Atmosphere at French Lick

[WC20814]

Hi All - we are considering French Lick for our annual group golf trip next year.  The courses look great, but we are curious on the atmosphere at the resort.  Does it feel like a golf resort or more of a resort that has great golf?  Is there more people on vacation there vs golfers?  Any insight is appreciated! 

[StreaksPeak]

I’ll be there in 2 weeks, I’ll let you know. 

[Argonne69]

It felt more like a resort that just happens to have good golf. It's certainly not Pinehurst.

 

[StudentGolfer4]

Been several times. Currently it does not feel like a golf resort and I don’t think they want to be a golf resort. A lot of people on vacation and people from nearby midwestern cities on 2-3 day trips. Popular spot for family reunions as well.  

French Lick is more similar to The Greenbrier, Nemacollin, Omni Homestead, and similar resorts. I’m not saying it’s as nice as some of the others or visa versa, just trying to give some insight on what it’s like. 

 

When the short course is completed and the lodging/cabins are built it may change the atmosphere a bit. (This is currently my biggest complaint about French lick when discussing it as a golf destination. Cottages with a short course and putting green will solve these issues.) They have really good golf, but it’s not a golf resort. 

[WC20814]

Thanks everyone!  This is exactly what I was looking to find out.  Appreciate all of the feedback! 

[Golf_vk]

I agree with the above comments, I’ve been twice in the last 8 months, you will absolutely see plenty of golfers around the hotels but the majority are not there for golf. If you want a slightly more upscale experience, the West Baden hotel is our clear favorite. The Springs hotel caters more toward family and kids which it totally fine. Definitely play replay rounds on both courses!

[Argonne69]

3 minutes ago, Golf_vk said:

I agree with the above comments, I’ve been twice in the last 8 months, you will absolutely see plenty of golfers around the hotels but the majority are not there for golf. If you want a slightly more upscale experience, the West Baden hotel is our clear favorite. The Springs hotel caters more toward family and kids which it totally fine. Definitely play replay rounds on both courses!

 

West Baden is iconic. 

 

 

 

[umassgolfer]

On 5/11/2025 at 2:16 PM, WC20814 said:

Thanks everyone!  This is exactly what I was looking to find out.  Appreciate all of the feedback! 

On thing about French Lick is neither of their courses are on-property. Depending on which hotel you're at, it's a 10-15 minute drive. Both very cool courses and the hotels are nice and historic, but it's like like a PGA National or something where you roll out of bed, grab a coffee on the way to the pro shop and then right to your cart. 

[zer0]

On 5/10/2025 at 1:23 PM, WC20814 said:

Hi All - we are considering French Lick for our annual group golf trip next year.  The courses look great, but we are curious on the atmosphere at the resort.  Does it feel like a golf resort or more of a resort that has great golf?  Is there more people on vacation there vs golfers?  Any insight is appreciated! 

 

 

It is 100% NOT a golf resort.     I've been there twice and here is my review of the place:

 

The golf is great, but limited to 2 courses on site (ross and Dye) and 1 sister course (Sultan's Run) 30 minutes away.  There is also a 9 hole course on site, but its more of a family course and not worthy of a golf trip unless it is for a scramble round.

 

The two resorts are both ok.  Rooms are fine.    THere is a casino at the main hotel.     here is the problem though.  The food is pretty much terrible across the board at the resort.   Like, you'll be lucky to find anything to eat that isn't awful.    The restaurant at The Donald Ross course is probably your best bet.      There are a few places in town that are ok, but not much at all.  There is a new steakhouse that I didn't try so can't comment on that.  A couple sports bars that have decent food, much better food that the resort.

 

 

so if you don't care about food and do care about a casino you'll love it.      

 

Golf is great but they did get rid of the play all day policy at Pete Dye which sucks.

