
Buffalo Trace Course
Buffalo Trace Golf Course


About this course
Buffalo Trace Golf Course occupies rolling terrain in Jasper, Indiana, a small city in the southwestern part of the state known for its German heritage and furniture manufacturing industry. The course was designed by Bill Newcomb and Gary Kern, who worked together on several municipal and daily-fee layouts in the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century. Their collaborations typically emphasized playability for a range of skill levels while incorporating the natural land features available on each site. The routing takes advantage of the area's characteristic topography, with elevation changes and wooded corridors that frame many holes. The design reflects a straightforward approach common to public courses of its era, balancing challenge with accessibility for everyday golfers. Tree-lined fairways and strategically placed bunkers define the playing corridors, while greens of moderate size and contour require accurate approach shots without overwhelming recreational players. Buffalo Trace serves as a municipal facility for the Jasper community and surrounding region, providing an affordable option for local golfers and visitors exploring southern Indiana. The course operates within the broader context of Indiana's public golf landscape, where numerous towns maintain courses that anchor community recreation programs. The name references the historical buffalo traces—paths worn by migrating bison—that once crossed this part of the Midwest, connecting the course to the region's deeper natural history.
Quick facts
- Location
- Jasper, IN, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1970
- Designer(s)
- Bill Newcomb, Gary Kern
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,340 yards
- Difficulty
- 69.5/111
Getting there
Buffalo Trace Golf Course lies in the wooded hills of southern Indiana, best accessed via Evansville Regional Airport roughly forty-five minutes to the southwest or Indianapolis International for those approaching from the north. The drive into Jasper threads through gently rolling farmland and hardwood forest, the landscape softening as you descend into the pocket valleys of Dubois County. This is quiet, unhurried country - German Catholic heritage towns, family sawmills, and the kind of Midwestern golf course that feels discovered rather than announced, tucked into the terrain as if it had always been there.

FAQ
Common questions about Buffalo Trace
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Buffalo Trace was designed by Bill Newcomb and Gary Kern.
Yes. Buffalo Trace is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Buffalo Trace is 71.
Buffalo Trace plays 6,340 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Buffalo Trace is 111.
Buffalo Trace is a 18-hole course.



