Prairie View

The course at Prairie View Golf Club lies within a bend in the White River, close to the city of Carmel, where fairways bordered by tall native grasses are routed around natural wetland areas and five serene lakes.

The front nine holes are quite open, with wide landing areas on fairways dotted with bunkers, while the back nine presents a combination of open and tree-lined holes, some of which are rather tight off the tee.

Bunkering is often elaborate, with the par four 16th a good example. A sea of sand traps forces players to lay-up off the tee and this strategy is re-enforced by a dry creek rock bed crossing the fairway less than a hundred yards short of the green.

The four par fives are all challenging, generally presenting narrow approach options to well-protected green complexes. The 13th is a very good risk-reward hole, giving golfers the option of laying up safely in the wide landing area on the left, or going for the green in two by carrying a water hazard to the sand-protected green.