About the Course
The Club at Chatham Hills, Indianapolis
Whisper the name ‘Pete Dye’ and you’re likely to strike fear into the hearts of golfers everywhere. After all, this is the guy who created Whistling Straits and Sawgrass. The guy who redefined the concept of the terrifying par 3.
Chatham Hills in Westfield, in the rolling hills north of Indianapolis, is Dye’s last great course. The one he considered his masterpiece. Each subtle slope has been sculpted into a sneaky trap. And there are watery jaws all over the property, just waiting to devour any wayward drives.
It’s a fitting place to settle any title. And this year, it gets the finale of the LIV Golf Individual Championship. The season’s best solo player will be crowned here, and if it’s anything like last year, the battle could go right down to the 18th hole.
Arguably, it’s the biggest golf event to be held in Indiana since 1991, the last time the state hosted a Major. Now, let’s take a closer look at the host venue, and the architect who made it all possible.
What happened before we got here?
The land used to build Chatham Hills was previously owned by the same family for eight generations. In fact, it was first purchased as part of the Northwest Territory. So there’s a fair bit of history beneath our feet here.
Dye lived just 10 minutes away, and had his eye on the property for years. Eventually, he got his hands on it in 2014, and set to work molding it into a maze of sloping greens, disappearing fairs and hidden bunkers.
Dye loved getting down into the dirt. That is to say, he loved getting out there with his design team, tweaking and toning to make every hole perfect.
And at Chatham Hills, you can see his footprints everywhere.
In the 460-yard 4th, where water runs all the way down the right-hand flank. In the 448-yard 18th, a beastly uphill sweeper to finish. And on the par-3 third, where around 22% of tournament players have shot over par thus far.
Speaking of tournaments, Chatham Hills has already hosted a series of events including the PGA Indiana Open and the NCAA Women’s Regional. Now, it lays down its biggest test yet.
How will it play?
“Golf is not a fair game, so why build a fair golf course?” That was Pete Dye’s favorite maxim, and Chatham Hills lives up to it.
The players will find fierce hazards everywhere, and the effect can be very deceptive. As Chatham Hills’ head professional Kyle Cramer has said, Dye plays with your eyes. An apparently simple line can suddenly become very tricky once you’ve played your shot, and drag you violently off-course. Good judgement will be key here.
Who will it favor?
We’d expect Jon Rahm to shine here, simply because he’s so good at managing risk: that’s why he hits birdies time after time after time.
Scrambling could also play a crucial role in Indianapolis, and this could play into Bryson DeChambeau’s hands. He’s leading the LIV Golf scrambling stats right now, marginally ahead of Cameron Smith and David Puig.
How can I be there?
Tickets are on sale now, ranging from private suites on 18 to a Party Hole on 6. Or, if you want to experience the true majesty of Pete Dye’s design up close, you can grab a grounds pass and walk the course beside the players.
Grab your ticket here.
