The First Loop at Pete Dye by Al Looper

It’s good to be first.  Usually, anyway.  I don’t have a lot of “firsts” in my life.  I was the first person to build a house on three different lots.  I was the first person to marry my first wife.  Come to think of it, I was the first person to marry my second wife as well.  I’m the first person each of my three kids have ever called “Dad”.  I’ve been the first in plenty of bad ways too, but thankfully that’s not the point of this story.  On April 16, 2009, I was the first caddy to loop The Pete Dye Course at French Lick.I had caddied for Devin before, and he called me on an April morning and told me that he was working at a prestigious new golf course that was opening soon.  He hadn’t set up a caddy program yet, and a Golf Digest course rater was coming to play.  He wanted me loop for Matty G.  Sounded good to me.  I remember hitting the gate, buzzing the clubhouse, and watching the gate swing open.  The beauty of the place struck me immediately. I drove past the big pond between 10 and 16, then I turned up the hill, past the horse, and I parked my car where I have subsequently never parked again.  (It wasn’t a big deal on this day, and I didn’t know any different.)  I walked up, staring at the Mansion on the Hill, yet was somehow steered toward the old Carriage House, now the Pro Shop.  Devin greeted me and my buddy, who had come with me to caddy for Matty G’s playing partner.  Soon we were introduced to Matt Ginella, Senior Travel Editor for Golf Digest and his long-time friend.  They had just gotten a bite to eat, and were ready to start the round.  There wasn’t yet a Driving Range, so we went directly to the first tee.  No cart, no forecaddying.  We were “strapping it on” like Pro Jocks.I had been caddying professionally for over a year, and I felt pretty good about my general caddying skills, my interpersonal skills and my customer service acumen.  But this was the first time I had ever seen this golf course.  Course knowledge?  Local knowledge?  How ‘bout ZERO!   I am definitely hoping Matty G isn’t going to ask me about the nuances of the greens.  “So where’s the First Tee?”  (Uhhhh....   Devin?  Where’s the First Tee?)  Devin is comfortably friendly, and he directed us down the hill to the right with a smile.  I felt confident that once pointed toward the first green, we could figure it out from there.  “We playing the tips?”  He looked down at the scorecard and said “8,100 yards?  Not in this generation.”  There was no Laser to give me distances, and since we didn’t have a cart, we didn’t have the GPS.  I did the best I could from the yardage markers in the fairway, and I thanked God for my math skills.This was my first time on a Pete Dye course, and it was fun to see how he had reconstructed this one particular hilltop.  The group was getting along well.  Like any round, we hit some good shots and we hit a few that took us to more “interesting” places on the golf course.  On number 2, we checked out the volcano bunkers.  “We gotta hit one out of one of those!”  We stuck one close and just missed a birdie.  On #11, Matt was struck by how narrow the fairway was at the dog leg.  I walked it off for him.  “9 paces”.  He shook his head and wondered if you should just aim at the rough on the left.  On 14, we weren’t sure which fairway would give us the best approach to the green.  We went straight and then hit the 100’ elevation shot.  “Maybe we should have gone left, eh?” Matty G and his buddy were very friendly, and were quite interested in seeing the best French Lick had to offer.  Outside of the Pete Dye Course, that meant Larry Bird.  They had met Bird’s High School Coach, Gary Holland, and were hoping to go to the gym where Larry played to shoot some hoops.  This caused a bit of a stir on #15, when they saw Mr. Holland, who was working maintenance at the Pete Dye.  I went and waited over Matty G’s drive which was left and in the waste bunker as they chatted it up with Larry B’s coach over by the cart path.  A bit bored, I improved his lie. Matty G seemed to genuinely like the course.  I got the feeling he appreciated Pete Dye’s approach and the amazing beauty of the place.  But the $350 green fee had consumed his focus.  “That’s Pebble Beach money.  Bandon Dunes.  How can they get that here?”  I am a loyal guy, so I was All In for the Pete Dye.  “Yeah, but this is the highest point in Indiana.  You have 40 mile vistas covering 360 degrees”, reciting what I had read off the web site.  “How much does it cost for someone from the midwest to travel to Pebble or Bandon Dunes?  It’s cheaper to come here.” After Matty G putted out on 18, I congratulated him on setting the new course record.  (Hey, the course wasn’t officially open yet, and as far as I knew, nobody had ever scored better.)  I then did what I normally do when I caddy for someone I consider famous: I pull out my camera phone, put my left arm around my guy, extend my right arm as far as possible and press “Take”.  But Matty G wanted to make sure the photo was good, so he asked his friend to take the photo, and redirected our stance to maximize effective sunlight and general Pete Dye ambiance.  I appreciate that he did that, as I have a nice keepsake of “the First Loop at the Pete Dye” right there in my phone.  On this day, it was good to be first.

Beautiful Days Ahead

Birds are chirping this morning as we have our first guests playing the Pete Dye Course today. The flowers around the property are already blooming. The warm air and sunshine on my skin give me an immediate feeling of excitement and happiness. That happiness that I feel is something that should always trickle down into our guests experience. Its all about making memories.
Enjoy this beautiful day!

French Lick Resort Golf

New addition

The hustle and bustle of the upcoming season is very evident today as I peer out of the Pete Dye pro shop.  Maintenence workers look more like bumble bees buzzing around working together to prepare the course for upcoming play. A new tee being sodded and various meticulous work being done creates an exciting feeling and buzz in the air.  The course looking like it is this early can only mean one thing. This season will be a very special one at a very special place just like those of the past.
Have a great day!

Golf Season has officially began

When I woke up this morning and walked outside the warm air reminded me of how unpredictable Indiana weather can be. It's a very welcome change though and I see the excitement that the warm temperatures bring.  The grass is starting to green and golfers are ready for the season. I know i'm ready ready to tee it up. So what are we waiting for? Everyone get outside and enjoy this fantastic weather!