Published: October 13, 2007 11:42 pm            

On and Off the Course: Covered bridges, travel and golf

It’s Covered Bridge Festival time here in the Wabash Valley. Some visitors would probably rather spend some of these gorgeous fall days on a golf course than walking around shopping in the endless line of tents and displays at Mansfield and Bridgeton. Oh, the food is enticing, and some of the crafts are interesting, but you’re really only here because you’re appeasing somebody special in your life! Well, for future reference, I have found some golf courses that include covered bridges in their layouts. So if someone you know and love really needs to see some more covered bridges, you could suggest some of these places:

n Fuzzy Zoeller’s Covered Bridge Golf Club — Nestled in the hills of Southern Indiana, near Floyds Knobs, the Covered Bridge Golf Club features five lakes, a meandering creek, and of course, a Covered Bridge. Paved cart paths run throughout the course connecting all tees, and carts can be driven anywhere on the Zoysia grass fairways. It is a par 72 course with four separate tees, allowing you to match the course to your ability. The “Fuzzy” tees have a course rating of 74 and a slope of 132, with a distance of 7,068 yards. Or you could choose the back tees, total distance 6,453 yards with a rating of 70.9 and a slope of 129. The middle tees of 5,943 yards are sloped/rated at 69.0/122 for men and 74.6/129 for women. The forward tees, which play to 4957 yards, are at 64.0/108 for men and 68.8/114 for women. Stay and play packages are available with rates of $86 on weekdays or $96 on weekends (per person, based on double occupancy), which includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, one night hotel accommodations and breakfast. The package can be enhanced by adding another 18 holes of golf at Champions Pointe Golf Club, designed by Fuzzy Zoeller and Clyde Johnston, in Henryville, Indiana, for an additional $50 per person. For more information on packages or to make reservations, call 812- 246-3131. For more information about Fuzzy Zoeller’s Covered Bridge Golf Course, you can visit the Web site at www.coveredbridge.com.

n Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club, New Brunswick, Canada — When I did a web search for “covered bridge” and “golf,” this is what I found. It is located in Hartland, which is the home of the Longest Covered Bridge in the world. The golf course has a “little” Covered Bridge, connecting the 16th green to the 17th tee, so you get a little culture to go with your golf! The course itself is very challenging with a slope rating of 132 from the back. Less arduous individuals could play slopes of 122 from the middle or 109 at the front tees. There are cabins that can be rented or there is an RV park with nightly, weekly or seasonal rates. Greens fees are welcome, but there are also different kinds of memberships. If you have to see the world’s longest Covered Bridge, and you want to play some golf while you’re there, you can get more information at www.coveredbridgegolf.nb.ca, or send an e-mail to cbgcc@nb.aibn.com . There is also a toll free phone number: 1-888-346-5777. Remember that starting in 2008 you will need a passport to get into Canada.

n Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel — This is not a public course, so it’s not a place that anyone can just go play. However, there have been many professional or high-level amateur events played there, where spectators can come watch. If you’re a man with a wife who has dragged you around to see Covered Bridges, you’ve got a great excuse to get her to the 2009 U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick because it has a Covered Bridge on the 6th hole! It’s not part of the hole, it’s just a picturesque backdrop, and an interesting way to get from a green to the next tee box, but it’s a Covered Bridge nonetheless. The U.S. Senior Open, on the other hand, will be fun to watch regardless!

That’s one of the great advantages of playing golf: You have a built-in excuse to see the world, even if it’s 18 holes at a time!

• Quote of the day — “The ardent golfer would play Mount Everest if somebody put a flagstick on top.” — Pete Dye

        

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