Christmas Lake at Christmas Lake Golf Course

Christmas Lake Golf Course sits in the small town of Santa Claus in southwestern Indiana, a community known for its holiday-themed attractions and rural character. Designed by Ed Ault and opened in the 1960s, the course represents the work of a prolific regional architect who built dozens of layouts across the Midwest during the mid-twentieth century. Ault typically created accessible, playable courses suited to their local terrain and membership, and Christmas Lake follows this approach with a routing that works with the gently rolling topography common to this part of Indiana.

The course occupies land that includes wooded areas and open fairways, with the namesake lake coming into play on several holes. The layout measures around 6,500 yards from the back tees and features tree-lined corridors that require accuracy off the tee. Water hazards, including the lake and smaller ponds, add strategic interest to the design, particularly on approach shots where players must weigh risk against pin position.

Christmas Lake serves as a public facility and draws both local golfers and visitors attracted to the Santa Claus area. The course operates as part of the town's broader tourism appeal, which centers on family-oriented holiday themes. The setting offers a straightforward golf experience in a quiet, wooded environment typical of southern Indiana's landscape, with the course maintaining its role as a community amenity and destination for travelers exploring the region.