Springtime means tee time at area golf courses

BY KEN THOMPSON

Even during the coldest days of winter in Greater Lafayette, local golfers were looking forward to making the first tee time of spring.

The biggest changes have taken place at Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which has emerged from the Cherry Lane realignment project to provide even more amenities for the golfer who likes the challenges of the Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler courses.

►Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex

This year’s home of the 2025 Dye Junior Invitational and the 49th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championship will welcome golfers and their guests with upgraded dining options.

Boilerhouse Prime opened in March for dinner service only inside the Pete Dye Clubhouse. Boilerhouse Prime touts itself as a premier steakhouse with curated fine dining. The menu features USDA Prime, Linz Heritage, American Wagyu and A5 Japanese Wagyu cuts of beef. Boilerhouse Prime also boasts a unique-to-Lafayette raw bar alongside premium seafood and a curated selection of classic cocktails, rare wines and exclusive bourbons.

More casual dining is available in the Clubhouse Bar & Grill, which will have multiple TVs carrying sporting events.

The Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex offers membership options ranging from full ($3,150 a year) to $1,800 for Purdue students. Among the perks are a dedicated member practice area and overnight bag storage. Further details are available at purduegolf.com.

Booking tee times at Ackerman-Allen or Kampen-Cosler is now possible through the Noteefy app. Noteefy allows golfers to set playing preferences by days, time range and number of players. The app will then send notifications when the preferred tee time becomes available.

The Pete Dye Clubhouse honors the legendary golf course designer who oversaw the creation of Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler. Ackerman-Allen is a par-72 championship golf course featuring large bentgrass greens and fairways. The rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, white sand bunkers and a handful of water hazards will challenge even the most experienced golfer.

Kampen-Cosler has a 4.5-star rating on Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” and is one of the nation’s top collegiate courses. Few golf courses in Indiana are rated more difficult in Indiana than Kampen-Cosler. That’s because the course is lined with vast sand bunkers, native grasslands, ponds and a natural celery bog. Get through those obstacles and large bentgrass greens await.

►Coyote Crossing

The semi-private club is hoping its Coyote Crossing app will make it easier for guests to book tee times and sign up for events. The app allows golfers to set preferences and receive text/email alerts when the requested tee times become available.

Demand is high for the Hale Irwin-designed course that will celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 7. Golf Week has ranked Coyote Crossing the sixth-best course in Indiana. Built on the rolling terrain around Burnett Creek and within the Winding Creek neighborhood, Coyote Crossing follows Irwin’s mandate of maintaining much of the wildlife, native prairies, wetlands and forests. It’s this natural setting that challenges golfers.

Although it’s been a semi-private course since 2017, Coyote Crossing is open to the public. Each hole has five sets of tees. The par-72 layout is 6,839 yards from the exhibition markers to 4,881 yards from the forward tees.

Monthly and annual memberships are available without initiation fees, monthly minimums or long waiting lists. More information is available at coyotecrossinggolf.com.

►The Ravines

Created from a family farm that has been in the Ade family for nearly 150 years, The Ravines offers 18 holes of golf for reasonable prices: $38 with a cart Monday through Friday. Saturday-Sunday and holiday rates are $45 with a cart.

Memberships also are offered from a “25 Play Card” to Platinum Member, which allows unlimited play. For more information, contact the pro shop at 765-583-1550.

The Ravines was designed by Duane Dammeyer of Quality Golf and Construction in Greenwood. The goal was to provide an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. Two distinctly different 9-hole layouts keep The Ravines a new experience during every visit.

The course features bentgrass fairways, tees and greens. Sand, water and ravine hazards provide challenges for golfers of all ages.

Amenities include a large driving range and practice facility, a snack bar and a clubhouse that is available for weddings, company outings and other large events.

►Lafayette Country Club

Greater Lafayette’s oldest golf course is also the most visible. Drivers heading north and south along S. Ninth Street can watch members play the wooded 9-hole course.

The members-only course is open weather permitting during winter hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day). Water hazards and sand bunkers line the bentgrass fairways leading up to bentgrass greens.

Amenities include a fine dining facility open to casual and formal dining, a full-service bar in the lounge and multiple TVs. A swimming pool and two outdoor lighted tennis courts also are available to members.

Membership information can be obtained at Lafayettecountryclub.net.

►Battle Ground Golf Course

Another of Greater Lafayette’s scenic courses, Battle Ground resides on 160 acres near Prophetstown State Park.

Battle Ground is designed to be fair to every golfer. Wide bentgrass fairways provide multiple target lines. Sizable greens and large surrounding areas allow an array of shots to be played from close range. Longer hitters will be challenged by thick rough and strategically placed bunkers. Water hazards also come into play on three holes.

Four sets of tees play from 5,100 yards in length at the front to nearly 7,100 at the back.

Amenities include a full practice facility featuring a putting green, a short game arena and a practice tee equipped with five target greens.

Rates are reasonable, with 18 holes and a cart for $35 Monday through Thursday, and $45 Friday through Sunday and holidays. Nine-hole rates with cart are $25 and $29, respectively. Nine-hole walking rates are $18 Monday through Thursday and $22 Friday-Sunday and holidays.

The driving range is open seven days a week. A half bucket of balls is $8, with a full bucket going for $15.

Memberships are available, ranging from $2,195 annually for adults ages 36-59 to $1,295 for Twilight (after 4 p.m.) golfers. For more information, call the pro shop at 765-567-2178 or email Clubhouse@golfbattleground.com. ★