's a very fair test of golf. It is not real links golf, but it's a fun and challenging layout. (Just because there's heather out there guys doesn't make it links golf). I'm a low single digit player, and when the wind is blowing out there (which it usually is) breaking 80 means you've played some pretty good golf. I do have issues with a few of the greens. For the most part, they're fine. But there are several that are just silly greens ... only lacking the windmill and clown's mouth. It's a shame, because the layout is good enough on it's own without resorting to such nonsense. Tim Liddy certainly could have shown some better judgment on about three of them. As I say that, I'm a big Tim Liddy fan as Rock Hollow GC in Peru is my favorite course in the state. Trophy would be a better course if Liddy took a bulldozer to a few of the greens and fixed them, and I'd play there more often if he did. But all in all, Trophy is a good experience. I don't believe it's as good as the Golf Digest rating would have one believe, but it's good. - BDW

8/10/04 - Always outstanding. The unlimited play in the afternoon is an unbeatable bargain. One of the best courses in Central Indiana. It is always well maintained. - JB

3/22/04 - A great course to play. Even early in the year, when the grass isn't truly green yet, it was in great condition. The fairways were fluffy and easy to hit off of. The greens rolled true and held putts, which might not be true this summer. The winter rate price of $20 was out of this world. Having traveled all over the state to play, it might just be the best value for golf in the area. This is definitely a course I will play again and again. - J. Dove

8/27/03 - What a great course and what great condition. They might want to fill in a few of the divot holes in the fairway especially in the drain areas where so many balls end up. Played for $25, Early Bird Senior rate. May be toughest greens in the Indianapolis area. - Charles Ray Harmon

8/13/03 - One of my favorite courses in the state. Always worth the drive to Lebanon and the staff is great. Played on Tuesday afternoon and the tee boxes and fairways were plush, the greens rolled nice, despite a lot of ball marks. A great venue for a great price. - TBone

7/30/03 - My friend and I took advantage of the $40 unlimited play on weekends after 12 noon. I still think that Trophy Club is the best course in the area for the money and worth the drive to Lebanon. It's is always in good shape, greens always roll true, the layout is challenging, and there are plenty of water jugs - with water in them. - Matt Samuelson

6/5/03 - This course is one of the most overrated tracks I have ever played. It garners a lot of attention because of beautiful facilities, superb conditioning, and the attachment of Tim Liddy's name to the design. Conditioning never makes a bad design great, and this is a questionable design at best. I’ve visited Trophy Club six times now, and the layout has never made sense to me. It’s simply not links golf because about half of the holes don’t allow for a shot to run onto the green from the fairway - the very heart of links golf. Extreme slopes are common on greens in links golf; however they are rarely elevated. Hickory Stick is true links golf and what Liddy meant to do when he designed Trophy Club. It still has severe slopes around the greens, but they are much more accessible and not as elevated. - Adrian Terrel

6/11/03 - Contrary to the negative comments of Adrian Terrell (below) about this course, I think the Trophy Club is one of the nicest in central Indiana. I guess I'm not the purist that Adrian is, but I think you will be hard pressed to find a course with more challenge, better shape, friendlier people, and greater rates. - Dick Vitales

6/11/03 - Perhaps someone could explain Mr. Terrel's "overrated" description of Trophy Club, followed by "beautiful facilities, superb conditioning". He says "This is a questionable design at best.", followed by the fact that he has visited TC 6 times now, and the layout has never made sense to him. The rest of us know that TC is not overrated in the least. This course is filled with risk/reward opportunities, and is an excellent design. - Joel Hettmansperger

7/6/03 - Some people get caught up in descriptions, some people get caught up in the course. I for one can enjoy the course, have and will again, played here twice and love the surroundings and natural beauty. It is true, that this is not a 100% pure, true "links" that you would find in Scotland or Grand Victoria in Rising Sun or Hickory Stick where it use to be a flat corn field, without a single tree and they made mounds out of mole hills but the Trophy Club used the trees and what I believe the natural lay of the land to make a beautiful and challenging course for any and all. - J Kelly

6/1/03 - Trophy Club has become the course or preference for my friends & I. I totally disagree with the comment about the traps in the fairways (below). It always does seem to be windy in Lebanon when we play, which brings the aura along with it. Only thing missing is Guinness at the halfway house. The course is in wonderful condition & the greens were quick & held well, as you would expect from a course of this kind. If you haven't had the chance to play this course, do so, it doesn't disappoint. - MH

5/25/03 - Course is in terrific condition, on of better kept courses in the Indy area. However, also one of the most gimmicky. Sand traps in the middle of the fairway? (on several holes) Punishing good shots with penalty's? Not the mark of a great course, no matter what the condition. I have expected the windmill on many of the greens.

There are mounds and traps in odd places. They aren't hidden, instead, they effectively narrow the course in places - that's how the typical Scottish links courses are designed. - Editor

4/14/03 - In great shape for this early in the year. No bare spots in the fairways, and the greens all roll true. The fescue is short, so you actually have a shot of playing out of it. - Gary Rusk

9/25/02 - What a wonderful golf course and what great condition everywhere. Although the help was working they did stop when we were playing a shot with out being ask to The greens were wonderful and I promptly 3 putted 7 of them but that was not the greens fault! $3.50 for a hot dog is a bit much, and they had no onions. The half way house is very nice. I would play this course everyday if I could however the help does need a bit of schooling on treatment of customers etc. - Charles Ray Harmon

9/25/02 - This is by far the best course I have played in Indiana. The course layout is just great, the heather is just great, it makes you play a lot of course management and can reward the long straight ball hitter. Grooming on the course is the way it is suppose to be done. "Great job" to the guys at Trophy Club - Gary Pace

