Indiana University - Golf Site

Hole 1 | Par 5 – 615 yds (565, 526, 506, 470, 426)

Ellen and Jim Sparrow

The opening hole is one of only three par 5s on the course and a good introduction to the features of The Pfau Course that will await a player throughout their round. Rolling hills, menacing bunker clusters, substantial length, and a quadrilateral green will catch a golfer’s attention as they embark on their golfing journey.

Hole 2 | Par 4 – 530 yds (478, 444, 422, 397, 339)

David and Phyllis Green                                                          

This lengthy par 4 is the longest on The Pfau Course and is a great early test of a golfer’s nerve. One of the largest clusters of bunkers on the property guards the front of the green and the uphill approach will most likely be with a longer iron. A drive in the fairway will be an important start to this difficult hole. A bailout area to the right of the green is available and a viable route to par for golfers with a good short game.

Hole 3 | Par 3 – 212 yds (196, 182, 159, 148, 121)

Steve and Diane Hiatt

This par 3 is most notably different from the others on the course in that it presents a down hill shot. The green is of generous sizing but due to its contouring– long putts will be more difficult than on other greens at The Pfau Course. The third tee offers an amazing view of the course.

Hole 4 | Par 4 – 452 yds (402, 364, 353, 334, 295)

Terry and Marcia Weiss Family

This tee shot requires the golfer to make a decision. Clubbing down will leave a generous landing area but most likely result in a blind second shot to the green with at least a mid-iron. Selecting driver and maximizing distance brings the fairway bunkers on either side into play, but the reward could be a shorter shot into the hole as a ball in the fairway will run down the hill toward the green.

Hole 5 | Par 4 – 390 yds (343, 321, 294, 246, 201)

The Brown Family

Hole 5 is one of the shortest of the par 4s at The Pfau Course and can present a good scoring opportunity depending on the wind. The longest of hitters may choose to take driver and get near or even on the green with an accurate shot. The green features an “infinity style” look and back drop. Any long approach shots will surely run down the closely mown area over the back of the green, leaving a difficult up and down.

Hole 6 | Par 4 – 470 yds (438, 418, 391, 358, 285)

Craig and Lisa Roeder 

The sixth is a solid par 4 with a winding fairway and plays as one of the hardest holes on the course. The drive is into a valley and the approach is uphill. This hole requires another good tee shot as the green is not overly large. Picking the correct line off the tee can depend greatly on the wind direction of the day. A hilly green surround could make for some challenging chips, especially from the rough.

Hole 7 | Par 3 – 272 yds (251, 228, 199, 162, 128)

Randy and Beth Seger

A massive green awaits the tee ball on this amazing par 3, which is the longest of the Par 3s on The Pfau Course. The bunker cluster should not really be in play for a well struck ball, but may encourage using an extra club. There are many possible pin placements on the hole and a shot to the middle of the green is a good one. The back left pin placement is very difficult to access.

Hole 8 | Par 4 – 515 yds (449, 421, 399, 374, 273)

Scott and Becky Seger

This beautiful dogleg right is a long par 4. Keeping the ball inside the right tree line and in the fairway is important, as an approach from the right rough presents a difficult angle. Balls finding the trees on the right will have a hard time even getting back into play. A drive straight away or just left will be safer and provide a better angle to the green, but will leave a longer approach shot.

Hole 9 | Par 5 – 630 yds (592, 541, 495, 442, 419)

Roger and Mickey Seger

There are many hills to negotiate on the par 5 ninth hole and avoiding bunkers is important to prevent a big number. Tee shot placement is important, as is the placement of the second shot. Areas close to the green are undulating and steep. Laying back can provide a better chance to see the pin and hit a proper approach. Long hitters must be aware of the stand of trees near green side right if they choose to go for the green in two.

