What's Up, Doc? One Man's Impact on Local Golf Scene

By Greg Jourdan on Sep. 24, 2019

For John “Doc” O’Neal, Chief Operations Officer of Cohoat and O’Neal Golf Management, golf is more than a game of balls and sticks. His Carmel-based firm performs an array of administrative, consultant and management responsibilities for seven golf properties. Included in his quiver of golf facilities is Prairie View Golf Club and Wood Wind Golf Club. On the business side of the game, Doc and his partners at Cohoat and O’Neal have improved the golf culture around Hamilton County…

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Art on Par: Christine Merchent of Purgatory Golf Club

By Greg Jourdan on Jul. 29, 2019

“One of the great gifts of photography is that you see things differently. The world’s lines become more apparent.” -Christine Merchent Locally, Christine Merchent’s photography has been exhibited at Conner Prairie, Indiana Landmarks in collaboration with the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, Nickel Plate Arts and Indiana University’s Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway. Additionally, she published two golf photography books; Purgatory Golf Club Coffee Table Book and More Heaven than Hell . Christine was the 2017 Artist of the Year for Nickel Plate Arts and has earned numerous awards and merits from Indianapolis Professional Photographer’s Guild. In less than ten years, Christine Merchent has compiled an impressive resume…

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Trailblazing the Pete Dye Golf Trail

By Greg Jourdan on Jun. 12, 2019

While Pete and Alice Dye’s journey into golf course design and building began at El Dorado Country Club, the Dyes combined efforts transformed golf courses around the world. Currently, their resumes include 145 new courses and 24 redesigns. Alice was always Pete’s partner and collaborator, so he ensured she was co-credited with every  golf hole. With Alice’s passing in February, the golf world lamented. Indiana’s Pete Dye Golf Trail is an appropriate tribute to Alice and Pete, a couple who first made their mark as accomplished amateur players, and later as the framers of modern golf architecture and design. Each of the area’s Pete Dye Trail courses utilize three distinct terrains—an iconic motor speedway, a former military base, and a flat land prairie parcel.     …

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Behind the Wheel: Indiana's Premier Golf

By Greg Jourdan on May 06, 2019

Let’s start our engines and cruise Hamilton County with a Brickyard-themed lap to sample Indiana’s Premier Golf destination. Buckle your seat belts, because this ride has plenty of thrills…

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Enjoy Golf’s Extended Season in Hamilton County, Indiana

By Greg Jourdan on Sep. 12, 2018

As soon as the snow cover melts, we’ll don stocking caps, thermal underwear and even snow boots to play golf. After all, whether it is a new driver or swing tips from binging on Golf Channel, we enter the New Year with hope. In the spring, reality hits: a rickety golf swing, unpredictable ball flight and scorecards that require larger computations. Golfers spend the spring season dining out on old memories. It is comparable to a cup of coffee with an old love, which is usually disappointing. Conversely, autumnal spender on the fairways is a lyrical melody. A cool breeze replaces heavy humidity, and a grooved swing tightens our shot dispersion. Life is good…

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No Putter Required: Best Golf Holes in Hamilton County

By Greg Jourdan on Aug. 20, 2018

Baseball has walk-off dingers to win the game. Basketball has buzzer beating, half-court tosses that ignite an explosion of cheers. However, there are very few experiences for recreational athletes that compares to a hole-in-one. The National Hole In One Association places the average golfer’s chances of hitting an ace at 12,000 to 1. Obviously, an eagle on a par-3 is rare. What is not rare is the collection of exciting par-3 holes across Hamilton County. Truth is, some of my favorite one-shooters are right here. Admittedly, I am still searching for my first ace; the following holes are just a few of my favorites that should inspire perfection…

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A Dye-Namic Trio of Golf Courses from Pete Dye

By Greg Jourdan on Jun. 20, 2018

Pete Dye, the Picasso of golf course design, began his career in Indianapolis when he transitioned from insurance sales to golf course builder. His work in the dirt is the foundation of modern golf course design and building. A trifecta of Dye-abolical golf courses in the Hamilton County area are a part of The Pete Dye Trail, a collection of Dye tracks that stretch from Culver to French Lick…

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Great Drives on Fast Tracks: Golfing in Hamilton County, Indiana

By Greg Jourdan on May 02, 2018

Golf and race enthusiasts are well aware that one of our nation’s favorite Pete Dye-designed golf courses races through the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each year, the Indy 500 welcomes over 300,000 spectators during Memorial Day weekend. The thrills at the Indy 500 are not the only goosebumps for drivers spending the holiday in Indianapolis. The driver in your golf bag may not reach the mph of a screaming 700 horse-powered racing machine, but your graphite-shafted whooping stick can go thrill seeking on the golf courses of Hamilton County…

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