9/12/02 - In its usual outstanding condition. While some heather and grassy areas between holes were a little browner than normal, from every tee through the green there were no dry patches and conditions were wonderful. Greens were soft enough to leave pitch marks, but firm enough to require a well-played approach or else roll to or off the back. Fairways were green, and maybe cut a tad longer than normal, but a joy to play from. As usual, a great place to play a challenging round of golf. The best value among the >$50 options around the area. - Brad Grabow

7/16/02 - Simply put if there are better greens in Indiana I have not seen them. The twilight rate makes this a great deal. Tim Liddy really outdid himself here. The risk reward tee shots are very well done and the green slopes (you all know about those) are perfectly thought out. - Bill Rader

7/15/02 - Very little one can say negatively about this course. Turf and playing conditions are as good as anything in central Indiana for a heavily played daily-fee course. Higher handicappers may prefer Trophy Clubs' longer bentgrass fairways, as they provide a cushion for hitting the ball for those uncomfortable with taking a divot, as opposed to tightly cut fairways such as Bear Slide, which allows little room for error. Only possible maintenance problem I could see is that the sand in some of the fairway bunkers is thin and crusty, which may be by design, as they allow easier egress and consequently help to speed up play.

Architect (and former protégée of Pete Dye) Tim Liddy is quickly becoming perhaps the pre-eminent architect in Indiana. He designs courses playable by amateurs yet resistant to scoring to pros and low handicappers. In this case, he took a mostly featureless landscape, and turned it into some very entertaining golf. He sculpted the links type course with long native fescues, creating character where nature did not, yet little seems artificial about it.

Trophy Club's $35 twilight special is one of the best in the area. I also applaud managements' tee placing. Not only did I have an opportunity to play every club in my bag, but nearly played every club twice. - Ron Beilke

7/9/02 - First time out on this course. It was in perfect shape despite several weeks without rain. Greens rolled very true but you have to be in the right place on these large greens or it's three-put territory. The heather is brutal and a guaranteed lost ball. Overall, the quality of the course was worth the price, which included a small bag of practice balls to warm up with. Play it if you have a chance but bring a better than average game with you. You can't spray the ball much and still enjoy your round. - Randy

6/15/02 - Great Course. Came out from California for Indy 500 and had a couple of grace days to play golf. Fantastic conditions, friendly marshals and starting staff. Wonderful design and love 19th hole, almost aced it. Thanks for a great golf experience in Indiana. - Russ

6/3/02 - I don't remember how many times I was reminded of the Trophy Club's prestige upon arriving for my tee time (just see the opening page of their website), but the course definitely lived up to a very high standard with its' immaculate up-keep and VERY challenging layout. Conditions were great but the scenery was just very Indiana. The experience was certainly average for $60 per person per round. - Jason B.

8/7/01 - Despite the current run of brutal weather, the course was in excellent shape. They put a cooler on every cart, and give you free ice! A true life-saver in this weather. There really is not a better golf experience available in this area for the price.

8/2/01 - Course was in excellent condition. Pace of play was also good, played in less than 4 hours.

5/3/01 - I enjoyed Trophy Club very much. I was particularly fond of the "traditional" links design with an outward and inward nine. I thought some of the greens were a bit unfair (#6, #14 & #16), but other than that the course was a firm, but fair test. Unfortunately, I probably set my expectations too high based on all the reviews I've seen. I think it's a great course, but I'm not sure if it's the #1 public course in the state. (As ranked by Golf Digest - ed) I'll probably need to play it again to fully appreciate it. - John Coombs

7/12/00 - Played for the first time, definitely will go back. course was in great shape, greens smooth and fast, great shape and the rough very rough. One of the best layouts around. Only thing I would change is the clubhouse and cart storage would swap places. Overall a must play. Dave

5/5/00 - Adrian Terrel - Today was the first time I had ever played at the Trophy club. Many holes require well positioned, very accurate tee shots. The landing areas and greens themselves also are very tricky. The conditions were superb for a relatively new course. The twilight rate is a bargain, but it looked like plenty of people already knew that by the crowd lined up at 3 o'clock.

12/6/99 - Trophy Club is a breathtakingly beautiful course. Every hole is a work of art. On some courses, the second time I play them, I barely remember some holes from the first time around. You only have to play The Trophy Club once to be able to remember every hole.

Golf Digest named the Trophy Club #4 in the country for "Best New Upscale Public Courses" (Dec, 1999, page 120). But it's price is definitely a bargain, and seems to have been left out of the "Affordable" category on a $2 technicality. It is by far the least expensive of the top ten "upscale" courses. Trophy Club's highest greens fee is 52% of the course rated number one, 25% of the course rated #2, and less the 22% of the cost of the course rated #3.

9/18/99 - Great, challenging course and the "greens". . . will the ball ever stop? Fantastic. A twilight bargain. Would like to come back again.

8/28/99 - Both challenging as well as fun for the intermediate golfer. The fairways and greens are in excellent condition throughout. The twilight rate is unbeatable! Friendly staff, on top of everything else. We would highly recommend this course.

7/28/99 - Living in Boone County, I am glad to see a course that will challenge every aspect of your game. Big open fairways, with trouble all around. Whether it be the tall heather, the bunkers, or the water hazards. Big greens with lots of slopes and turns. A great deal with the twilight specials. People are also very kind and helpful. A true must play course

7/14/99 - Great links style course; beautiful layout, nicely maintained, wonderful staff attitude. I shot my worst round of the season and still had a good time. Greens are very undulating, with slopes that lead down to swales - tough to get up and down if you find yourself there. Pay the twilight rate and you're in for the best bargain around Indianapolis.

5/27/99 - Great new course! I played 18 on a twilight rate. Definitely one of the best bargains around! Fun layout that is fair to all types of golfers. We received great service from the staff. I would recommend this course to anyone!