Hole 10 | Par 4 – 386 yds (353, 329, 286, 244, 176)

Spider and Kathy Miller

The back nine at The Pfau Course begins with another club choice from the tee. The tenth hole is not a long one and only a gentle dogleg to the left. The green however, is the smallest on the course and will require a confident approach shot. A tee shot that wanders too far left can find some well-placed fairway bunkers or else some of the most menacing rough on the property.

Hole 11 | Par 4 – 447 yds (431, 406, 357, 309, 261)

Doug and Eileen Williams

Another dogleg left, the eleventh shares a back tee with the sixteenth hole. The approach from the dogleg is slightly down hill to a green that is surrounded with moguls and difficult chipping opportunities, especially over the green. Another amazing viewpoint of the course is found standing in the dogleg of this southern-most corner of the layout.

Hole 12 | Par 4 – 529 yds (499, 483, 438, 387, 310)

Gene and Sharon Sponseller Family

The second longest par 4 on the course is number twelve. The fairway appears generous but is humped, so shots down the edge of the fairway can find the rough. The front bunker looks (and is) dangerous, but the smaller traps and eye brows immediately next to the green can pose an even bigger challenge.

Hole 13 | Par 5 – 578 yds (545, 511, 472, 444, 386)

The Rifkin Family

The final par 5 at The Pfau Course is tree lined up the left side and straight away until the last 100 yards of the hole, where it doglegs to the right. Another risk/reward second shot for the long hitters can find a tricky lie or severe uphill chip that is difficult to control. Playing to the corner is the best option, leaving 100-120 yards to the green which will still be at eye level from that distance.

Hole 14 | Par 4 – 459 yds (398, 361, 347, 310, 268)

The Rink Family

The tempting par 4 fourteenth hole is an “early” dogleg that invites a golfer to take on the bunkers and leave a shorter approach shot. Beyond the bunkers however, the fairway begins to slope away from the tee and an improper line or shot shape could take even a well struck ball into trouble. The back to front sloping green makes up and downs from over the putting surface a difficult proposition.

Hole 15 | Par 3 – 247 yds (229, 205, 153, 125, 107)

In Honor of Richard L. O’Brien

While listed as the second longest Par 3 in terms of yards, this hole can easily play as the longest. Uphill and into the prevailing wind when present, the fifteenth requires a strong tee ball. The green is generous, but short approaches will leave a difficult bunker shot. Rounds played later in the day will face the additional challenge of hitting into the setting sun.

Hole 16 | Par 4 – 467 yds (449, 406, 361, 329, 234)

Michael F. and Jody J. Petrie

Number sixteen is a wonderful par 4. The slight dogleg right has a fairway that comes to an end prior to the green so tee balls must be measured to be sure not to go too far and into a difficult lie in the rough. The green is capable of hosting some tight and difficult pin positions and hosts some small hidden bunkers behind and to the right of the putting surface.

Hole 17 | Par 3 – 192 yds (180, 164, 148, 129, 109)

The Family of John and Marianne Hart (’73)

Allison and Mark Juleen, Falan and John Hart III, Brittany and Michael Hart

Uphill to an elevated green, the seventeenth hole is the shortest of the par 3s. Hitting once again to the west, the wind and setting sun can be factors on the tee shot. The green is fair, but not quite as big as it may appear as the front right portion of the green is actually a false front. Any ball that does not carry beyond the ridge in the front right will trundle down the hill and leave a lengthy chip shot.

Hole 18 | Par 4 – 517 yds (443, 387, 356, 337, 271)

Chip and Teresa Pfau

The work is far from over as you approach the tee of the long and difficult par 4 finishing hole. From the back tee the eighteenth is a dogleg right that demands a well-struck and well-placed tee ball. Around the corner as the fairway ends, golfers catch sight of a massive cluster of bunkers guarding the front of the green. The quadrilateral shaped punch bowl style green is elevated above the fairway and is quite large, but will still require a well struck approach, probably from the fairway, in order to access any pins in the front half of the green. It’s a phenomenal finishing hole and final test of the day on this Steve Smyers masterpiece.