[Golf_vk]

On 5/15/2025 at 10:58 AM, zer0 said:

 

 

It is 100% NOT a golf resort.     I've been there twice and here is my review of the place:

 

The golf is great, but limited to 2 courses on site (ross and Dye) and 1 sister course (Sultan's Run) 30 minutes away.  There is also a 9 hole course on site, but its more of a family course and not worthy of a golf trip unless it is for a scramble round.

 

The two resorts are both ok.  Rooms are fine.    THere is a casino at the main hotel.     here is the problem though.  The food is pretty much terrible across the board at the resort.   Like, you'll be lucky to find anything to eat that isn't awful.    The restaurant at The Donald Ross course is probably your best bet.      There are a few places in town that are ok, but not much at all.  There is a new steakhouse that I didn't try so can't comment on that.  A couple sports bars that have decent food, much better food that the resort.

 

 

so if you don't care about food and do care about a casino you'll love it.      

 

Golf is great but they did get rid of the play all day policy at Pete Dye which sucks.

Ok I’m late to the party because I don’t check this much. I agree the Donald Ross course restaurant is actually pretty good, we found it funny that that’s where we end up eating quite a few meals when we go. To say the other food is terrible is quite the overstatement. Overpriced? Absolutely. It’s certainly nothing to write home about, nor the reason you go to French Lick. But I had a darn good steak at the 1875 restaurant, and same for the sides we ordered. 

[zer0]

2 hours ago, Golf_vk said:

Ok I’m late to the party because I don’t check this much. I agree the Donald Ross course restaurant is actually pretty good, we found it funny that that’s where we end up eating quite a few meals when we go. To say the other food is terrible is quite the overstatement. Overpriced? Absolutely. It’s certainly nothing to write home about, nor the reason you go to French Lick. But I had a darn good steak at the 1875 restaurant, and same for the sides we ordered. 

 

never went to 1875 so can't comment on that place.      I'll stand by my comment about the majority of the food at the resort.  Like most everyone, I've been to a lot of resorts/hotels in my life.  French Lick resort has far and away the worst food I've ever had at a "nice" resort.    I'd put it on par with the crap you get on a Royal Carribean cruise ship in the main dining room.

 

Quality of food is a big part of any trip I take so maybe I consider it more important than the usual golf trip guys.    I always plan on places to eat well in advance of any trip similar to picking the golf courses.  French Lick is the only place I've ever been where it's near impossible to find an excellent meal.  You can find a few ok places, but even those are not up to the usual standard I look for on a golf trip.

[bcjim]

Given it's a casino resort, I'd speculate the "atmosphere" could have some issues. 

Edited June 21 by bcjim

[Validator]

I wasn't overly impressed with anything at French Lick including the golf courses--Zero golf atmosphere

[StudentGolfer4]

@Validator I’m curious to hear your opinions on the golf courses. The Dye isn’t my style, and I think golf digest rating it top 15-20 public is crazy but by most accounts is a quality golf course. The Ross course I really enjoy. Except the darn par 3s that eat me alive. 
 

 

As far as food goes, I agree it’s all overpriced and nothing special but I wouldn’t call it bad. They have a captive audience and they know it.

I think the price is the biggest issue. When I’m playing $60-$80 for a steak it shouldn’t be on par with something I would get at my neighborhood restaurant for $35. 
 

If anyones been to Pinehurst I would say the food at French Lick is comparable. (Excluding the brewery. My group really enjoyed that meal.) The difference being at pinehurst the cost of breakfast and dinner is rolled into the package. A standard breakfast Buffett is easier to have an issue with when you’re paying $30 for it like at French Lick.

Edited June 24 by StudentGolfer4

[Validator]

The golf courses were good but not overwhelming--The dye course was just a litlle too resort like.I thoughht Dye courses at Nemacolin,Colleton and a few others much better golf courses.

 

The Ross had lost most of its fairways a few years ago so that  made it rough.I did like the layout and course--

 

Casino was dead and location of resort so-so