Crooked Stick at Crooked Stick Golf Club

Crooked Stick, in Carmel, Indiana, is Pete Dye's uncompromising testament to shaping a challenging course from relatively flat farmland. Its demanding layout, favoring shot-makers who can control trajectory and work the ball both ways, quickly established its reputation as a test even for the game's best.

Dye, with assistance early on from his wife Alice, routed the course with strategically placed bunkers, subtle elevation changes manufactured from earth moved on-site, and water hazards that come into play on numerous holes. Crooked Stick's fairways are generous, but errant tee shots find thick rough and demanding recovery shots are often necessary. The course has played host to several significant championships, including the 1991 PGA Championship won by John Daly, and the 2012 BMW Championship, won by Rory McIlroy.

The club’s membership, known for its strong amateur contingent and competitive spirit, embraces the walking-only culture, further enhancing the strategic demands of the course. Beyond the course itself, Crooked Stick maintains a strong connection to its Midwestern roots, favoring a traditional, unpretentious atmosphere, even with its championship pedigree.