Hamilton County’s long tradition of hosting high-profile golf tournaments will continue this spring across several of the area’s top courses. Several college championship events are returning to the county and in the long term the USGA will also bring a high-profile tournament to the area.

 

Championship-level college golf is the ticket this spring as three key events come to Hamilton County. First on the upcoming list is the IUPUI Lady Jaguar Invitational at Plum Creek in Carmel April 13-14. College teams from across the region will play in the two-day event. It’s the fourth year IUPUI has brought a women’s collegiate event to Plum Creek.

 

The Mid-American Conference, known for its #MACtion brand of fun college competition, will host its men’s golf championship April 26-28 at Chatham Hills in Westfield. Chatham Hills is no stranger to prestigious golf events, hosting the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Regional Championship last spring as well as the PGA Indiana Open in 2002.

 

Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel will have a busy season. Eight tournaments are coming to the course, including the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf East Regional Championship May 6-8. Director of Golf Patrick Dodson and team have been busy getting the facility ready to continue its long tradition of hosting big events. Dodson said Prairie View has installed fescue grass in several areas, added new tee boxes and revamped some greenside bunkers. The club also added to its golf cart fleet and made numerous improvements to its club building.

 

“Our golf club is coming off a few very strong years,” Dodson said. “Prairie View has been fortunate to be ranked high on the list of public facilities in the region. In general, golf is very strong in Central Indiana.”

 

Prairie View has hosted a long list of events in its past, having hosted the MAC, the Indiana State Open and the NCAA Division III tournaments. Prairie View is the host course for the boys and girls IHSAA Golf State Finals through 2030.

 

Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel will be the course for the 2028 USGA Senior Open. It’s the seventh time the USGA has brought a championship to Crooked Stick dating back to 1982. The PGA has also brought events to Crooked Stick, including the BMW Championship in 2012 and 2016.

 

When the USGA Senior Open comes to Crooked Stick, it will likely benefit from the 2024 PGA Professional of the Year. The Carmel club’s long-time pro Tony Pancake earned the prestigious leadership and mentoring award, which is the highest honor given by the PGA. Pancake had been a section winner in the past before winning the national award this year. He has been the golf pro at Crooked Stick since 2004. He will receive the award at the PGA’s annual meeting in November.